Graeme Souness has stressed the importance of Scotland qualifying for the World Cup over beating England. Tim Tebow Jersey . Gordon Strachans side began their qualifying campaign last month with a 5-1 win in Malta and host Lithuania on Saturday before traveling to Slovakia for their next two qualifiers.Next up after that is a meeting with England at Wembley and the Scots will be keen to replicate their 1-0 success there when the teams last met competitively in 1999. Souness believes that can happen, but would readily accept defeats in both games against them in favour of ending the countrys 20-year wait to get back to a major tournament.The former Rangers and Liverpool manager, capped 54 times, said: Gordon will try to get the message across that this is about three points. Souness was capped 54 times for Scotland and appeared at three World Cup tournaments You cant afford to get caught up in the Auld Enemy thing. You would take losing to them twice and winning every other game and getting there.It is a bit like when I went to Ibrox and said I dont mind losing to Celtic if we win the league and [people said] What?Its the same thing - its always about qualification. The bragging rights from beating England only last for a few weeks. Gordon Strachans men host Lithuania on Saturday then travel to Slovakia for their next World Cup Qualifier The excitement of going to a tournament, the build-up, being there, what that would do to the nation and the benefits to Scottish football would be far greater if we lost twice to England and us going than beating England twice and not going there.When Scotland last went to a tournament - the 1998 World Cup in France - it was their eighth appearance at a finals event in 24 years. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ?£6.99. No contract. The barren spell since has brought increasing pressure to end it and Sky Sports pundit Souness believes that is achievable, despite England being clear favourites to win Group F in the European Qualifiers.He added: It will be difficult. Obviously England are outstanding favourites but they are not certainties. I dont think this is the strongest group England have ever had but I think you have to fancy them to qualify. Scotland began their campaign with a 5-1 win in Malta last month Ive always believed it is a numbers game. I used to say that us qualifying for a World Cup was a success and I used to get my head bitten off for saying that.We are a nation of maybe less than five million against England, who have over 60 million. Common sense tells you that with more to pick from, they will be a better team. It has always been the way.That doesnt mean to say we cant beat them on occasions but if we played them 100 times they are going to win the vast majority of times. Scotland take on Gareth Southgates England team at Wembley on November 11 We dont have players who are playing at Manchester United or Arsenal and there is a reason why the players we have got are not at these big clubs.They are not deemed good enough and that is why they are playing in the Championship and lower Premier League teams. We have to accept that - but that doesnt mean to say we cant roll them over.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Martin out to make his mark Charlies WC Qualifier predictions McGhee: Paterson can deliver Snodgrass: All to play four Custom New York Mets Jerseys . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit. Gary Carter Jersey . However, Therrien added that Galchenyuks status for next Wednesdays game against the Detroit Red Wings is questionable. Galchenyuk has been out since Jan. 6 with a broken right hand. http://www.metsbaseballauthentic.com/keith-hernandez-mets-jersey/ . The team announced that it exercised the options on 15 players including goalkeepers Evan Bush, Maxime Crepeau and Troy Perkins, defenders Matteo Ferrari, Karl W.ANAHEIM, Calif. - Teemu Selanne took one last tour of the Anaheim rink after the final horn, waving his stick at cheering fans while players from both teams banged their sticks on the ice. Despite the melancholy look on his face, the Finnish Flash said he has no regrets about returning to the Anaheim Ducks for one last season, even after they fell well short of another Stanley Cup title. Selannes 21-season NHL career likely ended Thursday night with a 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in Game 7 of their second-round series. The 43-year-old forward has maintained hell retire this summer, keeping to his plan even after starring in his sixth Olympics and playing a significant role during the best regular season in franchise history in Anaheim, his home for parts of 15 seasons. "Ive been flirting with this decision for a long time, but the passion and the fun always brought me back," said Selanne, who didnt score in the finale. "I still love this game, and I still know I can play, but it is better this way than having different situations, and thats why I think it is the right time." The crowd chanted "Lets Go Teemu" in the final minutes, with even Kings fans joining in. After the final horn, Selanne accepted congratulations and eventually made it to the dressing room, where his famed composure slipped. "I tried, but when I came in here, I couldnt hold myself anymore," Selanne said. "I didnt know what to do out there." Selanne kept returning to the Ducks for seven straight years after he first contemplated retirement following their only Stanley Cup championship in 2007, each time hoping the Ducks would make another title run. He kept moving up the NHLs career scoring chart, currently sitting 15th with 1,457 points and 11th with 684 goals. Selannes ice time with the Ducks dwindled this year while coach Bruce Boudreau worked younger players into key roles. He still played a dependable role in Anaheim, bottling his frustration for one more run at a Cup. "The 2007 Stanley Cup has to be the biggest crown for my career," Selanne said. Mookie Wilson Jersey. "To be honest, the most proud I am is I have been able to play so many years and at this age. You all know when you get older, its not going to get any easier. But to be able to compete against these young guys and still enjoy this and play well, that has been the greatest thing in my career. Im really thankful for that." Selanne has a full life in Southern California waiting for him after retirement. He opened a successful steak house in Laguna Beach last year, and his four children are comfortable in their year-round home in Coto De Caza, an Orange County community on Selannes beloved golf course. Yet in classic Selanne fashion, he didnt slam the door completely shut on the possibility he could play elsewhere next season. Speculation has been rampant in Finland and Russia about the possibility of luring Selanne to Jokerit, the Helsinki-based club thats joining the Kontinental Hockey League in the fall. "I dont know, and I dont think so," Selanne said a potential move to Jokerit. "I know there is a lot of interest for that, but I always said I was going to retire here. To be honest, I really dont have to play anywhere anymore. I could if I want, but right now I dont want to." Selanne began his pro career with three years in Jokerits junior development program, and he played three seasons with the big-league club before joining the Winnipeg Jets for his record-setting NHL rookie year in 1992-93. The game also might have been a finale for Saku Koivu, Selannes fellow Finn and longtime friend. The 39-year-old Koivu was the Montreal Canadiens captain before moving to Anaheim five years ago. "I really dont have an answer for you," Koivu said. "Usually after the season, the last three or four years, Ive been signing one-year contracts. And Im going to go the same road, just to get away from the game for a couple of weeks and really take a good careful look at what happened, how the season went, and if there is enough left to come back and push for another year." 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