There was no little glee among the Tartan Army when a James McFadden goal at Hampden in November 2003 gave Scotland a slender lead to take over to Holland for the second leg of their European Championship play-off.

However, Advocaat got the last laugh as his side, which included Edwin van der Sar, Edgar Davids and Ruud van Nistelrooy, eased the Netherlands through to the finals on a 6-1 aggregate with an embarrassingly easy win over the bedraggled visitors.

The Zenit St Petersburg boss will watch the game with interest on Saturday but told PA Sport that Scotland are again in for a tough night.

"I remember everything about the night even though it was five or six years ago.

"Now Scotland have to go back to the same place and it will be very difficult for them.

"Holland have very good players like van Persie, Sneijder, and Robben, so they are a good side.

"But my team which won 6-0 was stronger and even then it wasn't the best side I had as coach of Holland, I had van Basten and Gullit in a very good squad,

"Even so, I don't think Scotland will win.

"It's a home game for Holland and results for Scotland have not been good recently.

"There is always a chance of a surprise but I don't think so.

"A draw would be a great result for Scotland and I suppose that is possible.

"I can't tell George Burley how he will do that, he will know himself what he wants to do but one thing for sure is that they will have to be very well organised on the night."

The Zenit boss revealed he still retains an admiration for Barry Ferguson which could see him tempting the Scotland midfielder to St Petersburg.

Ferguson was handed the armband at Ibrox at the age of 22 by Advocaat but growing criticism of the midfielder has reached a crescendo this season, especially among a section of the Rangers support

Asked about the current criticism of the 31-year-old Light Blues skipper, Advocaat said, "I will stay out of that discussion, thank you" but he reiterated his belief in his protege.

"I am sure everyone in Scotland knows by now what I think of Barry Ferguson - he's still a top player," Advocaat told the Scottish Daily Mail.

"Maybe he needs a fresh challenge elsewhere to give him new motivation. If he has been getting criticism in Scotland, then maybe he he has been at Rangers too long.

"If I think I have a place for him here then he is the first one I will sign."