Centered Callum McGregor insists Scotland’s pumped-up gamers are each bit as motivated because the Ukraine squad hoping to present their battle-scarred nation a World Cup elevate.
The groups will face off at Hampden on Wednesday searching for the end result which can arrange a showdown with Wales in Cardiff and depart them only one step away from Qatar.
However for Ukraine, the match additionally holds higher significance as they appear to ship a symbolic message out to the watching world making clear they won't bow to the Russian aggression that has price 1000's of lives, devastated cities throughout the nation and despatched tens of millions scurrying for refuge overseas.
Celtic skipper McGregor has big sympathy for these caught up within the battle.
However he’s additionally adamant that Scotland qualifying for a primary World Cup since 1998 will imply simply as a lot to the Scots as it will to the war-torn Ukrainians.
The Scotland midfield ace mentioned: “They will’t have extra motivation than us.
“We’ve waited a very, actually very long time to have that chance to get again to a World Cup so their motivation can’t be any greater than ours.
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“We simply should method the sport professionally.
“We clearly have sympathy for the scenario over there and it’s unhappy to see.
“However we nonetheless have a job to do.
“When the sport begins, we've got to be simply as motivated, if no more so, to win the sport.
“That’s our full focus within the days main as much as the sport. Once we cross that white line, we've got to be able to go.”
Hampden is for certain to be awash with emotion forward of kick-off, with the Tartan Military anticipated to placed on a present of solidarity with their Ukranian counterparts in opposition to Vladimir Putin’s vile, unlawful invasion.
However McGregor additionally believes the most important present of respect his facet can supply Oleksandr Petrakov’s workforce is to deal with the sport as in the event that they had been going through another opponent.
He mentioned: “I don’t suppose it’s a steadiness. When the sport kicks off we've got to go.
“I feel if anyone expects us to do something apart from that, they’re flawed.
“We respect the scenario. It’s actually robust to see. We flick on the information every single day and one thing else has occurred. It’s a horrific scenario.
“However we've got a sport of soccer to play on Wednesday and they are going to be simply as motivated as us to win.
"That’s sport. When the sport comes, it's a must to put every part to at least one facet and do every part to win.”
McGregor turned the primary Scot in 23 years to web at a significant event when he pounced in opposition to Croatia finally summer time’s Euros.
His Hampden strike wasn’t sufficient to stop an early exit however that style of big-stage motion as whetted his urge for food for extra.
“It was a superb second personally for me however bitter-sweet as we by no means bought via the group,” he mentioned.
“It was nonetheless a very good second in my profession.
“To see the build-up and the sensation across the nation going into that event, that’s what we wish to have.
“We would like all eyes on us going into the event, the hype round it, the magnitude of the video games, the gamers you’ll come up in opposition to.
“The Euros had been actually particular in that sense and I can solely suppose in the event you get to a World Cup it is going to be magnified much more than that.
“So the motivation is 100% there for us.”