Gordon Strachan believes that all conventional tactics will go out the window for Scotland's Euro clash with Ireland next month.
The Scotland manager compared the crucial Euro 16 qualifier to an old school FA Cup tie and therefore requires different preparation than a normal international fixture.
It'll be a British Cup tie type thing, Neither of us will be too interested in who wins the possession, put it that way.
There'll be analysts telling us at half-time how many passes each team had. They'll be like 'You've had 452 passes, you're going great' so the lads can keep passing. No, Martin and I will feel the same about it. If the players feel fatigued, they can have a day off.
Martin, like me, doesn't over-think football. We generally leave it to the players. We give them an idea of how to play and then let them get on with it.
Strachan could be right about O'Neill adopting a similar philosophy for the match. The Ireland manager hinted that he too would be scrapping the usual tactics ahead of the match, that he admitted would involve dealing with "a different set of circumstances."
O'Neill will be hoping that Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy will be fighting fit for the Scotland match. The duo missed out on this round of fixtures through injury. Scottish born McCarthy seems fired up for the tie despite the prospect of facing abuse from the crowd at Celtic Park.
What a result last night from the boys @FAIreland Congrats to sheazy on the 100th cap. #BringOnTheScots
— James McCarthy (@JMcCarthy_16) October 15, 2014
Hat tip: Independent
