EVEN four years on from one of the most humiliating nights in the history of Scottish football, Denis Law cannot bring himself to refer to Craig Levein by name.

He does have plenty to say, mind you, about the fateful evening in which the current director of football at Hearts, then in his role as Scotland manager, fielded that infamous 4-6-0 formation in the Synot Tip Arena and effectively signed his own death warrant at international level.

That one-goal defeat by a decidedly mediocre Czech Republic side pretty much ended all hopes Scotland had of qualifying for Euro 2012. However, for many supporters, including Law, it represented something infinitely more demoralising.

It was a betrayal of everything that Scotland once stood for, an admission of our own lack of ambition and faltering self-belief. To a man who played football with such a swagger - arm in the air, cuff gripped in hand as vanquished defenders cursed his uncanny habit of being in the right place at the right time - it was as low as it could get.

Law built his reputation on scoring goals. You can argue easily that Scotland has never produced anyone better at it. He racked up 237 goals in 404 appearances for Manchester United, still holds the club record of 46 in one season and is the only man from this little nation to have won the Ballon d'Or.

He is also the national team's joint all-time top scorer with 30 alongside Kenny Dalglish. Law fancied himself to get the better of anyone on the field and generally he did. It is not difficult to understand why he finds the idea of a Scotland side being sent out with no serious intention of putting the ball in the other team's net so mortally offensive.

Law finds it difficult to discuss Scotland's current renaissance under Gordon Strachan without mentioning what went before. Perhaps, though, it is because that ugly experience in the Czech Republic highlights just how far we have come.

Watching Strachan's side have a real go at world champions Germany during the second half of a 2-1 defeat in Dortmund in their first European Championship qualifier was exhilarating. Even though the Scots eventually escaped by the skin of their teeth with a 2-2 draw in Poland, the standard of the performance for the first hour in Warsaw was also exceptional.

Law senses there are real signs of a proper recovery under the current manager as Strachan nears the end of his second year in charge. We go for the throat again; we set out to win games and ask questions of teams, no matter their reputation. That, for this sprightly 74-year-old, is what Scotland is all about.

"I'm absolutely delighted that Gordon's back and managing Scotland," said Law. "There's one thing about him: he is a manager who wants his teams to play attacking football. That is what we love and that has got the crowd behind him now.

"We don't have to mention names, but there was one before who didn't even have a forward line. How does that come about? It was unbelievable, a sad day for Scotland. How could you win games? How could you entertain people. Was it all about avoiding defeat? Yes. It was very disappointing.

"We are Scotland. We were always an attacking team that tried to play nice football and score goals if we could. The nice thing about Gordon is that's back.

"Look back at the history of Scottish football and the national team and we have always had entertainers and goalscorers. Some were very much world-class players too. We had wee Jimmy Johnstone, Jim Baxter. There were so many that you were lucky to get a game for Scotland.

"I know it's changing as the years go on and we don't have the players in numbers, but good players are still coming through and Gordon will take us forward. He wants to entertain the people.

"You just feel something is going to happen with him in charge. Even before the game starts, you feel the lads are all behind him and they are together."

Strachan, of course, has installed Scott Brown of Celtic as his captain despite having Darren Fletcher back available for selection. The Manchester United midfielder has made only a handful of starts at club level this season following his return from a spell on the sidelines through ulcerative colitis and he has lost his place in the Scotland line-up, too.

Law remains close to Fletcher through their Old Trafford connection and is convinced the 30-year-old is still a hugely valuable presence within the Scotland set-up, despite no longer being in possession of the armband and no longer assured of a game.

"I think he can still have a big influence," said Law. "Darren is a very good player. Not a great player, but a very, very good player. He has experience as well. We all feel for him given the problems he has had with illness, but you can't forget Darren. He's such a good influence around the team as well."

As with everyone, Law's focus is fixed on Friday night's visit of the Republic of Ireland to Celtic Park. It would be wrong to label the match a 'must-win' fixture if Scotland are to reach the finals in France, but a victory would be more than welcome given the way this cut-throat group has been panning out.

The early part of the build-up has focused on the reception which Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy are likely to get at Celtic Park. Law is very much against the idea of players turning out for countries they are only connected to through grandparents, but concedes that his favourite player of all time, Alfredo di Stefano, was a serial offender, having played for Argentina, Colombia and Spain during his illustrious career. "It's not right, is it?" said Law. "It happens in the international game. Players come from one place and basically choose who they play for. I'm not into that.

"Di Stefano played for a few and he was my favourite player of all time, though. Ferenc Puskas, too. However, when your granny or your great granny is from Ireland and you were born in Sauchiehall Street, it's not great, is it? You play for your country."

Whilst points are the primary objective of the encounter with the Ireland, Scotland will be pride to play for next Tuesday evening when England come calling. Law is waiting for the match against the Auld Enemy with bated breath and is clear when asked whether Strachan's side are capable of winning after coming close at Wembley last August.

"Of course we can," exclaimed Law. "What a stupid question. We played well last time and were unlucky to lose, but you feel this next meeting is going to be even more of a game.

"I think even English fans are looking at us and thinking Scotland have a team again. It's been a while since they thought that.

"It was a shame they stopped the Scotland-England game because it's the oldest fixture in international football.

"I was at Wembley last year when they brought it back. We played extremely well in losing 3-2, but the point was that people realised Scotland were back on the international scene.

"It makes life easier for me when I meet friends, too, when Scotland are doing well. They really did rub it in when we weren't. It would be nice to get them back."