SCOTLAND coach Craig Brown was last night warned not to turn his back on psychology in his search for World Cup glory by personal developer Jack Black.
Glasgow-based Black believes he could help Scotland succeed where so many of our teams have failed in the past. He is an expert in sports psychology and has worked with some of the biggest names in Scottish sport such as Liz McColgan, Yvonne Murray, and Gavin Hastings.
He has also worked with Rangers, Aberdeen, St Mirren and Dundee United.
Black claims that the power of positive thinking can put Craig Brown's men on the football map by conquering World Cup holders Brazil on June 10, despite the Scotland coach insisting he was not interested in such methods.
Black said: ''When you play sport at the very highest level, you must realise that every person or team you compete against is just as good as you.
''And the difference between winning and losing is what is going on in the players' heads.
''If you go into the game saying 'I am going to win', you will win it. Craig should consider looking at other ways of helping the team and I would be delighted to talk to the squad.''
Black is a fan of the coach, but is critical of Brown's past tendency to talk down his players' abilities.
He said: ''Craig has been quoted as saying we are looking to finish second best in our World Cup group.
''He should be telling them that they are going to win.
''Saying there are no superstars in the squad does nothing for the players' morale.
''I can't believe we have already booked the plane home for the day after the group matches. What does that say to the players?
''However, to be fair, Craig is getting better and he has stopped saying that second place is what we should aim for.
''I worked with Andy Roxburgh before Euro 92, although the Rangers players in the squad were more keen to work with me than the others because of my previous work with the club.''
''I would be more than happy to work with the current squad if asked, but I don't think Craig rates what I do.''
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