ROBERTO Martinez insists Scotland can follow the Belgian blueprint to footballing success – IF they use the advantages of being a small nation to have everyone pulling in the same direction.
The former Motherwell midfielder, whose side take on Alex McLeish’s side in a Hampden friendly on Friday, is reaping the rewards of a remarkable crop of talent which is the envy of most nations in the world. Third-placed finishers in the World Cup this summer, Martinez puts it all down to a decision taken 15 years ago by the country’s various football stakeholders to buy into the development goals of the national association and feels that there is no reason why Scotland can’t do likewise.
“You have to try to look the advantages of being a small country in terms of numbers,” Martinez told Herald Sport. “Having a population of five million should allow you to get everyone around the table and all work towards the same goal, which is developing good young players for the future.
“That is something Belgium did very well 15 years ago and now we are reaping the rewards. The first goal is looking after Belgian football – THEN you can have the rivalry between the different teams like Anderlecht and Bruges. If you can get together, geographically as a small country you make decisions for the long term that will allow it to develop to the level we all know Scottish football has been capable of in the past.
“It is fascinating to work with a group of players like this,” he added. “Scotland and Belgium aren’t too far apart in terms of population [11 million to 5 million] but it has been about the structure over the last 15 years of how to develop young players in Belgium, and allow them to develop that technical ability. Teaching them different languages, allowing them to travel to sample different footballing cultures, going to England, and different leagues around the world and grow up as individuals.”
While Belgium mix it with the big boys, it is 20 years and counting since Scotland last qualified for a major tournament. Martinez feels that the Uefa Nations League, which Scotland enter against Albania in seven days’ time, can be a step in the right direction - not to mention the continual expansion of major finals.
“In international football now there is a real opportunity for any nation to build,” he added. “The Uefa Nations League gives a real opportunity to build against teams who are of a similar ranking, and really develop something. I am very excited about what Scctland can achieve. The major tournaments are opening more and more in terms of the amount of nations who will be involved. The Nations League will allow teams to be strong, more synchronised, and that is very interesting for Scotland in the next four or five years.”
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