Darren Fletcher dismissed France coach Raymond Domenech's claim that Scotland are favourites to qualify out of Group B for next summer's European Championships as "ludicrous".

Scotland's 3-1 win over Lithuania at Hampden on Saturday left Alex McLeish's side one point behind leaders France ahead of their meeting at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

Later that night Domenech watched his team draw 0-0 draw against World Cup winners Italy at the San Siro while Georgia grabbed a late equaliser at home to Ukraine.

Italy are in third place with 17 points, one behind the Scots with Ukraine a further four points back with a game in hand.

The combination of results led the French coach to conclude that: "As the group stands right now Scotland are the best placed side to top it."

But the 23-year-old Manchester United midfielder, who captained the Scots in the suspended Barry Ferguson's absence, stressed the difficulty of the task awaiting McLeish's men in Paris.

He said: "I've heard a lot of quotes coming from the French camp but to say Scotland are favourites for the group is just ludicrous.

"In a group with France, Italy and Ukraine, how can anybody, even at this stage, turn around and say Scotland are the favourites?

"We know it's mind games. France are by far the favourites for the group and by far the favourites for the game.

"In this group we are very much the underdogs and even though we have got ourselves in to a reasonable position, we haven't achieved anything yet.

"We just have to go there and compete, hope that they have an off day and that we have another really good day like we did at Hampden when we beat them.

"To get a point in Paris would be an even bigger achievement than the victory at Hampden."

Fletcher admits the win over Domenech's side earlier in the group, thanks to a Gary Caldwell goal, will serve only to increase French determination.

He said: "They will want to avenge their defeat.

"If you lose to a country in a so-called shock defeat, you look to put the record straight.

"But we have to go there with no fear and play the game not the occasion.

"We will enjoy the match and treat them with respect but not too much respect where we are standing off them and letting them pass the ball around.

"We are going to say 'we are Scotland, we have every right to be here'.

"This was always going to be the hardest game in the group and we go into the game with no pressure.

"It's not a must-win game for us but it's maybe a must-win for France because who knows how things are going to go with the head-to-head record."

Fletcher was at the centre of Lithuania's controversial penalty at Hampden on Saturday when he was penalised after a lunging challenge on Saulius Mikoliunas.

Television pictures later showed that there was no contact but the Old Trafford midfielder insists he will not let that injustice affect his performance in the Parc des Princes.

He said: "That game is gone now, we are looking at the France game and I will play no differently from what I do in any game.

"It was a one-off incident and it's not something that you can control.

"We have enough experience of continental referees that it won't be a problem for the team or myself."