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Gary Caldwell urges Scotland to show pride in Serbia

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments117

Scotland captain Gary Caldwell

Gary Caldwell admits Scotland's chances of qualifying for next year's World Cup are "gone" but has urged his team-mates to restore pride against Serbia.

Stand-in captain Caldwell led the team in which left the Scots bottom of their qualification group.

"We, as a group, have to pick ourselves up very quickly," Caldwell told BBC Scotland. "We've got a game on Tuesday.

"We have to play for the country, the fans that come and support us."

Gordon Strachan, in his first competitive match as Scotland coach, watched on as the Welsh came from a goal down to win at Hampden.

A third successive loss following opening draws against Serbia and Macedonia leaves the Scots with only two points from five matches.

Scotland have not played in a major finals since 1998 and Caldwell insists victories are now vital to preserve their place in the fourth pot of seeds for future qualification groups.

"You can't let yourself get down," he explained. "Albeit, qualification's gone. We have to play for pride.

"We have to play to get co-efficient points that keep us in the pots that we need to be in to qualify.

"We need to be better, we've not been good enough. It's that simple. We played five games and haven't won any. As a player, that's failure.

"We have to do something about that, as a group. Not just the players that are playing now but younger players. They have to aspire to be better and to take Scotland back to a major finals.

"When qualifiers come, you have to grasp it and, for a long, long time now, we've not done that and that's failure on our part.

"It's players that need to change it. We're the ones that are out there and we're the ones that need to get results to help the country gain a bit of respect back in this campaign and push forward in the next one.

"It hurts us more than anyone. Obviously, it hurts fans but as players we're bitterly disappointed. It's difficult, you might never get that opportunity [to reach a major finals]."

Steven Fletcher will miss the trip to Serbia after damaging his ankle in the opening minutes at Hampden, while Robert Snodgrass is suspended following his red card.

James Morrison, James Forrest, Danny Fox and Ross McCormack withdrew from the squad prior to the Wales game.

And Strachan is without influential midfield duo Darren Fletcher and Scott Brown who are recovering from long-term injury problems.

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117 comments

  • Comment posted by User0150653800, at 11:39 23 Mar 2013

    Caldwell shouldn't be seen never mind heard.

    Joke of a "player".

  • Comment posted by Ryan1356, at 13:16 23 Mar 2013

    Scotland have 2 games against Croatia, one against Belgium and away against Macedonia and Serbia...They could go this entire qualification campaign without winning a single game

  • Comment posted by User0148225809, at 14:21 23 Mar 2013

    Someone asked "Why pick on Caldwell?" - OK rate him on the following out of ten. Use Kompany as a benchmark of 10/10. Tackling, heading, positional play, tactical awareness, pace, passing, ball technique, composure, leadership qualities, goal threat. There's 10 criteria. Even being generous he is not good enough to get 50/100 - and he's an ever present. That's why.

  • Comment posted by User0504291129, at 12:12 23 Mar 2013

    After last nights performance, how can he talk about "pride"?

    It isn't pride that will win games, it's building a team of players who don't just turn up for the cap (like Caldwell), but play for the team as a team

  • Comment posted by LB, at 12:57 23 Mar 2013

    @9 what game where u watching, ur bias has made u blind apparently. I'm a Scotland fan and last night was terrible, worse than most of leveins performances but we were missing a few players. I like Strachan and want him to succeed but the players need to pull their finger out, too many passengers too scared to get on the ball and control a game and take it by the scruff of the neck

  • Comment posted by thesilentman, at 14:04 23 Mar 2013

    We have defenders who struggle to defend, midfielders who struggle to create and attackers who struggle to score. No wonder we are where we are!

  • Comment posted by J Tull, at 19:06 23 Mar 2013

    Gordon Strachan is a shrewd cookie, he had to use the "established" players and will begin to ease them out. He could not be expected to wield the axe immediately, this will be a gradual progression but we should expect a few surprises next outing. Hopefully no Caldwell,Hutton or Miller lets see, fingers crossed

  • Comment posted by User0362458550, at 16:28 23 Mar 2013

    29 Je99ers - The Croatian, Welsh & Macedonian top flights all have 12 teams. Wish folk would stop with this nonsense about the size of the league being the problem. Sums up the total lack of footballing knowledge in this country.
    We badly need a defensive midfielder, astonishing that we don't have one. Seemingly having technical ability and being able to tackle is beyond our coaching ability.

