Scotland will face a team of potential world beaters tonight, according to boss Gordon Strachan.
When it comes to football, Belgium is in fashion at the moment and a golden generation of stars from that relatively small country will grace Hampden in tonight’s World Cup qualifier.
Strachan claimed that, with the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Christian Benteke, Moussa Dembele and Nacer Chadli in their ranks, the Belgians will see themselves as realistic contenders to lift the trophy in Brazil next summer.
However, the fighter that he is, Strachan still thinks the Scots can continue their encouraging run of form by taking something from the match.
He declared: “We know that Belgium are capable of beating us but we also know we are capable of beating Belgium.
“They are a terrific side and are a team that can play any type of football. They can do short passes, long passes, they are athletic and if you want a scrap they can do that.
“I read an article that if you pick the best 11 players from countries they are the third most expensive team in the world. That is some going.
“It would even be a good game between them and Spain.”
Maybe so, but are they actual World Cup contenders?
He replied: “With the players they have I am sure they will be thinking they can do very well. I like them all and a good group of players have come together there. It is a once-in-a-lifetime group.
“Belgium have historically been a good side. It is just that they took a dip in the last 15 years. I particularly recall them being good in the 1980s.”
There is a doubt over Chelsea ace Hazard but Strachan was not getting too carried away about the possibility of the playmaker being absent.
“That’s only 10 I have to worry about then,” he said. “No, we can’t change our own team because he might not be there.
“We have a set of players to choose from and can’t chop and change. What we can’t do is play Belgium at their own game. We have to have our own way of doing things.”
That could involve playing two up front, with specialist lone striker Kenny Miller having now retired from international football.
“I know my team and there won’t be too many changes,” was as far as he went on that one.
After cutting a downbeat figure in the wake of last month’s friendly defeat to England, Strachan has perked up, having reflected further on both that game and the win in Croatia.
“My mood has improved after the England game,” he said. “It is not all gloom and doom if we don’t get a performance and neither should we be on a real high if we do get a good result.
“One good thing since the England game is that everyone I have met has been upbeat about the performance. My family went and said they enjoyed the atmosphere, and everyone in Britain seems to want the game on again.
“I looked at the match again on DVD and for the first 70 minutes it was a good game of football and then too many subs came on. The players put so much into it but concentration let them down.”
He referred to a gradual gelling of the squad now that his reign is well under way.
“Everything is more relaxed in the camp and I think we are all getting more used to each other,” Strachan said. “The players are starting to realise when I am having a laugh and when I am serious about something.
“Obviously, the last couple of performances have made things better, too. That’s the way it goes in any sport. When you are performing better you feel better about yourself.
“There is a bit more pride about the squad and people are happy to be in the Scotland squad at the moment.
“We are feeling good about ourselves. The expectation is on us to do well at home now and we don’t want to disappoint.
“It is not all gloom and doom if we don’t get a performance and neither should we be on a real high if we do get a good result.
“We want to give the support something to be happy about.”
The Belgians will be backed by about 7,000 fans tonight as they aim to consolidate their lead at the top of the group.
Strachan revealed he has already made friends among the “enemy”.
“I met two of them on holiday and they are lovely people,” he said. “I was sitting at a table beside them and they got their computer out and Googled me.
“They turned the screen towards me and asked if it was me and I replied yes, but a few years ago. They are coming to the game.
“Also, I can’t ask for any more from our supporters. They do as much as they can for us. Whoever turns up for us, I know we will get their full backing.”