PARIS Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha has singled out the player he admires the most in the Scotland side ahead of Portugal’s rematch with their Nations League rivals.
Vitinha is expected to feature for Roberto Martinez’s men in their League A Group 1 encounter with Steve Clarke’s charges at Hampden this evening.
The 24-year-old cost French giants PSG a cool €41.5m when he joined them from Wolves two years ago and is one of a number of world-class players in the visitors’ squad.
Read more:
- The Scotland record Steve Clarke 'didn't know about'
- Souttar warns Scotland against expecting too much too soon from Doak
- Portugal star delivers ominous warning ahead of Scotland tie
However, he is expecting a difficult evening in Mount Florida having seen his national team struggle to secure a 2-1 triumph in Lisbon last month.
The 22-times capped playmaker confessed he is a fan of Billy Gilmour, who joined Napoli in Italy earlier this season, after watching the closely-contested match.
“We have already watched and talked about the strength of Scotland and we already have the reference of the first match,” he said. “We know which of the players are key, what things we have to do to break the dynamics from the Scottish team.
“If you want me to speak about one player it is a little bit unfair. it is not about one player, it is about the team, it is about the physicality that they have. We know what we have to do to break that.
“Maybe he is a little bit different regarding the way the team plays, but I think he adds a lot to this team.”
Read more:
- Cristiano Ronaldo & Portugal train at St Mirren's stadium
- Five things Steve Clarke must do for Scotland to beat Portugal
- Steve Clarke wants to make sure Scotland get the best out of Ben Doak
Vitinha added: “When I talk about physicality being the main characteristic or the prime thing when you look at Scotland, it is not that they don't have the rest of it, of course not.
“It is just that I think that is the most dangerous aspect that they can harm us, and that is the aspect that we have to look at and pay attention to.
“But still, we have to equal that physicality as well in the duels because we know that we are not going to get away from the physicality of the Scotland team always. So when the duels come, we have to win it as well.
“We are a team that has strengths. We have pace, we have skills, we have tactical skills as well. We do have a quite complete team.
“So tomorrow we plan to focus on technical aspects and maybe try not to enter into that physical game, that is known for the Scottish team. I think that will be important.”
