McPherson believes the quality is there for Levein to lead Scotland to Euro 2012 finals

Published on Wednesday 3 March 2010 09:16

DAVE McPHERSON starred alongside Craig Levein during Italia 90 and the former Hearts star believes his old team-mate is just the man to steer Scotland back into the finals of a major tournament.

The pair were part of Andy Roxburgh's World Cup squad 20 years ago and lined up in defence for the 2-1 win over Sweden in Genoa. The Scots, of course, went on to qualify for Euro 92 and Euro 96, with France 1998 representing their last appearance at a major finals.

Tonight, Levein embarks on a crusade to rectify recent absences from the top tournaments as he takes his bow as Scotland manager.

The former Hearts defender, brought in to replace the sacked George Burley, takes charge of the Scots for the first time in the friendly match against the Czech Republic at Hampden.

The game will give Levein a sneak peek at a side who will become rivals in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign later this year, having last month seen his side drawn against the Czechs in Group I, alongside Spain, Lithuania and Liechtenstein.

McPherson is delighted to have seen his former colleague rise through the ranks as a player, club manager and now national coach.

Having played with Levein at both domestic and international level, 'Slim' knows the agonies his team-mate endured because of injury.

Levein was forced to quit the game he loved back in 1997 because of a serious knee problem, however, McPherson believes that heartache paid off in the end.

He said: "I think Craig took an early interest in the coaching side of things, simply because of the amount of injuries he suffered towards the end of his career.

"He always had the right approach to the game and the right attitude but the injuries probably pushed him in that direction even earlier than he would have expected to.

"He had to stop playing at a fairly young age so he took an interest in the coaching side of the game, that gave him a taste of it.

"When you're out injured for a long period of time you learn more about that side of things because you're sitting watching a game or a training session and really taking in everything that happens, rather than running about in the middle of it all."

With Scotland's qualifying campaign due to start at the beginning of September with a trip to Lithuania, Levein has just a few months and a handful of games to exert his influence on his new charges.

But McPherson doesn't think Levein will have too many problems getting his philosophy across to the Scotland players and added: "Craig has always been good at organising his teams, as a player and as a manager and I think he will relish the challenge that lies ahead of him with Scotland.

"The main difference he will find is that he can't bring in homegrown players.

"You have to work with what is available to you.

"Having said that, Scotland has a lot of good players at the moment and I think it is a case of bringing them all together as a team, as a unit.

"Craig's very forward thinking and that is probably the reason that he has done so well in management.

"It's up to the players to make an impression on their new manager and by that I don't just mean their performance out on the pitch.

"They have also got to make sure that they show the right attitude in training and in general around the squad.

"They need to give 100 per cent at all times."

If Levein can get his players all singing from the same hymn sheet, McPherson believes there is a real chance of success this time around.

While Spain are massive favourites to top Group I, he reckons Scotland have the players capable of pulling off a shock. He added: "I would absolutely not rule out first place in the group. Yes, Spain are the form team right now but I think this is a fresh start for everyone and Craig is certainly not one to shirk a challenge.

"There is no doubt in my mind that we have the players capable of taking us through to the finals of a major tournament again.

"It's just a case of everyone pulling together and getting them to believe in themselves as a squad again. We need to get a few results and some confidence under our belts and get the supporters right behind the team again."

Tonight's friendly match will give Levein an ideal opportunity to assess the players who will make up his squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers and McPherson believes his old Tynecastle team-mate will be pleased with what he sees: "I think Craig has good players available to him if you look through the squad list for tonight's game.

"We have got strikers who are playing at the highest level and who can all score goals, we have quality midfielders and defenders who have proved that they can keep some of the best players in the game out.

"I don't think it will take Craig too long to get them playing the way that he wants.

"Berti Vogts brought in a lot of uncapped players when he was Scotland manager, probably too many, at the one time.

"That meant there were a lot of inexperienced players and the balance just wasn't right in the team.

"He brought in players who had never played for their country before – and even guys who weren't playing first-team football for their clubs.

"That caused a lot of problems and was to blame for a lot of the poor results that Scotland had at that time.

"That is something Craig won't do, I think that he will look to tried-and-tested players to give his side a solid foundation and will maybe just add the odd one or two that he thinks have the quality to bring something to the squad."

SCOTLAND v CZECH REPUBLIC – PREVIOUS MEETINGS

SCOTLAND 1 CZECH REPUBLIC 2 (31 March, 1999)

AN own goal from Matt Elliott and Vladimir Smicer's 16th international goal dented the Scots' Euro 2000 bid although Eoin Jess threw them a lifeline with a header.

CZECH REPUBLIC 3 SCOTLAND 2 (9 June 1999)

PAUL RITCHIE put the Scots ahead before Allan Johnston made it two. The Czechs fought back through Tomas Repka and Pavel Kuka before Jan Koller got the winner.