  • Comment posted by User0759959964, at 12:13 23 Mar 2013

    How this guy ever ended up with a captain's armband escapes me. Caldwell and his team need to keep the mouths shut and do some talking on the pitch.

  • Comment posted by DistressedScot, at 13:20 23 Mar 2013

    Clearly the problem here isn't the manager, it's the players. The loss of fletcher in the first few minutes was big for us but bringing on Kenny Miller was the wrong decision. He cant even get a game for his club. Rhodes or smith would have brought more to the game.
    The defense and the midfield could string a pass together, it was like watching a 3rd division team.

  • Comment posted by User0541747002, at 21:52 23 Mar 2013

    Too much self-interest at the top, I mean 3 organizations running football in a country this size, cmon. I support an SPL club but I've got to say that its probably stifled football in this country in the long run. What can you say about it thats positive, more money ... nope, better entertainment ... nope, better players ... nope, better national team ... nope. Its been a failure.

  • Comment posted by User0115413097, at 17:41 23 Mar 2013

    I'd rather see younger players coming and building the team up for the next qualifiers. Rhodes and Fletecher starting together as proved countless times by Kenny Miller the lone man just doesn't work for us.Hutton and Adam shouldn't be playing anymore. we need younger better players to replace them. Russel, Griffiths, Forrest, Mackay-Steven. Players that could easily get a Scotalnd starting eleven

  • Comment posted by Aviemore Lichtie, at 11:46 23 Mar 2013

    Bring in new blood now and get them ready for the next qualifiers - now is the time to get rid of the deadwood which is currently in the team (players who cannot attack, players who cannot defend and players who are not up for the match despite being picked).

  • Comment posted by OddJobLot, at 14:05 23 Mar 2013

    @20
    That Caldwell is suggesting this gives an indcation of where we are as a team. Time to have a bit of a clear out.....

  • Comment posted by User0563516188, at 13:25 23 Mar 2013

    @14. Ryan1356 - "They could go this entire qualification campaign without winning a single game"

    I hope not, but unfortunately I can see this happening. And the only way of preventing this sort of thing is to get rid of the likes of Miller etc etc, and give those places to players who can do something with a ball...

  • Comment posted by G-Dawgy-Dawg, at 13:56 23 Mar 2013

    When I saw Snodgrass's shot hit the post, I somehow knew we would get beat.

    Am I the only one that thought that?

  • Comment posted by D1679299988578, at 12:39 23 Mar 2013

    As much as I like Gordon Strachan and really want him to succeed I can't help wondering what goes through his mind when he picks guys like Caldwell, Hanley, Miller, Adam or Dorrans. Although Snodgrass has some talent he has no discipline. He should have been taken off earlier.Why no Paul Dixon or Rhodes or Commons? The time is now to bleed youth and get short of the old failing dross.

  • Comment posted by User0557520141, at 12:41 23 Mar 2013

    Why call for Caldwell, what did he do wrong last night? The lad is performing weekly for Wigan and playing no bad. Who else comes in? Why are Scotland fans always looking for a scape-goat?

    We're abysmal. From top to bottom. Can't just play 11 youngsters, give the young players an opportunity to bed in.

    Played decent last night but couldn't score second goal. Wales lucky to win.

  • Comment posted by User0849925384, at 13:29 23 Mar 2013

    they should show pride every match, another pointless discussion.

  • Comment posted by User0482964800, at 13:40 24 Mar 2013

    I think Strachan has the opportunity to now start playing some of the younger guys or bring in some of the guys from the SPL like russell and mckay-steven. Lets not kid ourselves, we don't have any world class players like Bale so we just need to be realistic and stop sacking managers to early and give them at least 5 years to get a structure in place for the long term.

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