Snodgrass looking for the perfect start with Scotland

The Norwich winger, who turns 25 tomorrow, went to the pictures with his school mates to see Scotland lose 2-1 to then holders Brazil in the opening fixture of the 1998 World Cup finals in France.

Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since and the quest to reach Brazil in 2014 starts with the visit of Serbia to Hampden on Saturday, followed by the second game of their qualifying double-header against Macedonia next Tuesday night.

With Belgium, Croatia and Wales also in Group A, former Leeds United favourite Snodgrass knows qualification will be far from easy.

However, the Glaswegian is adamant that Craig Levein’s side are not just going along for the ride.

“I was in primary five or six and I remember watching it in the cinema with John Collins scoring a penalty against Brazil,” said the Glaswegian, recalling the World Cup opener in the Stade de France.

“It would be good to get there (Brazil). You can’t change the past, you can only affect what happens in the future and the only way to do that is by putting things right on Saturday and Tuesday.

“Everyone is raring to go and there would be no better way than kicking off the campaign with a win at Hampden.

“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think we would get maximum points from both games and we will approach both games looking to win them.

“Brazil is what all the lads are driving towards and it will take hard work and endeavour and Saturday will be the massive test for us to see if all the hard work is paying off.

“The best countries in the world go and do it (qualify) every time they are called upon.

“We are not here to make up the numbers. There is a firm belief about this squad that we can go and pick up maximum points and qualify.

Snodgrass scored his first Premier League goal for the Canaries following his close-season move from Leeds in a 1-1 draw at Tottenham at the weekend. He also notched in his first start for Scotland in a 2-1 friendly win over Denmark at Hampden last August.

However, the former Under-21 player is setting aside all thoughts of personal glory and focusing only on the perfect start to the campaign for the national team.

“I feel good especially after getting a goal in the Premier League and I am glad it has come.

“And it would be good to get on the score sheet on Saturday but as I said before, it’s not about individuals, it is about team performances and I would gladly take three points any day.”