GLASGOW - Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko claims Group B leaders Scotland are still outsiders to qualify for Euro 2008.
The Chelsea frontman believes world champions Italy and Germany 2006 runners-up France are likely to overtake Alex McLeish's side.
Scotland currently have a one-point advantage over the Italians, with France a further point adrift, but the Scots have arguably the tougher run-in of the three with games against Ukraine, Georgia and Italy to come.
Seven points from their remaining three games would see Scotland to the finals, but Shevchenko admitted: "I want to see the strongest teams go through.
"I think that Italy and France will take the first two places, but Scotland still have a very good chance."
Ukraine have a game in hand on the top three but are six points behind France and must win all four of their remaining matches to stand any chance of qualifying.
Meanwhile, Scotland defender David Weir has told his team-mates: "We will be failures if we don't qualify."
The 37-year-old Rangers man insisted that Scotland's home and away wins over France earlier in qualifying would count for nothing if they missed out on their first major tournament since 1998.
"I would rather be France and have a difficult campaign and probably qualify than be Scotland doing well and not qualifying," he added.
Italy host Georgia on Saturday knowing failure to win would take their qualification hopes out of their hands.
Should the Azzurri slip up they will be reliant on Scotland and France doing likewise and would have to win their final group game at Hampden.
But Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who will captain the side in Fabio Cannavaro's absence, has warned his team-mates to focus on beating Georgia rather than the crucial trip to Scotland.
He said: "It's going to be tough to qualify, particularly because a few teams are making it more difficult than we expected it to be.
"On paper we have two easy games (against Georgia and the Faroe Islands), and one difficult game in Scotland."
Georgia are second bottom the group with just two wins from nine games, although they have proved difficult opponents.
They held Ukraine to a 1-1 draw last month and were only beaten 1-0 by France in a tight game earlier in the campaign.
France travel to the Faroe Islands knowing only a win is likely to keep their qualifying hopes alive.
Arsenal defender William Gallas is pushing for a place in the starting XI after overcoming the groin injury that has kept him out for most of the season.
Gallas told L'Equipe: "I am fit. I have trained with the team and physically I am okay. It's up to the coach whether I play or not but in my head I am ready.
"I am raring to go and after seven or eight weeks I want to start playing and enjoying myself."
Raymond Domenech has controversially left Juventus striker David Trezeguet out of his squad for the game against the Faroes and next week's clash with Lithuania.
The Faroes are rock-bottom of the group having lost all nine of their games to date.
