Scotland to keep slim Euro hope alive

craig leveinScotland face Liechtenstein in their penultimate qualifying game for Euro 2012 knowing they need a win to keep their slim chances of reaching the tournament still alive – if only for a few days.

Craig Levein’s side sit third in the Group I and two points behind the Czech Republic – who face Spain on Friday night – and know they need four points from their final two qualification matches to stand a chance of making the play-offs.

The Scottish boss knows they face Spain in their final game so is not thinking about that and instead concentrating on the task in hand, making sure they get the result they need against the international minnows of Liechtenstein.

It took a 97th-minute header from Stephen McManus to beat Saturday’s opponents at Hampden Park but Scotland (2/7 to win – Match Betting) should take some confidence from the fact they remain in contention to get a play-off spot thanks to a win over Lithuania last time out.

While Scotland are strong at Hampden Park, the same cannot be said of their performances on their travels as they have failed to win either of their two matches on the road so far, going down 1-0 to the Czechs and drawing 0-0 with Lithuania in Kaunas.

Given that it would take a big challenge for Scotland to beat Liechtenstein (9/1 to win , 9/2 draw – Match Betting) on Saturday and then go on to get the point they need away at Spain on October 11th, provided the Czechs have not already sewn up second place before the final game, albeit with an unlikely win over Spain and a Liechtenstein surprise.

The first thing to concentrate on for Scotland is beating Liechtenstein, and their hopes have received a big boost with the shock return of captain Darren Fletcher. The Manchester United man had been expected to miss the game through tonsillitis, but had been pencilled in to possibly face Spain.

However, the skipper is set to meet up with the squad at their training base in Switzerland and Levein admits he will play on Saturday “if the medical team gives him the thumbs up”.

More good news for Scotland is that striker Kenny Miller (3/1 First Goalscorer) is likely to play in Vaduz as he has recovered quicker than expected from a groin problem. The presence of those two players will be huge for Scotland as Fletcher controls the midfield and Miller is the one proven international goal scorer in the squad.

Craig Mackail-Smith, David Goodwillie and Steven Naismith are the other attacking options if he does not make it, but none of those trio are really proven on the international stage and Miller has shown over the years he can lead the line on his own and get goals – he scored one and set up the other against the Czechs at Hampden Park.

The trio of Alan Hutton, Graham Dorrans and Barry Robson have all returned to training and are likely to be named to face Liechtenstein as Levein seems set to name a strong line-up for this crucial clash.

For the hosts there are concerns over top goalscorer Mario Frick, while they are without midfielder Franz Burgmeier – who has experience of British football during a spell with English side Darlington – due to suspension.

Even the staunchest of Scotland fans are likely to be confident of getting a result on Saturday and they need goals to really boost the confidence ahead of a massive game with Spain. It is still a long shot for the Scots to make Euro 2012 but if they are to go out, they are sure to go out fighting.

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Scotland to keep hopes alive

Scotland (6/4 to win in 90 minutes) manager Craig Levein faces his most important game in charge against the Czech Republic at Hampden on Saturday and he is boosted by the return of some important faces to the side.

Last year in Prague, the manager opted for a surprising 4-6-0 formation – which backfired when they were defeated 1-0 thanks to a header from Roman Hubnik – but there will be no repeat this time around as Scotland strive to get closer to that second spot in the group.

The Tartan Army need maximum points to keep themselves in with a realistic shot of winning a play-off place as runners-up to runaway Group I leaders and world champions Spain, so the return of skipper Darren Fletcher comes at just the right time.

The Manchester United man is going into the game woefully short of fitness – he has only played twice since being hit by a mystery infection back in March – but Scotland are not blessed with many world class midfielders so his guile and determination will be a massive boost.

Levein has also included Charlie Adam (10/1 First Goalscorer) in for his first competitive start and the Liverpool man should add the class and skill to Fletcher’s running to ensure Scotland are really competitive in the middle of the park.

Elsewhere, Alan Hutton is in at right back and Kenny Miller (5/1 First or Last Goalscorer) will start up front alone in what looks a strong Scotland squad on paper. The vast majority of the starting line-up plays in the Premier League, with three from the SPL and only one from the Championship – and that is something Scottish fans have not always been able to boast in recent years.

The Czech Republic (9/5 to win, draw 23/10 90 Minutes) come into this game smarting after a 3-0 friendly defeat to Norway last time out and they are without Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, meaning one of the untested duo of Jan Lastuvka or Jaroslav Drobny will be between the sticks.

There remains some real talent among the Czech ranks with the likes of Arsenal star Tomas Rosicky and former Liverpool man Milan Baros (6/1 First Goalscorer) the real familiar faces to British football fans. Elsewhere though they are full of European pedigree and there is a core of the unit from Czech champions Viktoria Plzen – who recently made it into this season’s Champions League.

Scotland recorded a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic in Levein’s first game in charge back in March 2010, thanks to a goal from Scott Brown who will also start at Hampden on Saturday, and they need to go out confident in search of another victory (5/1 Scotland 1-0 Correct Score).

Nothing but a win for Scotland on Saturday, and also against Lithuania on Tuesday night, will be enough if they want to make the Euro 2012 play-offs. But Levein has a talented squad at his disposal and they should have enough to get wins in both games, especially as the Czechs are not the force they were in the days of Poborsky, Koller and Nedved.

