Strachan Uncertain About Future

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An "emotional" Gordon Strachan refused to be drawn on whether he wishes to remain as Scotland manager for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Instead, he spoke of a "special night" when around 12,000 Scotland fans attended the 6-0 win over Gibraltar in Faro in their last Euro 2016 qualifier.

"I am so proud to be the Scotland manager. It's a great job," he said.

"There are disappointments along the way, that's for sure, but it has been a fantastic experience."

Scotland finished fourth in Group D, three points behind the Republic of Ireland, who enter a play-off over two legs for a place in France.

Under 58-year-old Strachan, Scotland have won 12 matches, lost eight and drawn five.

Gordon Strachan, flanked by Johnny Russell and Darren Fletcher

Gordon Strachan, flanked by substitutes Johnny Russell and Darren Fletcher, in what may be his final game in charge of Scotland

Now he must decide if he wishes to continue in the post he took up since January 2013 for the World Cup qualifying campaign against England, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta.

Thousands of Scotland fans journeyed to the Algarve for the match, despite Scotland's 2-2 draw with Poland on Thursday making the match, in effect, meaningless.

"They could have turned up because they had already booked and been negative but from the start [it was] their positivity," said an appreciative manager.

"The fans, if they see a group of players who try their best, they will support them. That has never been more clear than this evening.

"We've seen a special night in terms of the bond between fans and players. The players are buzzing because of the support they got."

Pressed to reveal his intentions, Strachan added that there would be a "debrief" and that he would speak to the Scottish Football Association and his family to discuss his future.

"The experience has been far, far better than I thought it could ever be," he said.

"It's quite an emotional night. I'm still enjoying the players' performance, I'm still enjoying the fans' performance. I'm going to enjoy that for a bit before I start thinking about me.

"I think it is wrong to be talking about me right after a game.

"I'm working with a great bunch of players and great staff and it makes my job easy."

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Strachan Prepares Celtic Park Welcome

Scotland and the Republic of Ireland meet at Celtic Park in a tasty European Qualifiers encounter in Group D on Friday.

The Irish arrived in Glasgow on Thursday sitting joint top of the group alongside Poland, with both sides having claimed seven of the first points available to them, three ahead of both the Scots and world champions Germany.

However, Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has warned Ireland, who have a number of current and former Celtic players in their ranks, that their familiarity with the surroundings in Glasgow will do them no favours.

Much has been made of Irish boss Martin O'Neill being a former Hoops manager with his assistant Roy Keane, skipper Robbie Keane, Aiden McGeady, Shay Given and Daryl Murphy having played for the club, while Anthony Stokes is currently a striker with the Scottish champions.

Strachan said: "We will turn Celtic Park into the home of Scottish football and you will know fine well you are in Scotland on Friday night.

"We are quite familiar with Celtic Park as well (as some of the Irish), most of our players have played there. But as I say, it is not going to be Celtic Park, tomorrow it is Scotland's park."

Scotland midfielder James McArthur has pulled out of the clash with the Republic due to a calf injury.

McArthur has come off the bench in two of Scotland's three European Championship qualifiers so far.

The Crystal Palace midfielder joins his former Hamilton and Wigan team-mate James McCarthy on the sidelines for the game after the Republic of Ireland player pulled out with a hamstring problem. Long-term casualty Robert Snodgrass is also absent for Scotland.

Defenders Alan Hutton and Phil Bardsley are both out due to injury so Steven Whittaker looks a likely starter at right-back. Brighton centre-back Gordon Greer began the 2-2 draw with Poland but Russell Martin may get the nod on this occasion.

The Scots could therefore line up with David Marshall in goal behind a back four of Whittaker, Grant Hanley, Martin and Andrew Robertson; Scott Brown and James Morrison in central midfield; and Shaun Maloney, Steven Naismith and Ikechi Anya offering attacking options behind lone striker Steven Fletcher.

Meanwhile, O'Neill's preparations for the clash have been disrupted by an alleged incident which prompted Keane to ask for Gardai to be called to the team hotel in Portmarnock.

But O'Neill has insisted it will not be an issue as they look to extend their unbeaten run in qualifying to three games.

He said: "It's only a distraction, that's all it was. I made a statement earlier on today and there's not really much more I can talk about.

"But I think we are fine, I think the players are fine, I think the man in question is fine too and we are ready to go."

Speaking on Thursday, O'Neill was more concerned about the loss of central midfielders Glenn Whelan and one of the men fuelling the other major talking point this week, McCarthy, to injury.

Whelan was always an outsider after breaking a bone in his leg during the 1-1 draw in Germany last month, but there was better news about Glasgow-born McCarthy - who had been promised a hostile welcome - as scans confirmed no significant damage to his hamstring.

O'Neill said: "James, I suppose, realistically was always an outside chance. He has improved immensely since Sunday - in fact, he went for another scan and the scan is actually quite clear, so that is really good news for the lad.

"But really I suppose since it is a muscle injury, then it was a concern for us that he needed to probably do something today and see what sort of reaction he had."

Darron Gibson and Jeff Hendrick are seemingly the main candidates to plug the sizeable gap left in the heart of O'Neill's team, although he has also handed a key role to Stephen Quinn in the recent past.

Marc Wilson is injured, so Richard Keogh could be drafted in at centre-back.

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