BURNLEY'S Graham Alexander is just a day away from one of the games of his life.

Scotland have one last chance to earn their place in next summer's Euro 2008 Championships.

Against all odds, they have done the double over France to get themselves into this phenomenal position.

Standing between them and the tournament, in Austria and Switzerland, is 90 minutes ... against the world champions.

The Tartan Army has been building up to tomorrow's showdown with Italy at Hampden Park all week.

Yet, amid all the euphoria and excitement, Alexander admits his call-up was overshadowed by events on the domestic front last week, with the manager who made him a Claret leaving the club by mutual consent.

"I've been in the game a long time and you see managers come and go. Last week really took me by surprise," said Alexander of Steve Cotterill's departure.

"Scotland was at the back of my mind and my wife told me about the call-up when I got home, but my thoughts were really with the manager. It was a completely weird day.

"When I came to Burnley he was great with me," continued the former Preston North End full back.

"I've played against Steve's teams for the last three years in the Preston v Burnley games, and when I'd met him on a couple of occasions he impressed me by the way he carries himself and the way he goes about his job.

"He made it very easy for me (after leaving Preston). He undestood the situation I was in and was 100 per cent supportive. He really sold it to me and made the move a lot easier.

"I'm sad to see him go, but at the same time I'm glad, even though it was only two months, that I worked with him. Working under him for that time, he improved me.

"Every player that's played under him in his time have become better players, and that's a testament to him.

"He has left a greater professionalism in us. We were professional every day and did things the right way and behaved the right way.

"We let him down a little bit, but he's definitely left a mark on Burnley Football Club."

Alexander's attentions have since turned to the international task in hand, and inflicting yet another Group B shock.

"It is great to test yourself against big players but now we've had a taste of beating them, with the two wins over France, we want to finish the job against Italy," he said.

"When they came to Hampden in 2005 and drew 1-1 they got a deflected equaliser, but that took them to the World Cup finals - which they won - while we failed to qualify. Yet I remember we went off the pitch that day disappointed because we had not beaten Italy.

"That sort of mentality now runs right through the Scotland set-up.

"I'm sure Italy will be respectful of us because they will look at our record in this campaign and they know we will be tough opponents. Yet they will expect to win. It would be a major disappointment for Italy, or France, if they did not reach any finals.

"But now it would be for us as well. We don't want any sort of glorious defeat' like Scotland have had in the past.

"We want to go all the way and we just have to be brave and not be scared of trying to succeed."

He added: "It's going to be a massive game - a one-off where you have to win to qualify for the Championship - and these are the ones you look forward to.

"We've got to go for it. We've done really well at home up to now.

"We're playing the world champions, but the whole group's been tough and we take confidence from beating France twice already."