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.”