Fletcher laughs off favorites tag

September 11, 2007 - 0:0

GLASGOW (AFP) -- Darren Fletcher has laughed off France coach Raymond Domenech's claim that Scotland are favorites to win their Euro 2008 qualifying group.

The Scots are in second place in Group B and will go top of a section also including Italy and Ukraine if they beat France in Paris on Wednesday.
But despite his side's healthy position, Scotland midfielder Fletcher dismissed Domenech's comments as mind games and insisted France are odds-on to finish in top spot.
""I've heard a lot of quotes coming from the French camp but to say Scotland are favorites for the group is just ludicrous,"" the Manchester United star said.
""In a group with France, Italy and Ukraine, how can anybody, even at this stage, turn around and say Scotland are the favorites?
""We know it's mind games. France are by far the favorites for the group and by far the favorites for the game.
""In this group we are very much the underdogs and even though we have got ourselves in to a reasonable position, we haven't achieved anything yet.""
Scotland snatched a memorable 1-0 win over France when the teams met at Hampden Park earlier in the qualifying campaign. But Fletcher concedes it would need a poor performance from Domenech's star-studded team for there to be a repeat.
He said: ""We just have to go there and compete, hope that they have an off day and that we have another really good day like we did at Hampden when we beat them.
""To get a point in Paris would be an even bigger achievement than the victory at Hampden.