Hleb backing Scotland to qualify

Hleb says the Belarus squad is racked by internal divisions

Belarus playmaker Alexander Hleb says he believes Scotland can pip Norway to the play-off place in Group Five.

Hleb, speaking as he arrived in Glasgow ahead of his country's meeting with Scotland on Saturday, said he felt the Scots were a better team than Norway.

"If Scotland beat Belarus they will qualify," said the Arsenal attacking midfielder on Thursday.

"When we play at home against Norway (on Wednesday) we expect to get three points," he added.

Belarus coach Anatoli Baidachny said Hleb is key to any hopes his side have of beating Scotland at Hampden.

"He is the best player in my team. He's a very good dribbler and I think he'll be a star in the English Premiership."

Baidachny conceded that his under-strength side had no chance of qualification, but stressed that they would not do Scotland any favours.

"We've come here to beat Scotland. Nobody thought Scotland would have had a chance to qualify but their hopes have been revived. But we won't help," he said.

We still have two games ahead of us and will give our best Alexander Hleb

Earlier in the week Hleb has admitted to problems in the Belarus camp, saying the players did not see eye-to-eye with Baidachny.

"I have to admit there are some problems within the team," he told the Scottish Sun.

"Good results may come only if there's a unity between players and coach. I can't say that this unity exists in the Belarus team at the moment."

Belarus have not enjoyed the best of qualification campaigns despite a promising start, and are out of the running for next year's World Cup tournament.

"I really wanted to make these World Cup finals, especially because they were in Germany - a country I know so well," added the 24-year-old.

"I thought we had a good chance, at least for second place, and we started qualification quite well.

"Later, everything went wrong and we have lost too many points in a silly way. To be honest, after the 2-0 defeat in Moldova, all I felt was ashamed of myself.

"That's why I said sorry to all the fans. You can lose but not to such an opponent as Moldova.

"Now we have lost 4-1 to Italy too, but we still have two games ahead of us and will give our best."