Wednesday 15 October 2014 15:52, UK
Former Scotland boss Craig Brown has backed Gordon Strachan's side to win their group in the European Qualifiers after claiming a 2-2 draw against a buoyant Poland.
Group D had been billed as a race to finish behind Germany but Poland's shock 2-0 win over the world champions, combined with the Republic of Ireland's last-gasp draw against Joachim Low's side on Tuesday, raises the prospect of a tantalising fight to the finish.
Gordon Strachan, whose team have now lost just once in 11 games, has tipped the campaign to go down to the final round of fixtures but Brown, who guided the country to their last major finals back in 1998, believes lofty targets should now be set.
"What impressed me in Warsaw was the quality of play and that's been apparent over the last couple of games," Brown told Sky Sports News HQ.
The group's wide open. We thought that Germany would qualify, with three teams competing for second place, but now four teams are competing for first place.
"People talk about gameplans but I just talk about the way Scotland played and I think people are really admiring them at the moment. This is an excellent squad and I think it's quite likely that Scotland could finish even top of the group now.
"The team spirit, the feelgood factor is terrific - not only within the team but within the country. Gordon has brought the enthusiasm back and he's been able to select a consistent team.
"The group's wide open. We thought Germany would qualify, with three teams competing for second place, but now four teams are competing for first place."
Scotland are level with Germany on four points, three behind joint-leaders Poland and the Republic of Ireland, with Martin O'Neill's side their next opponents in an eye-catching fixture at Celtic Park next month.
It's going to be a huge game at Celtic Park; a tough one to call because the Republic of Ireland are very hard to break down.
Former QPR and Tottenham manager Gerry Francis, speaking on the Morning View, believes that clash could prove pivotal in the race for qualfication.
"They way they're playing now and the belief Gordon has instilled, they've got a very good chance of qualfying," he said.
"A few years ago, you wouldn't have backed Scotland to come back from a goal down in Poland but they looked confident and they kept the ball really well.
"It's going to be a huge game at Celtic Park; a tough one to call because the Republic of Ireland are very hard to break down.
"But the points from that fixture could prove the difference."
Scotland's European Qualifer against the Republic of Ireland is live on Sky Sports 5 on 14 November, kick-off at 7.45pm.
