Scotland need to beat Wales if they are to have a realistic hope of making it to Brazil.
That is the stark admission of central defender Christophe Berra, who will try to keep the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey at bay in the Cardiff City Stadium.
Following two frustrating home draws against Serbia and Macedonia in World Cup qualifying Group A, the Scots are already playing catch-up.
Manager Craig Levein is under pressure to get it right against both the Welsh on Friday night and Belgium on Tuesday in Brussels.
Heading over the North Sea next week to face the classy Belgians having gone down in the first of the double-header is a scenario that Berra just does not want to contemplate.
”We know it’s a massive game against Wales and neither team can afford to get beat,” said Berra, who is likely to re-form his central defensive partnership with Wigan’s Gary Caldwell in Cardiff.
”The pressure is maybe slightly more on them being at home but to have a good chance of qualifying from this group we need to get a victory.
”Let’s be honest, Wales are a team that we are fancied to beat but they will be saying the same. They will fancy themselves to beat us but they are the kind of team you should be trying to win against both home and away. To have a realistic chance, that’s what we’ve got to do.
”That’s what you have to do to win the league if you’re a Man United or a Man City you have to win those tough games away from home.
”Going to Belgium, Serbia and Croatia is going to be difficult because they have world-class players and different environments.
”Looking at Wales, though, it’s a great chance for us to try and get three points. We will have to go out on that pitch and give 110% because we know if they are at the top of their game it will be in the balance it’s one of those games. There is massive pressure on both nations.”
The spotlight is shining like never before on Levein, who suffered the ignominy of being booed by large sections of the Scotland support during and after the last match against the Macedonians at Hampden.
He has been widely praised for burying the hatchet with striker Steven Fletcher following their infamous fall-out, but will feel the heat again if things go badly against Chris Coleman’s team.
”There will be pressure, not just on the manager but on the players as well,” added Berra. ”We enjoy being here, though, and working under the manager.
”We like training, we like the way we play. Everyone enjoys coming to Scotland gatherings now. I think the manager has done really well and we will be going out there against Wales to get the three points.”
The Wolves defender was asked if it must have been difficult for Levein to hear the boos ring out around Hampden last time out.
He replied: ”I think so but now we are expected to go out there and beat teams like Serbia. You have to realise they have top players and they thumped Wales 6-1. They have players in the Premier League for top teams. As for Macedonia, if you ask any football player or manager, they will tell you there are no easy games at international level.
”We all know ourselves we didn’t play to the standards that we would have liked, but the second half was a lot better and we were pushing to get that second goal. As you know, the hardest thing in football is putting the ball in the back of the net and we just couldn’t manage that.
”It’s a tough group and everybody knows that but we still have a chance because we’re only two points off top spot and if we win against Wales the whole outlook of the table and the group is different.”