Scotland boss Craig Levein faces baptism of fire in Euro draw

Published on Monday 8 February 2010 10:17

CRAIG LEVEIN has already got his thinking cap on after being given a tough baptism as Scotland boss.

The former Dundee United coach discovered his first opponents will also stand in the way of a place at Euro 2012 after the Czech Republic – who visit Hampden for a friendly next month – were drawn in Scotland's group. That would have been tough enough for the Tartan Army. The fact holders Spain followed the Czechs in just made the task even harder.

Levein does not believe qualification is a lost cause though and, having been given the eight-match group he wanted, is working out the best way of organising it.

"The most important thing will be trying to fix the dates," said Levein. "I have some ideas about how I would like the qualifiers to pan out so we need to go away and formulate a plan."

Lithuania and Liechtenstein represent the minnows in Scotland's group, although, as they have proved so many times in the past, it is against the so-called lesser teams that they have the greatest trouble.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque was keen not to underestimate the threat posed by the defending champions' opponents.

Del Bosque, who took over from Luis Aragones following Spain's success at Euro 2008, said: "It's true that they are teams who will not be going to the World Cup, but we cannot be overconfident.

"We are obliged to have a good qualification campaign so we can try and defend the title we won in 2008. I'm sure that it will be difficult – it's not going to be a stroll."

Del Bosque admits though that his thoughts are currently more focused on this summer, where the Spanish will hope to add a first World Cup crown to their European title.

"For now the first thought is to concentrate on the World Cup," he said. "From September our minds will be on qualifying that will be time to weigh up our opponents."

If anything, Northern Ireland have been given even more to do after being paired with Italy, Serbia and Slovenia, who will also be in South Africa this summer.

Even the Faroe Islands represent a more difficult foe given former Republic of Ireland coach Brian Kerr is now in charge of the Scandinavians, although Nigel Worthington is looking forward to the challenge. "You want to be tested against the best," he said. "I am delighted with the draw because I can see teams taking points off each other."

The Republic of Ireland will hope to get rid of their sense of grievance at Thierry Henry's blatant handball by overcoming Russia, Slovakia, FYR Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra to reach the finals, which are being co-hosted by Poland and the Ukraine. It still hurts Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni that his team will not be in South Africa this summer, where France have received such a favourable draw.

Yet the Republic's performance that fateful November night in Paris has not been forgotten either and Trapattoni is demanding more of the same. "We will start with the same mentality we had three months ago," he said.

Wales coach John Toshack looked ahead to a group that features two matches against England and echoed Fabio Capello by crying: "Bring it on." Those were the words Capello used to describe a Battle of Britain clash.

England were drawn into Group G, which also features Montenegro, Bulgaria and World Cup qualifiers Switzerland. Toshack understands all of those matches represent stiff tests for his young team. But he also knows it is the clashes with England that will grab the attention of the Welsh public. "I like the group. We will have a good go at it," he said. "England is a big game. We know all about them and they know all about us. It is not that long ago we had a couple of cracking Under-21 games against them.

"Most of those lads who played in those matches will be in the squad when these games come around next year, which is an exciting prospect."

Capello, meanwhile, said: "Wales will be my first derby. "It will be good because they are a very young team. It will be interesting – for me and England."

Euro 2012 qualifying groups:

Group A: Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan

Group B: Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra

Group C: Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands

Group D: France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg

Group E: Holland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino

Group F: Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta

Group G: England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro

Group H: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland

Group I: Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, Liechtenstein