Football: Barry bid to have World at his feet; Austria v Scotland: just four days to go.

Byline: By MICHAEL BAILLIE

BARRY Ferguson is desperate for Scotland to defy the odds and book their place at the World Cup because he fears time is running out for him to realise his own ambitions.

As captain of Rangers, he knows there will be plenty of chances to play in major games at club level.

But, at 27, the midfielder is worried there will not be many opportunities for him to do the same for his country.

Scotland had been regular at major tournaments until the end of Craig Brown's reign when they failed to book their place at the 2002 World Cup.

The Berti Vogts era proved to be nothing short of a disaster and new boss Walter Smith has had to pick up the pieces. He heads into a qualification double-header against Italy and Norway with the odds stacked against Scotland reaching the finals in Germany.

However, Fergie refuses to give up hope of playing a major tournament.

He said: "Every professional dreams of playing in the World Cup. Playing in a major tournament is something I'm desperate to do. Time is running out and I'm getting a wee bit older."

Ferguson is just one of several players who will sit out the trip to Austria because of heavy club commitments as Rangers prepare for the return leg with Famagusta in the Champions League qualifier the following week at Ibrox.

But Fergie hates the idea of missing the opportunity to play for his country.

He said: "I would like to have played in the Austria game but I have a lot of big games for my club.

"Alex McLeish spoke to Walter and he has been good enough to excuse me from this game. But it won't change the way I'll prepare for Italy and Norway."

Ferguson still has a heavy schedule over the coming weeks as Rangers try to maintain their 100 per cent league record and book their place in the Champions League.

But the influential midfielder would not have it any other way.

He said: "Some of the guys were asking whether I was sick of the amount of games I'm playing but that's what I'm paid to do.

"Every match in August and the start of September is massive and I look forward to every one of them."

Fergie was at a new Morrisons store in Hamilton yesterday.

Scotland tickets for the Italy game will go on sale in 37 stores of Morrisons and Safeway, who sponsor the side, across the country from today.

CAPTION(S):

I'M IN: Ferguson with Italy tickets; PRESSURE: Smith