Norwich striker Snodgrass is hoping Craig Levein picks him to play against Serbia at Hampden on Saturday in our opening Group A game. It is a difficult match for the national team TURN TO PAGE 43

ROBERT SNODGRASS today insisted Scotland will not be playing in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers just to make up numbers.

Norwich striker Snodgrass is hoping Craig Levein picks him to play against Serbia at Hampden on Saturday in our opening Group A match. It is a difficult match for the national team to launch their bid to reach the finals in Brazil in two years time.

However, the Glasgow-born 24-year-old is adamant Scotland can win it - and then go on and book a place in our first major tournament since France '98.

Speaking at the team base at Mar Hall today, he said: "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.

"There is a good mood about the camp, there always has been every time I have been here.

"We have a job to do as footballers and we will approach each game thinking we can win it. It starts on Saturday and everybody is raring to go."

Meanwhile, Portugal are the only side to have made an upwards move inside the top 10 of the latest Fifa rankings which were released this morning.

The table, which takes into account August's internationals, sees Paulo Bento's men move from fifth to fourth, with Uruguay swapping places with them.

Reigning world and European champions Spain stay top, with Germany second and England third.

The rest of the top 10 is made up of Italy, Argentina, Holland, Croatia and Denmark.

Switzerland have broken into the top 20 with a three-place rise from 23rd, while Slovenia are big movers, up nine spots to 24th, with Belgium also making a leap from 53rd to 40th.

The Republic of Ireland remain 26th, Wales drop eight places to 45th, Scotland stay in 47th place and Northern Ireland in the wilderness in 129th.