Cech doubts Scottish chances

Czech No.1 claims the "maximum" Scotland can hope for is a point.

By Matthew Skinns.   Last Updated: October 10, 2011 10:19am

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Petr Cech: Goalkeeper insists second place will be decided by the Czech performance against Lithuania

Sky Bet

Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech has dismissed Scotland's chances of a shock victory over Spain to guarantee qualification for Euro 2012.

The Chelsea keeper believes the Czech Republic can inflict heartbreak as they look to snatch second place from the Scots with a predicted win over Lithuania on Tuesday night.

An unlikely three points in Alicante for Scotland would cement their place in Group I, taking them through to the play-offs but Cech has derided their ambitions:

"Scotland are set to play their last game," Cech said in the Daily Record.

"The best they can get in Spain is a point. Maximum.

"We go to Lithuania with the second place right in our own hands.

"Us losing to Spain wasn't a problem because no one can expect to beat them.

"It comes down to how we play against Lithuania.

"I thought the group might go to the final game and that's what has happened.

"The play-offs start here. It's about three matches not just the two in the play-offs because this is a knockout game too.

"But if someone had said to me at the start that a win in Lithuania would take us to the play-offs I would have taken it."