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Scotland will stay humble as they look to battle past Cyprus and keep themselves in the driving seat to qualify for Euro 2024, according to former national team striker Charlie Nicholas.<\/p>\n
Steve Clarke\u2019s men are aiming for a fifth straight Group A win in Larnaca on Friday night, which, if other results go their way next week, could see Scotland\u2019s place in the finals confirmed.<\/p>\n
Nicholas, who played for Scotland at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, believes Clarke will not allow any thoughts of having already booked a ticket to Germany next summer as his team focus on showing the required mentality in the heat of the AEK Arena.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time I can ever recall being in a position of comfort in a group like this. It is a kind of weird experience,\u201d Nicholas told the PA news agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cSteve Clarke\u2019s business as a manager is being serious, so the boys will stay humble \u2013 and I do think they will get it tough in Cyprus.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNow this becomes the most important one, because it would give us a really nice buffer if we were to win it, but it will be tight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be in the heat, which obviously doesn\u2019t complement us, but we have put ourselves in a great position so we must not let it slip now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scotland\u2019s assistant coach John Carver has branded the current squad the \u201cmost focused group\u201d he has ever worked with, having seen them beat Spain at Hampden Park in March and then win away in Norway.<\/p>\n
Nicholas added: \u201cLooking at these guys, what you have got is a lot of important players playing at top football clubs \u2013 even with Kieran Tierney\u2019s move, it is to a top club in Spain (at Real Sociedad).<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a lot of knowledge in there and also with that desire \u2013 they will be told the whole truth when it comes to these qualifying games, because we are so close to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we go and win in Cyprus, that doesn\u2019t guarantee us (qualification), but it more or less does \u2013 and in Scotland we have learned never to take too much for granted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are a well-respected group with what they stand for together. There is no faking with these guys, they are bang on the money and know where they are trying to get to.\u201d<\/p>\n
On September 17, Nicholas will be joining broadcaster Jeff Stelling when he takes on a 34th marathon Football March for Prostate Cancer UK, from Wembley to Wycombe Wanderers, in honour of the late Bill Turnbull.<\/p>\n
Former Celtic and Arsenal striker Nicholas lost his father, Chic, to prostate cancer, which affects one in eight men, in December 2009.<\/p>\n
The Scot stressed the importance of early diagnosis, which brings with it more options for advanced treatments such as radiotherapy and better life outcomes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we (men) are a bit afraid about it, because you don\u2019t want to turn up at the doctors and think you are going to get bad news,\u201d Nicholas said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is scary and it is not nice to go and find out \u2013 but the thing is if you have symptoms, then just go and get it checked.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBecause if you sadly have got it and they can spot it early enough, that actually puts you in a good position. It might not sound like it, but you really are.\u201d<\/p>\n
:: Jeff Stelling\u2019s Football March 2023 is sponsored by specialist cancer care provider GenesisCare. You can sponsor Jeff to honour Bill\u2019s legacy and help beat prostate cancer via \u2013 https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/campaign\/JeffStellingsFootballMarch2023<\/p>\n