Scotland can draw inspiration from Murray brothers and upset France says captain Darren Fletcher ahead of friendly clash

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher has urged his side not to let their heads drop after losing to Italy

Scotland upsetting the hosts of Euro 2016 in their own backyard on Saturday. Andy Murray capturing his third career Grand Slam in the French Open final 24 hours later.

Of the two few would argue that the tennis offers the greater chance of Scottish success this weekend.

The national football team went 90 minutes against Italy in Malta on Sunday night without a shot on target. Their one and only corner of the game came in the 70th minute.

British No 1 Andy Murray (left) is through to the quarter-finals of this year’s French Open

 Yet Darren Fletcher is one of life’s optimists. Meeting Scotland’s most decorated sporting icon during a Davis Cup knockabout in Birmingham last year the national football captain took inspiration from the experience.

A Scottish victory in Metz this weekend will strike many as unlikely. But the same applied in 2007 when Fletcher played in the game won by a memorable James McFadden Paris screamer.

Citing Murray as his evidence, the midfielder believes hard work, belief and dedication bring the most unexpected rewards.

‘I get on really well with Jamie Murray and my meeting with Andy last year came about through that,’ said the West Bromwich Albion skipper.

‘I met Jamie in America on a trip with Manchester United and he did a tennis exhibition.

‘He’s a big United fan and we hit it off.

‘That was a couple of summers ago and when the Davis Cup was in Birmingham I went down to see Jamie and he sprung a surprise on me by getting me to chat and play a bit with Andy.

‘Really I’m good friends with Jamie and even if you look at him you see how dedicated and professional he is and how he goes about his business.

‘They are two world class Scots performing at the very peak of their sport.

‘You learn how they approach their individual sport and because I have a good relationship with them I wish Andy all the best this week.’

Recently touching the heights as men’s doubles world No1, Jamie has already crashed out of the doubles event at the Roland Garros.’

Weather permitting, brother Andy harbours greater hopes of success against the mercurial, diminutive French talents of local hero Richard Gasquet in the single’s quarter-finals.

How a boy from Dunblane came to be a Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic tennis champion remains the most remarkable of sporting stories.

Even now there are few in Scotland who can fathom quite how it happened. Least of all those charged with taking advantage of the huge, obsessive interest in football.

After the defeat to the Italians in Malta’s Ta’Qali Stadium on Sunday night Gordon Strachan bemoaned the inability of his makeshift squad to pass the ball properly.

Fletcher captained Scotland as they lost 1-0 to Italy without registering a shot on target in the match

Unless the players improve Scotland’s manager finds himself embarking on a hiding to nothing in Metz and beyond.

In contrast Murray has a realistic chance of delivering his first major on clay because he marries ability to a ruthless dedication to improvement and physical conditioning.

While Scotland’s national football team will spend the summer watching Euro 2016 on television following another frustrating qualification failure Murray will carry British hopes on his shoulders at Wimbledon and the Olympics.

‘When you see Scots operating at the highest level it can inspire you,’ said Fletcher. ‘I always remember watching Barry Ferguson play at a high level in the Champions league with Rangers and being man of the match and dominating games.

‘My mindset then became if he can do it why can’t I? I think you’ve always got to try and do that.’

There is no shortage of inspiration in football itself.

Antonio Conte’s Italy team are unlikely to trouble the winner’s podium in Paris at the climax of the European Championships yet refused to let Scotland land a punch on Sunday night.

Barely shifting out of second gear an Italian team preparing to face Belgium, Sweden and Ireland at the Euros outplayed and outclassed Scotland. Those of generous nature might point out the Scots significantly less to play for. These days a gig as the warm-up act is as good as it gets.

‘The manager here has spoken to the lads about the Italians,’ added Fletcher.

‘He told the young ones to look and see how strong they were, how fit they were and how good they were on the ball.

‘It was a tough game against a high class side. They are used to that ‘Juventus’ formation with the three centre-halves and they work the ball well.

Fletcher believes that Scotland can draw inspiration from the Murray brothers ahead of their next match

‘We did a lot of chasing and harrying and it was a long night. We were disappointed to lose the goal because we were sticking in there.

‘Once they got the goal it was difficult to get one back. We had a chance with Matty Ritchie, but we didn’t do enough when we had the ball to threaten them.’

Italy, in truth, could and should have won by more. The excellence of goalkeeper David Marshall allied to a debut at right-back for Callum Paterson of Hearts might have been the only positives the Scots could take from the experience.

Strachan spoke afterwards of the need for young Scottish footballers to learn how to beat a player and pass the ball. This seems like common sense rather than rocket science but Scotland’s greatest footballing minds remain unable to crack it.

The SFA board will discuss performance director Brian McClair’s proposals to revamp the game’s grassroots on June 30.

Even if he pushes them through in the face of resistance from lower league clubs it’s merely the start of a long, hard road. One Fletcher believes no one should flinch from.

‘Listen, the Italians work hard in the gym away from football and the manager is telling the young players not to put a ceiling on performance levels,’ he said.

‘The Murrays, Andy and Jamie, are the perfect example of that and when you speak to them you realise how much work they put into things.

‘They are a credit to Scotland and to their sport.

‘I wish Andy all the best this week in Paris and hope that we can end the season with a good result in Metz.’