More questions than answers in Scots’ herculean task

Challenges do not get any more formidable than trying to defeat Spain in one of their own lairs. The difficulty is only increased when the Spanish football authorities decide to take the match to a ground where La Selección have never lost, and to where they return tonight for the first time in ten years.

There is, though, some trace of romance in this parched south-eastern corner of Spain to hearten Scotland, with Craig Levein’s side seeking the win which would assure them of a place in the play-offs for Euro 2012. Locals still dine out on the memory of a year ago, when newly-promoted Hercules Alicante visited Barcelona’s Nou Camp and, though the home side enjoyed 80 per cent of the possession, came away with a clean sheet and two goals.

“We tried to force them inside at every opportunity and make the pitch as small as possible,” their manager, Esteban Vigo, explained, before adding another tactical observation which would strike a chord with Levein: “We did our best to put them under pressure without losing our shape”. The achievement was described as “el milagro” – the miracle – and, unsurprisingly, the memory still holds its charge in the bars and cafes of la Calle Mayor, as conversation burbles above twinkling Spanish guitars.

Levein’s must hope to upset the same hefty odds on the Costa Blanca this evening, where 8,000 Scots are set to congregate. When pressed yesterday on how to stop Spain playing, Levein offered an insight into just what a huge task Scotland are faced with this evening. The news that Iniesta has been ruled out offers no relief for Scotland, who must seek to cope with assorted ball-players in that particular midfielder’s mould. Levein’s recollection of a brain-storming session with his staff resembled a comedy sketch as assorted coaches sought to pin down Spain’s principal source of inspiration.

“It’s not just Xavi,“ said Levein. “It maybe looks like that but I’ll speak to [head scout] Mick Oliver and he says if you stop Alonso playing it’s good. I’ll say: ‘make up your mind – is it Xavi or Alonso?! Or is it Villa, or whoever?’

“They are top, top, top players. We accept that. That’s part of the challenge. We have to try and stop them playing. We have to stop them at source. If we do that it gives us a platform.”

Central once again to Scotland’s prospects will be a midfield where it is hoped Darren Fletcher will continue to feature as anchor. He will perhaps be helped in his defensive chores by a deep-lying Charlie Adam. Fletcher is currently nursing an ankle knock and Levein admitted that if the game had been yesterday, “then I would have been worried”.

Interviews yesterday with the captain and manager illustrated the difficulties facing the Scotland coaching staff as they seek a plan, not simply to stop Spain, but also hurt them. Fletcher pondered standing off Spain, something Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho proposed when asked how best to cope with Barcelona’s ability to pass their opponents to death. Mourinho simply answered that they will let them have it. “We don’t want the ball, we will do our own thing,” he said.

Fletcher cautioned Scotland against becoming too drawn into a game of chase-the-ball, since it would involve being drawn into Spain’s web. “The way they keep the ball, I think, is a joy to watch,” he said. “At times it is mesmerising. That’s what they do to teams, tire them out then go for the kill. It is difficult, I know from experience, to chase the ball.”

Levein, however, urged his players to harass Spain. Asked about the prospect of a heavy defeat, he said: “If we sit off Spain and let them play there’s every chance [that might happen].”

The manager has devised a system which he is comfortable with, but whether his favoured 4-1-4-1 formation can unsettle the world champions is another question. We will need to score a goal, or score goals,” he said. “So our game won’t be completely about defending.”

Among Levein’s dilemmas is whether to risk playing Barry Bannan, the livewire midfielder whose cut foot is not the only reason the manager has been debating his inclusion. Bannan’s presence could tip the balance of the Scottish midfield into dangerously attacking territory, with Levein perhaps minded to opt for Don Cowie.

However, the Cardiff City player may have done himself few favours on Saturday night in Liechtenstein, when his 20 minute cameo in midfield coincided with Scotland’s grip on the game being loosened. Levein later criticised Cowie for having played too far forward. He admitted the onus is on Scotland to prevent Spain clicking into gear.

“I am almost certain Spain won’t be spending these two days working on how to stop Scotland play,” he said. “They will be playing their usual free-flowing brand of football. We know there are going to be long spells where we don’t have the ball but we can still make it as difficult as possible for Spain.”

Not many teams score twice against the Spaniards in a competitive game, something Scotland managed to do last October at Hampden Park. This offered Levein a glimpse of Spanish weakness. “The way they play means they are open at times,” he said. “They play free-flowing, attacking football, so, because of that, there are areas where they are vulnerable. The question is: can we show enough composure? Can we play the right weighted pass? It’s little things like that. Can we get into the last third of the park, can we capitalise on what we can maybe call their areas of weakness? Can we do that? That’s the question.”

Or, at least, it’s one of a number of questions set to keep Scotland occupied tonight. Although the memory of that clash at Hampden last year points to Scotland being able to breach the Spanish defence, it is not able to offer complete reassurance. A performance which stands as the best of the campaign ended only in ultimately deflating defeat.

Scotland must seek to halt the trend for glorious failure this evening.