Liechtenstein v Scotland: Fresh sense of urgency sees Levein tell Scots to up the tempo

IF SCOTLAND could only rely on being awarded points for commitment then they would have been spared another agonising finale to a qualification campaign.

Kenny Miller had been determined to lead the Scottish attack this evening in Liechtenstein before he was finally ruled out last night, having failed to complete Scotland’s eve-of-match training session in Vaduz. Meanwhile, the knowledge that his country needs him has persuaded Darren Fletcher to make the trek from Manchester to the heart of Europe.

The skipper’s dash across the Alpines conveys a heroism that is easy to admire. However, it also emits a further blast of desperation. This sense of peril has clung to much of this qualifying campaign, from clinging to a draw in Lithuania in the opening game to frantically managing to scratch a win from the home tie against tonight’s opponents, when Stephen McManus proved another celebrated late arrival.

Scotland are required to win against Liechtenstein or accept that their latest bid to qualify for a major finals has been sunk in the scenic surroundings of the Rheinpark stadion. “We want to win, it is as simple as that,” said Levein yesterday. “That has become the team motto for every game now we just want to win.”

The trouble is this hasn’t happened often enough. The reason Levein’s team is in this tense situation is that they have simply not won enough qualification games. Only twice have they collected the full haul of three points, and never more than by a single goal margin. Indeed, Scotland have yet to score away from home in the campaign, although unlike on their last competitive appointment on foreign turf, they will at least play with a recognised striker – the much-admired Brighton and Hove Albion forward Craig Makail-Smith.

Liechtenstein hardly lack motivation following their agonising defeat at Hampden Park 13 months ago. “We know what we are facing, and we know that they have improved in the past year,” said Levein. “A year ago we struggled to get past them at home. But we have prepared properly, just as we do for every match. We have looked twice already this week at Liechtenstein on the video analysis.”

The urgency of the situation has proved a potent elixir. Fletcher’s arrival yesterday provided a boost but the fresh Alpine air has been polluted by a whiff of regret. Had Scotland held out for a win last month against Czech Republic then this evening could have proved as glorious as any in recent times for Scotland. A further victory in Vaduz would have sealed a place in the play-off. Instead, it becomes simply another challenge to sustain faint hope.

The parachuting-in of Fletcher attests to the high stakes involved. Levein will bow to no-one in his admiration for the Scotland skipper. This latest episode in Fletcher’s love affair with Scotland had the manager rhapsodising about the player again yesterday. “It is fantastic, and it is rewarding for me to see people who are that desperate to play,” said Levein.

“Everyone says that you should be desperate to play for your national team. But you would think that, if anyone wanted to take it easy on that score, it would be a guy who had already played 50-odd times for his country.”

If Fletcher manages to convince the Scottish medical staff that he has recovered from a bout of tonsillitis then he will win his 56th cap. Remarkably for someone who plays at such a high and intense level at Manchester United he has featured in each of Scotland’s last 16 competitive fixtures. “The easiest thing Darren could have done is take it easy for another couple of days, and then pitch up in Alicante for the game on Tuesday.

“But the fact is, Darren knows there is a game tomorrow, he knows how important it is, and he wants to make himself available.”

Despite the uncertainty over Fletcher’s involvement, something which remains set in stone is the team formation. “We have been working on a system for a year now,” noted Levein.

“If Darren doesn’t make it or Kenny doesn’t make it I have absolutely no problems, it’s just taking someone out and putting someone else in. But you want your best players available, that’s a given.”

Levein hasn’t wasted a second on engaging with the question of whether or not to play two strikers, or whether he should dispense with a deep lying midfielder against opponents who are unlikely to stretch the Scottish defence. “I won’t play with two strikers,” said Levein, firmly. “I mean, what is the point in me working with a system for a year, but then throwing it out the window and starting again?”

He acknowledged Scotland must win the match, however. The concession he has made to such a fundamental requirement is opting for a more creative midfield, one charged with not just providing opportunities for Mackail-Smith, but also supporting him. “The difference with this game is, I will add some more attack-minded players to certain positions, and that is how we will be more positive,” he said.

Barry Bannan is expected to start and will be an integral component in a plan which, according to Levein, is to “transfer the ball really quickly – that’s what the game will be about”.

He added: “Okay, we need to take our chances, too, but the first thing will be creating chances. That will come about by having a high tempo and changing the point of attack as often as possible.”

He has warned his players that they do not have time to feel their way into the game, despite the unusually rural and low-key setting. “Tempo is everything,” he said. Levein has demanded that his players set the tempo at high from the start, although there is a grave need to avoid panicking should they fail to make an early breakthrough.

“We know the expectation is that we should win this game, and some people will be expecting us to win comfortably,” said Levein. “But I don’t look at it like that. This is a game we need to win, and it would be good to get in front early in the game. But if it requires patience, then we will show patience.”

This is a quality which will also be required today as time marches slowly towards kick-off. The players will rehearse set-piece routines in the morning and then go for a stroll around St Gallen, the pretty Swiss town which has grown used to seeing Scottish footballers clog up the pavements this week.

There are plenty of sights to take in before completing what they hope will be a successful raid across the border. It’s heartening to report that Levein sounded confident enough yesterday to suggest he isn’t planning to whisper a quick prayer in St Gallen’s magnificent baroque cathedral before leaving for Liechtenstein.

lScotland are heavy favourites to win tonight’s match against Liechtenstein in Vaduz. William Hill offer 2-9 about a Scotland victory, with the home side a hefty 17-2 to pull off a shock. The draw is 4-1.

Hills make Scotland 16-1 to finish second in the group, behind Spain and ahead of Czech Republic, and a 40-1 long shot to qualify from the play-offs and reach the finals in Poland and Ukraine next summer.