McMANUS: WORLD CUP IS THE PINNACLE

McManus - World Cup dream.

Stephen McManus has lifted the Clydesdale Bank Premier League trophy, faced the cream of European football in the Champions League and worn the captain's armband for both club and country.

But the Celtic defender, 25, insists representing Scotland in the World Cup finals in South Africa would top the lot.

McManus was part of the side who narrowly missed out on qualification for this summer's European Championships, when defeat to Italy in the final qualifier spelt the end of the dream.

And he believes yet another glorious failure will only spur the Scots on once again as they prepare to embark upon another campaign.

"I think a lot of the lads were proud of what we achieved after the Italy game," he said.

"I know it sounds horrendous - being proud after failing to qualify - but it was the manner we went about our business.

"At the start of the campaign, nobody gave us a hope but the fans, the country, the Press, everybody got behind the team and it was amazing.

"I was really proud to be a part of that. Of course it gives us more desire to get there this time.

"We want to play in a big tournament and for me it would be the pinnacle of my career.

"I have always said, unless you are actually playing in it, you can't describe the feeling of having the whole country behind you.

"Playing for one of the Old Firm, you've got one half of the city that, no matter what happens, gets behind you and the other half are looking to slaughter you.

"But, when I'm playing for my country, I've only ever felt everybody getting behind me and what a buzz it gives you.

"The Scotland fans are tremendous."

Scotland face a daunting double-header away to Macedonia and Iceland when their World Cup qualifying campaign gets under way next month.

"The expectation levels have been raised," said McManus.

"A couple of folk have said to me: 'What a great group you've got'. But you look at it and say: 'Not really'.

"We are going to Macedonia and Norway, who do well, and we've got Iceland and Holland, so it's a very tough group.

"It shows how far we've come that people are now expecting us to qualify. But it is going to be really tough and we won't get anywhere without hard work.

"If you offered us four points out of six from the first two games, we'd bite your hand off. That would be a tremendous achievement.

"I think the other countries will give us more respect. For us, it's a case of doing our best.

"It's a very hard campaign. We never seem to get it easy. There's no doubt the Dutch will be favourites.

"They showed at the Euros just how good they are and they have a lot of top players with some of the best clubs in Europe.

"One of two of our players play in the Champions League but we don't have any world-class players, while the Dutch have a few.

"But we make up for that with passion and heart."

Scotland face Northern Ireland at Hampden tonight in their final friendly before the qualifiers begin in earnest.

"If we win the game, great," said McManus.

"If we lose the game, we aren't going to lose confidence going into the World Cup qualifiers."