Craig Levein handed 2012 baptism of fire

Published on Sunday 7 February 2010 23:21

EUROPEAN champions Spain, currently ranked the best football team on the planet going into the World Cup, will be heading to Hampden after they were drawn in Scotland's group in the 2012 European Championship qualifying campaign.

&#149 Craig Levein stands alongside Spain coach Vicente del Bosque as

they meet Liechtenstein coach Hans-Peter Zaugg Picture: Getty Images

On paper, the Scots, who have not qualified for a major tournament since 1998, look to have yet another struggle on their hands to reach the finals in Poland and Ukraine, having been drawn in five-team Group I along with the Spanish, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Liechtenstein.

Emerging from the draw in Warsaw, however, new Scotland manager Craig Levein remained upbeat and said: "Obviously Spain are the group favourites, but to draw them will capture the Scottish people's imagination.

"I did wonder whether it might be England but whoever we got from pots one and two was going to be tough," he said.

Scotland, having been drawn in the last of the nine pots, waited with growing anticipation as the top seeds came out, with England eventually emerging in Group G alongside Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales and Montenegro.

Northern Ireland are in Group C together with Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, Estonia, and the Faroe Islands, while the Republic of Ireland avoided a potential powderkeg clash with France, being grouped instead with Russia, Slovakia, FYR Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra in the second of the groups.

Levein, of course, is only interested in the four opponents Scotland must tackle now, and he is facing a busy few weeks ahead, which includes – intriguingly – a pre-arranged friendly fixture against one of the group rivals, the Czech Republic at Hampden on 3 March, which will still go ahead.

"There's enough distance between then and when we play them again for it not to be a problem," said Levein. "I've got some ideas about how I'd like qualifiers to pan out. We need to go away and formulate a plan."

Like England, Levein believes being in one of the smaller groups of five nations may provide for better preparation, with only eight dates to fix up.

"There's a case for saying we raise our game against so-called bigger nations and they don't come any bigger than Spain," said Levein. "I want to try and develop a really good unit here based on team spirit. That can sometimes more than make up for playing against better players."

Second spot, and a probable play-off, is likely to be Scotland's goal. However, while Liechtenstein will be regarded as the minnows of the group, coach Hans-Peter Zaugg warned Scotland against complacency.

"We probably have little chance but if Spain or Scotland take us lightly, we could surprise them," he said. "In the last two qualifications we gained a maximum of ten points including a win against Finland a draw against Latvia.

"Sometimes it's possible, but in this group it's difficult."

Meanwhile, England manager Fabio Capello is looking forward to locking horns with John Toshack in the all-British matches between England and Wales.

"Wales will be my first derby," said the Italian. "It will be good because they are a very young team.

"I spoke with John Toshack on the flight over. He told me the average age is 22 and he had some really good young players. It will be interesting – for me and England."

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, who came so close to leading his side to the World Cup, acknowledged his side face a difficult group.

"I think all the groups for me are about equal," he said. "It's a tough group but other groups are also tough. Russia will be difficult and Slovakia are a technically good team – a team with a very tough mentality."

Nigel Worthington, the Northern Ireland manager, said of the campaign ahead: "I think it makes for a very interesting group and I'm absolutely delighted with the draw – I can see teams in that group taking points off each other."