ALL-ACTION striker Jean Claude Darcheville missed a sitter against Lyon which would have sent Rangers into the Champions League knockout stages - and he's delighted.

The Frenchman, who will start up front tonight, realises it would have denied Rangers their Uefa Cup Final place.

Darcheville was left red-faced when he failed to score from a few yards against his fellow countrymen at Ibrox back in December in a game his team lost 3-0.

However, he reckons that was the best thing that could have happened to the Glasgow club.

"I think Lyon would much rather be in our position now," he said.

"Sure I have had high points and low points this season, but now we are in the final and that is all that matters. Everything else is in the past.

"If you look at the teams left in the Champions League, Chelsea and Manchester United, it is hard to compete with them.

"It is great we have the chance to become stars of Rangers' history. I won't be remembered for my goals, because football is a team sport. We will be remembered together and we have the chance to really prove something as a team."

Darcheville, who also picked up a three-game ban for his red card against Lyon, has been a crucial player in Europe.

He netted against Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of the quarter-final in Portugal, and he's ready to perform the same lone striker role against the Russians.

He said: "It can be difficult, but I am happy to play any position that the manager tells me to, to help the team win.

"The most important thing is to prepare well. I have to focus and be ready mentally because you might only have one or two chances.

"It's not like some games where there are four or five chances. In Europe, I might not even get one. It was that way in the semi final against Fiorentina, when I didn't have any opportunities.

"If I score tonight and we lose it won't mean anything to me, but if I score and we win obviously it would mean everything to me."