Pat in no-win situation

International diplomat

"The boss wished me all the best, but then left me with one final message - 'Don't dare beat Scotland. I don't want you to come back here if you do'. We then had a little joke about the game but I get the feeling I can't win. "

- Patrice Evra


Patrice Evra admits he cannot win ahead of France's Euro 2008 qualifier with Scotland next week after being told by Sir Alex Ferguson not to ruin his country's chances of qualifying.

Following a daunting trip to Italy on Saturday, the French, who are currently top of Group B, host a Scotland side led by Evra's United team-mate Darren Fletcher at the Parc des Princes next Wednesday.

And Evra says he has been warned by the United boss not to report back to Carrington if France put any dent in Scotland's qualifying hopes.

"I had a chat with Sir Alex just before I left for France about the qualifying games," Evra told the Daily Record. "He wished me all the best, told me to go out there and do myself proud but then left me with one final message.

"He said, 'Don't dare beat Scotland. I don't want you to come back here if you do'.

"We then had a little joke about the game but I get the feeling I can't win. If I come back having won the game he won't be happy but if I lose he will wind me up."

Despite leading the way in the group, Evra has warned his French team-mates against complacency going into their qualifying double-header.

"It's a huge game for us. Everyone is talking about the Italy match as being the game but my mind isn't only on Italy, it's also on Scotland," insisted the United left-back.

"We can't afford to relax if we come back from Italy with three points because it won't count for anything if we then go on to lose to Scotland in Paris.

"There are still four teams very much in contention for qualifying and we have to do our job by trying to get six points from two games."