CZECH REPUBLIC 3 SCOTLAND 1 (30 May 2008)

DAVID CLARKSON got his first international goal but a double from former Rangers midfielder Libor Sionko and a strike by Michal Kadlec won this friendly.

GOALKEEPERS

FORMER Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon has been a regular fixture between the sticks for Scotland since making the breakthrough into the national first-team in 2004. Since then he has made 37 appearances and remains first choice with Craig Levein. A broken arm ruled him out towards the end of last year but the Sunderland keeper has regained his place for both club and country. Rangers' Allan McGregor provides stiff competition, although he missed out on a place in the squad to face the Czech Republic tonight after off-field problems left him nursing a black eye. Fellow Rangers stopper Neil Alexander and Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall were also named in the squad.

DEFENDERS

LEVEIN has a mixture of youth and experience in defence and finding the correct balance in this area could hold the key to a successful campaign.

Gary Caldwell, Alan Hutton, Steven Whittaker and the recalled Andy Webster have all been over the course for club and country before, while 25-year-old former Hearts captain Christophe Berra is steadily establishing himself in the Barclays Premier League with Wolves.

The left-back position has been something of a problem area for Scotland of late although Hearts defender Lee Wallace, pictured, has impressed in his two caps to date. Levein has injected some new blood with centre-half Garry Kenneth and promising left-back Paul Dixon – both of Dundee United – handed their first full call-ups. Dixon could play tonight if Wallace fails a fitness test.

MIDFIELDERS

UNDOUBTEDLY one of the strongest areas for Scotland, Levein will hope to see Manchester United's Darren Fletcher, pictured, reproduce his superb club form in a dark blue shirt. The midfield could be further boosted by rejuvenated Birmingham star Barry Ferguson should he decide to return to the international fold, while Celtic skipper Scott Brown, Paul Hartley, Kevin Thomson and Barry Robson add further experience. Graham Dorrans has been a revelation since his move to West Bromwich Albion from Livingston, scoring 13 goals for the Baggies this season and reportedly catching the eye of Manchester City. Dorrans has earned himself a 5million price tag in the process and brings with him a serious goal threat, as does Birmingham's James McFadden, who also offers options up front. Dorrans will get his chance tonight as McFadden is not fit.

FORWARDS

ALTHOUGH Steven Fletcher misses out tonight with a broken bone in his hand, the Burnley striker – scorer of seven Barclays Premier League goals so far this season – will be an automatic choice in future squads. The return of Kris Boyd, pictured, who declined to make himself available for Scotland during most of George Burley's tenure, has come as a boost to Levein. The Rangers striker will have to settle for a place on the bench tonight, though, as Levein opts for one man up front in the shape of Ibrox team-mate Kenny Miller. Meanwhile, at 6ft 4in, Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo, currently on loan at Bristol City, fits the bill for Levein, who has used towering target men to good effect at club level.

New beginnings all round as Smicer's Czechs arrive

15 JUNE 2008, 9.15pm, Geneva. The Czech Republic are leading Turkey 2-0 in their final group game in the Euro 2008 finals, writes NIGEL SOUTHWORTH.

Despite the loss of the likes of Pavel Nedved and Karel Poborsky they still have major stars in Jan Koller, Milan Baros and Petr Cech and one foot in the quarter-finals where they will face Croatia.

Fifteen minutes later and their world has crashed in. The Turks have scored three spectacular goals. It proves to be the final match for legendary coach Karel Bruckner and since then the team's decline has been rapid. From being the top-ranked team in the whole world bar Brazil in 2005 they are now ranked 25. They missed out on World Cup qualification for South Africa, pushed out of a play-off place by Slovenia and travel to Hampden without Chelsea No.1 goalkeeper Cech.

Hertha Berlin's 30-year-old Jaroslav Drobny is likely to replace Cech. He has one cap and more experience than Viktoria Plzen's 26-year-old Michal Danek. And that is the sort of dilemma facing coach Vladimir Smicer and his assistant Michal Bilek who are tasked with rebuilding a team without the sort of talent which was available to Bruckner. Their most established star is Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky, who has 71 caps, then there is Bordeaux midfielder Jaroslav Palsil, winner of 51 caps. Defender Zdenek Grygera has 50 caps and now plies his trade for Juventus after a successful four seasons with Ajax but he is not in the squad and the rest are relatively new to international football. Their three forwards – Adam Hlousek, Tomas Necid and Vaclav Sverkos have 25 caps between them and just seven goals.

Craig Levein will have studied the tapes on Scotland's opponents, scrutinising possible line-ups and formations, but it is not only a new beginning for Scotland; their guests could well spring a few surprises.