JOHN COLLINS believes the special family atmosphere that exists in the Scotland camp can help them progress to the second stage of the World Cup for the first time. Craig Brown's men face Norway at Bordeaux's Stade Lescure today, needing a win after their opening day defeat by Brazil. Monaco midfielder Collins, who will win his 51st cap in his adopted homeland, believes team spirit will see the Scots through. He said: ''It is true there is nobody in our set-up you could call a superstar. Maybe Scottish sides in the past had better individuals and bigger names but in the end they did not qualify for the second phase. We've got excellent team spirit. Everyone respects and plays for each other. There are no cliques within the squad. We all eat together and when we have a night out, everybody goes. It really helps that the manager stays faithful to players who have done the business for him at international level rather than judging them on club form. ''For a player to know the boss has confidence in him is great for morale," he added. "It means that a lot of the squad have been together for a long time, which gives it a club feel. It may sound simple but that is vital for achieving success. Reaching the finals was great, but we've got to end that record of never making progress once we qualify.'' Coach Craig Brown insists that today's game was always going to be the key game in Group A. Scotland probably have to win after being defeated by holders Brazil. The Stade Lescure is downmarket from the Stade de France, but Brown is happy to swap the pomp and ceremony of the opening day for a more realistic work place. Defeat would end Scotland's hopes and render the following week's game against Morocco in Saint-Etienne meaningless. The Scotland manager said: "There was lot of hype about our match with Brazil on the opening day. It was seen as a glamour game and rightly so. But the match against Norway is the one that could make or break our hopes of qualifying for the second phase. In the hearts and the heads of the players this game is more important than the opener. There is no tension in the camp, just eager anticipation of the game to come. The players are ready to play now and there is great anxiety to get on with this fixture." Norway, who drew 2-2 with Morocco in their opening game, are undefeated in 17 months and are Europe's in-form team. Scotland v Norway Trivia In 11 previous matches, Norway have won only one, 4-3 at home in 1963. This is the first World Cup meeting between the countries since two qualifying matches for Italia 90. In the second, Jim Leighton fumbled in a last-minute equaliser. Luckily, Scotland only needed a draw to qualify. Leighton, who plays wearing contact lenses, is the oldest player in France 98 (39 years 327 days if he plays against Norway) - but no-one's likely to match Stanley Matthews' record of being the oldest player in two separate tournaments: 1950 (aged 35) and 1954 (39). Scotland's last goal against Norway was scored by France 98 reject Ally McCoist in 1992. If Scotland send out the same team who lost to Brazil, it'll be the first time they've picked an unchanged starting line-up in a World Cup tournament since 1974. Scotland defender Colin Calderwood knows most of the Norwegian players well. Twelve of the squad play in the English Premiership, including two of Calderwood's teammates at Tottenham, goalkeepers Frode Grod�s and Espen Baardsen, as well as Tor-Andr� Flo, who scored four times when Chelsea beat Tottenham 6-1 last season.

HENDRY SAYS DEFEAT IS 'UNTHINKABLE'   COLIN HENDRY says Scotland have still to peak at France 98 despite their creditable defeat at the hands of Brazil. The Scots' captain is convinced the best is yet to come from his side, whose World Cup destiny rests on today's meeting with Norway in Bordeaux. Hendry helped nullify the threat of Ronaldo, but now Scotland face the prospect of being the first team to be ruled out of qualification for the next phase should they lose out to Norway. For Hendry that is an unthinkable prospect. He said: ''There is still more to come from this side, and we are not going to be playing against Brazil in the next two games, even though we respect our opponents. There is a maturity in the Scotland team now, we do play football and it will get better. I hope it will get better immediately. ''We know Norway have come on rapidly in the last few years. But you always believe in what you have yourself, and Kevin Gallacher and Gordon Durie gave Brazil countless problems. People suggest it will be a physical game, but to be quite honest I don't think you saw that from us. I feel we have actually matured as a team and learned how to keep the ball to dictate the pace of games. But we can mix it if we need to as well so I think we've all the ingredients to cope for ourselves against Norway.'' Norway's 2-2 draw with Morocco means that if Craig Brown's men can triumph today, or at least avoid defeat, they will approach their final Group A game poised to make history. ''We have to take something from the game and we must not be beaten," said the defender. "Norway are the same, because if they draw they may need to beat Brazil. I don't think Norway will change the way they have played before, while we might look to change our system. ''But having said that, Craig Brown has dropped no hints at all - when you are involved at this level you have to keep your options open. Norway might be in form but it's up to them to score against us, it's doen to them to score the goals. To my mind, the Brazilians didn't really miss that many chances in Paris, we were proud of how we stopped them, and we can do the same again and more against Norway.''

GALLACHER IS MISSING BIG DUNCAN'S POWER		NORWAY READY FOR A 'TOUGH FIGHT'
KEVIN GALLACHER is desperate to continue his World Cup dream in France. But he claims Scotland would have a better chance of progressing to the second round if Duncan Ferguson had changed his mind and ended his self-imposed international exile. ''Personally it would have been good to see Duncan in the World Cup,'' said the Blackburn striker. ''It would have given us another option. But Duncan is his own man and he is the only one who can change his mind. A lot of us have tried to persuade him but it's up to Duncan and if he ever wants to come back, I'm sure the lads will open their arms to him. Maybe one day he will change his mind.'' Gallacher was on the fringe of the final 22-man squad for the 1990 finals but, under the auspices of coach Craig Brown, he finished top scorer in the qualifying group and is one of the first names on the teamsheet. ''It's been a long time coming,'' he said. ''I was part of the squad that played in 1990 up until the last minute. Unfortunately, I didn't make it into the final 22. This one is a little more special because I'm more involved this time. I missed the first couple of games where I came on as substitute. But once I got a run in the team things went well for me. "The way Scotland played in the qualifiers, they were attacking and created chances for the strikers. And it was up to us to put the ball in the net and I was very fortunate in two or three games. At this level, you don't get many chances. So when they do come, you have to take them.''		NORWAY are fully aware that today's clash is a must-win affair. ''We know we have to play better than we did in the draw with Morocco, when we didn't produce our best performance,'' said coach Egil Olsen. ''We now have to hope we can beat both Scotland and Brazil.'' The Norwegian players are convinced they can send Scotland home early. ''The Scots must win and we also need to win," said Ronny Johnsen. "So we're prepared for a tough fight. I think we'll play better because we feel a lot more settled now we've got our first game out of the way. We're trying not to think about the pressure. We're thinking about the things we need to do on the pitch.'' Olsen will delay his decision on whether to make changes to his team until the last possible minute: ''I've thought hard about it and there probably will be changes, but how many I can't say. We're probably the most predictable of all the teams in the World Cup and our style won't change. What you will see is some direct Norwegian play.'' Centre back Dan Eggen may be dropped, with Henning Berg shuffling across to the middle of the defence and Leeds' Gunnar Halle coming in as a wing back. Changes are also expected in midfield, where Erik Mykland - regarded as Norway's most skilful player, but bypassed by much of the action against Morocco - may see his starting place under threat. Berg and Mykland were caught out at the weekend, having partied in a nightclub until the early hours. Olsen declined to say if he had taken any action against the pair, who he branded ''a pair of gangsters.''

For all the World Cup results and news, fun and breaking news, visit our website at www.football365.co.uk top