Callum McGregor promises Scotland stars want World Cup glory every bit as much as Ukraine

Focused Callum McGregor insists Scotland’s pumped-up players are every bit as motivated as the Ukraine squad hoping to give their battle-scarred nation a World Cup lift.

The teams will face off at Hampden on Wednesday looking for the result which will set up a showdown with Wales in Cardiff and leave them just one step away from Qatar.

But for Ukraine, the match also holds greater significance as they look to send a symbolic message out to the watching world making clear they will not bow to the Russian aggression that has cost thousands of lives, devastated cities across the country and sent millions scurrying for refuge abroad.

Celtic skipper McGregor has huge sympathy for those caught up in the conflict.

But he’s also adamant that Scotland qualifying for a first World Cup since 1998 will mean just as much to the Scots as it would to the war-torn Ukrainians.

The Scotland midfield ace said: “They can’t have more motivation than us.

“We’ve waited a really, really long time to have that opportunity to get back to a World Cup so their motivation can’t be any more than ours.

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“We just have to approach the game professionally.

“We obviously have sympathy for the situation over there and it’s sad to see.

“