[Sport] 'Beating Greece would be massive' - Scotland's Dykes

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Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Sunday, 23 March Kick-off: 17:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch on BBC Scotland, BBC Two Scotland & iPlayer; listen on BBC Radio Scotland & Sounds; live text coverage & in-play clips on the BBC Sport website & app

Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes was speaking to BBC Scotland's Amy Canavan

 

From a dominant and fearless first half to a defensively sound second, Thursday night in Greece was a really good win for Scotland.

The Greeks' home record over the last few years has been outstanding, so to go over there and get the win is a real credit to the boys.

Everyone playing showed a lot of good things, there were some great performances and, finally, we got a little bit of luck that we are due - but you make your own luck.

I think the boys did that, so I think they should go into this game on Sunday full of confidence and, obviously, with the advantage, we're looking in a good position.

But it's definitely not dead.

The first game was always going to be a little bit nervy, but I thought, particularly in the first half, our movement was very fluid and very confident.

The front four, including Kenny McLean and Billy Gilmour sitting behind them, was really attacking - which is great to see and I hope we see more of that at Hampden. That's where we were fearless.

Look at the defence, too, with Anthony Ralston and Grant Hanley especially. Two guys who haven't really had that many minutes this season, but both were excellent.

They came in, knew what they needed to do with this team and with the manager and both put in outstanding performances.

Grant's a top guy who I'm lucky enough to have as a club team-mate now. Football is not always easy, but the tough times show people's character and Grant's just top.

As a person, he's a leader and a really good team-mate because you always know what you're going to get with him on and off the pitch. He's a great guy and I'm so pleased for him.

He, with the other leaders in the squad, will make sure the mood is relaxed. Everyone will be happy and joking around. Just the same old with the squad we have.

But everyone will be focussed on the game tonight at a full Hampden because we want to be playing against the best teams in League A of the Nations League.

'We got knocked down but stood back up again'

To stay in the top group of the Nations League would be a massive achievement in itself.

You see the teams that we've been playing and I'm sure the Tartan Army would've been saying at the start of the campaign that they'd want more of that.

People have been saying for years we've got to get back to major tournaments and we've proven that we're good enough having got to the last two Euros.

The tournament in Germany just didn't go in our favour. It was a disappointment for us all as it's just not how we wanted it to go.

But it shows our character and it shows what kind of players we have on and off the pitch to put in the sort of performances we have recently.

We had a setback, we got knocked down, but we stood back up again and we kept fighting.

Now we've got back into our rhythm again. Form comes back and it looks like, at the moment, we are getting there as our confidence returns too.

If we get a win over Greece, which I hope we do, and we remain in League A, then it's a massive achievement and we can look on to the next thing... the World Cup qualifiers.

 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cg70m7yv9k9o