Graeme Souness has stressed the importance of Scotland qualifying for the World Cup over beating England. Gordon Strachans side began their qualifying campaign last month with a 5-1 win in Malta and host Lithuania on Saturday before traveling to Slovakia for their next two qualifiers.Next up after that is a meeting with England at Wembley and the Scots will be keen to replicate their 1-0 success there when the teams last met competitively in 1999. Souness believes that can happen, but would readily accept defeats in both games against them in favour of ending the countrys 20-year wait to get back to a major tournament.The former Rangers and Liverpool manager, capped 54 times, said: Gordon will try to get the message across that this is about three points. Souness was capped 54 times for Scotland and appeared at three World Cup tournaments You cant afford to get caught up in the Auld Enemy thing. You would take losing to them twice and winning every other game and getting there.It is a bit like when I went to Ibrox and said I dont mind losing to Celtic if we win the league and [people said] What?Its the same thing - its always about qualification. The bragging rights from beating England only last for a few weeks. Gordon Strachans men host Lithuania on Saturday then travel to Slovakia for their next World Cup Qualifier The excitement of going to a tournament, the build-up, being there, what that would do to the nation and the benefits to Scottish football would be far greater if we lost twice to England and us going than beating England twice and not going there.When Scotland last went to a tournament - the 1998 World Cup in France - it was their eighth appearance at a finals event in 24 years. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ?￡6.99. No contract. The barren spell since has brought increasing pressure to end it and Sky Sports pundit Souness believes that is achievable, despite England being clear favourites to win Group F in the European Qualifiers.He added: It will be difficult. Obviously England are outstanding favourites but they are not certainties. I dont think this is the strongest group England have ever had but I think you have to fancy them to qualify. Scotland began their campaign with a 5-1 win in Malta last month Ive always believed it is a numbers game. I used to say that us qualifying for a World Cup was a success and I used to get my head bitten off for saying that.We are a nation of maybe less than five million against England, who have over 60 million. Common sense tells you that with more to pick from, they will be a better team. It has always been the way.That doesnt mean to say we cant beat them on occasions but if we played them 100 times they are going to win the vast majority of times. Scotland take on Gareth Southgates England team at Wembley on November 11 We dont have players who are playing at Manchester United or Arsenal and there is a reason why the players we have got are not at these big clubs.They are not deemed good enough and that is why they are playing in the Championship and lower Premier League teams. We have to accept that - but that doesnt mean to say we cant roll them over.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Martin out to make his mark Charlies WC Qualifier predictions McGhee: Paterson can deliver Snodgrass: All to play four Yeezys Norge . We wonder if the price of a Roberts rookie card has at least gone up a few cents? Tribute Tweets #Padres Tony Gwynn had 287 career plate appearances against #Braves trio of Maddux, Glavine, & Smoltz, he hit . Yeezy Sko Salg . The Argentine midfielder made the announcement himself on Twitter on Tuesday and posted a picture of his swollen left foot. His message said he would be out "at least three weeks. http://www.yeezysnorge.com/ . LOUIS -- The Tampa Bay Rays have placed right-handed pitcher Joel Peralta on the 15-day disabled list with an undisclosed illness. Yeezy Shop Norge . As if the individual strands of grey hair or the increasing amount of joint pain werent reminders enough, the impending end of Jeters career is a slap-in-the-face indicator of a generations fleeting youth. Yeezy Sko Fake . Although Olivetti, a qualifier, had 13 aces, he failed to force a single break-point chance on Gasquets serve and lost his own three times. Gasquet next plays third-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, who won had 18 aces in a 6-2, 6-4 win against seventh-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France.MOSCOW - The Russian Football Union banned a club player for three matches on Friday for showing an offensive gesture to fans who racially abused him.FC Rostov midfielder Guelor Kanga, from Gabon, was targeted with monkey chants by Spartak Moscow fans in the Russian Premier League on Thursday, and responded by showing them his middle finger.In addition to a three-match ban, Kanga was fined 50,000 rubles ($930) for the insulting gesture to fans, the RFU said.Spartak was fined 70,000 rubles ($1,300) for the chanting by fans of insulting expressions, a charge which usually refers to swearing, rather than the separate offence of racist chanting.ddddddddddddIn September, Dynamo Moscows Congolese defender, Christopher Samba, was given a two-match ban in similar circumstances after Russian fans racially abused him.Spartak and Rostov drew 1-1 at Moscows Otkrytye Arena, a 2018 World Cup venue.Rostov coach Igor Gamula was already banned from the fixture as part of a five-match sanction for discriminatory comments about black players on his own team.So far this season, defending Russian champion CSKA Moscow has been punished for fan racism in the Champions League, while Spartak and Torpedo Moscow have faced racism charges in the Russian Premier League. 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