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Scotland wait on McGregor

Scotland coach Craig Levein is hoping to have goalkeeper Allan McGregor fit for their Euro 2012 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Spain as they aim to keep alive their hopes of reaching Poland and the Ukraine in two years’ time (No 1/10 Yes 11/2 – Scotland To Qualify For Euro 2012).

Scotland currently lead Group I (16/1 Group Winner) after securing four points from their opening matches against Lithuania and Liechtenstein.

However, they will face some of their toughest tests in the coming week when they travel to the Czech Republic in Prague on Friday and then face reigning World and European champions Spain at Hampden four days later.

And Levein is looking for Rangers shot-stopper McGregor to shake off a thigh injury in time to play in both matches given that Sunderland’s Craig Gordon is not deemed to be fully fit following a long-term arm injury, while Blackpool’s Matt Gilks has pulled out the squad after suffering a dead leg.

Kilmarnock 24-year-old Cammy Bell has received his first call-up to the Scotland squad, but Levein will not want to throw an inexperienced international custodian into battle against such top opposition.

Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot is missing due to a foot injury, while his club team-mate Lee McCulloch is carrying a hip problem in addition to being suspended for the Czech game.

Therefore Levein has drafted in Watford midfielder Don Cowie and Cardiff defender Kevin McNaughton as cover, while he will hope Tottenham Hotspur right-back Alan Hutton and Barnsley left-back Jay McEveley recover from slight knocks in time for Friday.

Levein said: “Players are being assessed at this moment.

“I can tell you Kirk Broadfoot will go back to his club. He has a foot problem and it is safest if he isn’t involved.

“Lee is another that I don’t know about yet.

“Matt Gilks has a problem with a dead leg, Alan Hutton is a bit sore in his groin and Jay McEveley has a problem as well.”

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Scotland turn to Mackie

QPR striker Jamie Mackie’s impressive early-season form has earned the 25-year-old his first call-up to the Scotland squad ahead of their forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers (Scotland 11/2 – to Qualify).

The former Plymouth hitman, who was born in Dorking, has bagged eight goals in eight games since his summer switch from Home Park to Loftus Road, with the R’s yet to taste defeat in the Championship so far this term.

Mackie’s inclusion means there is no place for 17-cap Kris Boyd whose career has failed to kick on since he left Glasgow Rangers for struggling Middlesbrough during the close season.

Scotland boss Craig Levein insists Boyd will be back once he finds his form while the former Dundee United boss has also revealed Mackie has been on his radar since nailing his colours to Scotland’s mast in August.

Speaking in Motherwell, Levein said: “He has been watched on four separate occasions and each report has been excellent.

“We have been looking high and low to add to the existing pool that we can pick from.

“I believe his grandfather was born in Kilmarnock so he fits the criteria and I’m happy to have him on board.

“If you look at the strikers I have picked, I have picked players on form, that is basically it.

“I have had a chat with Kris and explained that to him.

“He is a top goalscorer and I have no doubt that once he hits a bit of form he will be back involved in the squad.”

There are recalls for keeper Craig Gordon, defender Gary Caldwell and striker Shaun Maloney.

The Scots travel to the Czech Republic for a clash in eight days before entertaining Spain at Hampden Park on October 12.

Scotland (16/1 Group Winners) top Group I on four points after making an unbeaten start to the qualification campaign against Lithuania (0-0) in Kaunas and at home to Liechtenstein (2-1).

Meanwhile, Barcelona ace Xavi, Arsenal midfielder and Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol have been ruled out for Spain who face Lithuania before making the trip to Hampden.

Scotland:
Goalkeepers: McGregor (Rangers), Gilks (Blackpool), Gordon (Sunderland)

Defenders: Hutton (Tottenham), Berra (Wolves), Broadfoot (Rangers), McManus (Middlesbrough), G Caldwell (Wigan), Weir (Rangers), Whittaker (Rangers)

Midfielders: Adam (Blackpool), Brown (Celtic), Dorrans (West Brom), McCulloch (Rangers), Fletcher (Manchester United), Morrison (West Brom), Robson (Middlesbrough), McEveley (Barnsley), Maloney (Celtic)

Forwards: Fletcher (Wolves), Iwelumo (Burnley), Mackie (QPR), Miller (Rangers), Naismith (Rangers).

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Brown seeks Scotland home comforts

craig leveinScott Brown says it is crucial Scotland (11/2 to reach the finals) prove hard to beat at home if they are to stand a chance of qualifying for Euro 2012.

Craig Levein’s men started their qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw in Lithuania on Friday evening, as they prepare for their first home fixture of the campaign this week.

Liechtenstein are the visitors to Hampden Park on Tuesday, in what looks like a must-win game for Scotland.

Celtic (4/6f to win 2010-11 SPL title) star Brown admitted to the BBC: “We need to win our home games, that’s the main thing. Away from home we have got to try and nick a few points, maybe get a win here or there.

“We’re enjoying playing and looking forward to the future. The players are comfortable with the formation.”

Levein will feel a bit frustrated not to have started their campaign with a win though, with Scotland (18/1 to win Group I) enjoying the territorial advantage and the better chances.

The shots on-target count was 5-1 in the visitors favour, but the Scots started their Group I fixtures with an away point.

Levein is expected to make changes to the side for Tuesday’s match, with James McFadden pushing for a start.

The Birmingham forward came on as a second-half substitute in Lithuania, replacing Barry Robson, and looked lively going forward.

Scotland will want to gain their first qualifying win this week, ahead of a tough double header next month.

Levein’s men face an away trip to the Czech Republic in October, before a home clash with European and World champions Spain.

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