Scots three wins from Euro play-offs - if Spain beat Czech Republic

Published on Wednesday 30 March 2011 18:39

SCOTLAND will clinch a Euro 2012 play-off place by winning their next three qualifying games - assuming that Spain beat the Czech Republic.

Craig Levein's side sit in third place in Group I, five adrift of the Czechs following this week's results. Spain returned from Lithuania with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday night, while the Czech Republic recorded a patient 2-0 home win against Liechtenstein.

With Lithuania's next two games coming against Liechtenstein, it is highly likely Scotland will be in a lowly fourth spot by the time of their next game against the Czechs at the start of September at Hampden.

However, Scotland are still on course for a play-off spot if they claim a maximum nine points from their next three games. That's no easy feat given the Scots have so far won one (against Liechtenstein), drawn one (at Lithuania) and lost two (to Spain and the Czech Republic) in their four games played.

Scotland next face the Czechs and Lithuania in a crucial four-day double-header. Success would see Levein's men overtake the Czechs and draw level on points with Lithuania, but they would go above them on account of having a better head-to-head record.

The Czechs face runaway Group I leaders Spain in Prague the night before Scotland play against Liechtenstein in October. And, unless they can beat the World Champions or hold them to a draw, Scotland would just require a victory in Vaduz to clinch second place, regardless of their last game in Spain.

However, if the Czechs claim a draw against the Spanish, Scotland would be level on points with them and would have to beat Czech Republic by more than the 1-0 scoreline they lost to in Prague last year because of the head-to-head record.

Lithuania could also reach 13 points - if they lost in Glasgow, but beat the Czechs in the final game - but couldn't finish above Scotland after only drawing with them in Kaunas last year.

Raimondas Zutautas, the Lithuania manager, though, is confident that his side can still finish second in the group. Speaking after the 3-1 defeat to Spain - which was played on a dreadful pitch due to the harsh winter in Lithuania - Zutautas said: "I promised we would give Spain a fight and we did that. We showed we can play football.

"I certainly believe we have a great chance of second place in the group. After we equalised, we were perhaps too keen and got punished. But we showed what we can do if we just believe in ourselves. If we play like that, second place is within our reach."

Spain, of course, are already on the brink of qualification with a 100 per cent record in the group so far, but manager Vicente del Bosque can't decide who will finish runners-up.

"I think it will be very close between the Czech Republic, Scotland and Lithuania," said Del Bosque. "We have played them all now and there is not a lot to choose between the three sides. Lithuania seem to be improving all the time and they play some nice football. I wouldn't like to pick who will finish second and reach the play-offs, but good luck to them all."The chances are that the games between Scotland and the Czechs will prove most crucial. The Czechs already have the edge following their 1-0 win in Prague - perhaps best remembered for Levein's decision to adopt a controversial 4-6-0 formation - and Michal Kadlec says the showdown at Hampden at the beginning of September will be treated like a cup final.

"I think Spain will finish top, of course," predicted Kadlec, who scored the clinching second goal against Liechtenstein in the 70th minute on Tuesday night.

"It's true that in football anything can happen, but I think we're playing for second place.

"We don't have any games in the summer, but then we have the matches against Scotland and Spain which will be like finals for us."

Kadlec admitted he is looking for a favour from Liechtenstein when the Scots travel to Vaduz in October.

He added: "Qualification is running to plan apart from that initial home defeat to Lithuania. Liechtenstein were difficult to play against and we had heavy legs because of the effort we put in against Spain.

"Their players came into our dressing room after the game to swap shirts and I asked them to help us by beating Scotland and Lithuania at home. They could pick up some points there.

"They agreed and pointed out that they only lost in Scotland to a 97th-minute goal.

"Liechtenstein are not without a chance at home. We hope they can help us."