In the 13 years since Darren Fletcher made his home international debut against Lithuania, Scotland have become all-too familiar with brutal disappointment. Just do not dare suggest to Gordon Strachan, as Fletcher prepares to claim cap 75 against the same opposition, that such matters are anything more than coincidence.
Fletcher’s continued prominence for his country – he is the captain once again – is all the more worthy of credit given the serious illness that disrupted his career. Even when not part of the Scottish playing equation, Fletcher was a regular presence around squad gatherings. “He is wonderful,” said Strachan. “There are great examples for kids now if they want to see them, if they can see them through the nonsense that is thrown in front of kids’ faces.
“Darren Fletcher? There is not a tattoo on his body, he doesn’t walk about with big headphones on, he hasn’t got a cockatoo hairstyle and he doesn’t wear outrageous shoes. He just wants to play football. He is a smashing advert for any kid. He is great for us because you just need to see him walking about. Shaun Maloney is the same, James McArthur is the same. Young players can look at these guys – fantastic role models. I don’t think there has ever been a negative headline about Darren. He never causes any problems.”
But did the manager sense the player’s Scotland days were numbered as he battled ulcerative colitis? “You can never write players off but I did know that there was going to be good challenge for him,” Strachan said. “He has accepted those challenges. These are the challenges that you get in life which make you stronger and then when you go into management you have been to these places and you can tell people what it is all about.
“What you see now is a guy getting his 75th cap, looking as healthy as anyone and I don’t think he has missed a game for West Brom since he signed.”
The nuances of international caps and history – Jimmy Johnstone won 23, Dave Mackay 22 – mean placing Fletcher’s landmark in proper context is tricky. “He is a great player but he is a great lad and that is the most important thing,” Strachan said. “If I was a footballer I would want my team-mates to speak highly of me more than anything else and if you asked his team-mates then I think they would tell you he is an all-time great.”
Glancing to the future, Strachan refused to answer questions on Celtic’s 13-year-old Karamoko Dembélé. That managerial stance was fair enough, with a huge amount of hype already surrounding the teenager without Strachan adding to it. Dembélé appeared for Celtic’s U20 team on Monday, thrusting him into the spotlight to the point where underage international recognition is already being discussed.
Scotland’s opening to Group F was emphatic, the 5-1 win in Malta ensuring Lithuania’s visit and the Tuesday trip to Slovakia have the potential to send Strachan and his players to Wembley next month in fine fettle. Lithuania opened the section with a 2-2 draw against Slovenia.
“Years ago with teams from a pot four or a pot five, they would just sit in,” Strachan said. “If you watch what Lithuania have done in the past two games, they press. They pressed Poland high and they pressed Slovenia high, it’s different from what you expect.
“The crowd will be behind you right at the start but they want enthusiasm, ability, shots, headers. That’s all a crowd want. Do they want passing from the back and rolling it about? No.”
Strachan’s key selection dilemma relates to left-back, with the rapid emergence of Kieran Tierney at Celtic meaning a challenge to the position of Andy Robertson. There is a debate, too, over whether Scotland will keep faith with Chris Martin, who scored against Malta, in attack. Steven Fletcher had previously occupied that position.
Scotland (4-2-3-1, probable) Marshall; Paterson, Hanley, R Martin, Tierney; D Fletcher, Bannan; Ritchie, Snodgrass, Burke; C Martin.
Lithuania (4-4-2, probable) Setkus; Vaitkunas, Slavickas, Girdvainis, Freidgeimas; Zulpa, Cernych, Novikovas, Kuklys; Slivka, Valskis.