GEORGE BURLEY has come out fighting at the snipers who are questioning his tenure as Scotland boss and insisted our World Cup dream remains alive.

The national coach has not got off to the best of starts at the helm of his country, but he remains quietly intent on getting the best out of the players he has at his disposal.

To many observers it would appear that the opportunity to make the World Cup Finals in 2010 is already gone, but Burley is upbeat about Scotland's chances of making it to South Africa despite collecting just four points from three games.

"Because I do not go about shouting my mouth off, because I like to keep things in house, treat people well, go about things in the right manner, people think I am a soft touch," he said. "I'll do it in my style, no matter what people think or say. People are looking for me to say controversial things, I would rather say the right thing.

"There has been a lot of negativity even before the World Cup started . . . negativity over trying to get one of the best nations in the world Argentina to try to come to Hampden. That surprised me.

"But in this day and age, you are in the public eye and you are there to be shot down. It is something I live with but don't enjoy. You rise above it because you are working for your country.

"There was negativity before the Macedonia game and that was out of order. I am here trying to take the country to the World Cup so, come on, give us support.

"It is important I don't get distracted, intimidated or lose my concentration. The lack of respect is obvious from people who have never been involved on this side. That is something you cannot influence.

"We are in a position where we can qualify for the World Cup," he says of second place in the group. "It is all to play for. There are no minnows in the group. Holland were always going to be odds-on to qualify and that has proved to be the case.

"It is very difficult to change. I was brought up under Bobby Robson from 15 years old to play in a certain way. I want to be positive. I want the players to enjoy themselves, pass the ball. I could not change now.

"For me, to get every man behind the ball ... that's foreign to me. It's not right for Scottish footballers. I am not going to change."

And Burley has also defended Celtic in the wake of their ingloriously early European exit.

"Sometimes you don't always get what you deserve in football and on the night Celtic were unlucky," he said.

"There were deflections and own-goals and everything that could go against them did go against them.

"They didn't get any luck and that's what cost Celtic."

Burley will be without Alan Hutton for the crucial game in Holland at the Amsterdam Arena in March.

The former Rangers defender is just back from injury but has sustained a fracture in his right foot. He is set to be sidelined for another considerable spell and it is a serious blow.

"When he was coming back the last time we kept in touch with him throughout his rehabilitation," he said.

"It was great to have him back for Argentina but it is a massive blow for us that it looks like he will need an operation.

"He is a big player for us and all we can do is wish him a speedy recovery."