Mismatch a reminder of Scotland's also-ran status

Published on Monday 28 March 2011 22:27

FOR Scotland, the desire to participate once more in the finals of a major tournament has to be tempered by a realisation they are likely to find themselves seriously out of their depth if they get there.

It is a truth which was almost brutally exposed by Sunday's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil at the Emirates Stadium, the technical limitations of the Scottish players laid bare by their fluent and vibrant opponents.

Craig Levein, like any other Scotland manager, has to try and manage the expectations which still surround his job despite the country's now firmly established status among the also-rans of international football.

The comprehensive manner of the loss to Brazil should have come as no surprise to anyone. Levein's admission of relief at avoiding a far heavier defeat was a clear indication that he would have been as taken aback as anyone had his players managed to secure the landmark victory which he dutifully spoke of targeting in the build-up.

He can now return to more prosaic and achievable goals with Scotland's next assignments coming at the end of May when they travel to Dublin for their final two matches in the inaugural Carling Nations Cup tournament. The fixtures against Wales and the Republic of Ireland, like February's 3-0 win over Northern Ireland in their opener, offer Levein and his players a chance to build confidence and momentum before their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign resumes in September.

The outcome of the games in Dublin, as well as a mooted Hampden friendly against Denmark in August, will be more instructive in assessing Scotland's prospects than the glamour match with Brazil which merely offered a sobering reminder of how far Levein's squad are behind the cream of international football. It is difficult to see exactly what benefit the Scotland players can take forward from being so completely outclassed in London. Chasing shadows for 90 minutes is hardly a pursuit which is likely to improve the standard of those who are doing the chasing.

Perhaps the only positive aspect of Sunday's match from Scotland's perspective was their success in keeping the scoreline respectable. However discouraged they might have felt at being tormented by Brazil's almost effortless dominance of possession and territory, Scotland's players remained unwavering in terms of commitment to a cause which was reduced to nothing more than damage limitation.

The glowing terms in which so many of Levein's players had been fancifully described following their previous friendly wins over the Faroe Islands and Northern Ireland were placed firmly in perspective.

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For while Levein takes encouragement from the number of Scots performing in the English Premier League, it should not be overlooked that most of them do so at the bottom end of the table.

Gary Caldwell, Christophe Berra, Stephen Crainey, James Morrison, James McArthur and Charlie Adam, all in Levein's starting line-up against Brazil, are engaged in the battle to avoid relegation to the Championship with their respective clubs.

Only Tottenham right-back Alan Hutton and absent captain Darren Fletcher, of Manchester United, are operating at a more rarefied level in England's top flight. There are hopes that Danny Wilson can do so too, if the 19-year-old is able to establish himself at Liverpool.

Wilson won his third senior Scotland cap as a late substitute for Berra with Levein offering the view that the brief taste of action against such formidable opposition will be of benefit in the years to come when he sees the former Rangers player becoming an integral part of the international team.

The development of younger players like Wilson and Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan, who was both combative and confident during his spell on the pitch as replacement for McArthur, is crucial to any significant progress Scotland can make over the next few seasons.

Levein's willingness to scour English football for players with Scottish ancestry means there could be further surprising additions to his squad in the mould of Peterborough United striker Craig Mackail-Smith who was formally blooded with an 87th minute appearance as a substitute for Kenny Miller. The lack of any depth in his striking options is the most glaring problem for the manager.In general terms, however, Levein has formed a settled squad in his own mind, one he is unlikely to deviate from too much for the remaining four European Championship Group I qualifiers, starting off with the Hampden double header against Czech Republic and Lithuania in September. In addition to the return of Darren Fletcher, the availability of Rangers duo Lee McCulloch and Steven Naismith, both missing on Sunday, should bring better balance to the side.

Levein and his players can be readily excused defeat against Brazil, just as they were the 3-2 loss to Spain last October when, despite a courageous comeback, they were just as much outplayed for lengthy spells.

Judgment will be served on the basis of results in matches where Scotland can realistically be expected to compete on equal terms. Anything less than six points against the Czechs and Lithuania would all but end Scotland's chances of second place in Group I and a play-off spot. Only after those two games will a proper assessment of Scotland's progress or otherwise under Levein be possible.