Scotland boss says pressure is on Czech Republic
Scotland national team coach Craig Levein believes that all the pressure falls on Czech Republic when the sides meet in a UEFA 2012 European Football Championship qualifying match in Prague on Friday (8 October).
The home side are the favourites for the clash, even though they suffered a loss at the hands of Lithuania in their opening qualifying match. Scotland, meanwhile, are at the top of the group after a draw with Lithuania and victory over Lichtenstein.
Those results have left the Czechs in desperate need of a victory, and former Dundee United boss Levein is hoping that desperation will allow his players to capitalise on any defensive errors and leave the Central European country with all three points.
He told reporters that: “I think this game is a big match for the Czech Republic as well. They lost at home against Lithuania and that puts added pressure on them for this game. If the Czech Republic team don't take three points from this game, they will
be in a very difficult position.
'The Czechs have to win'
“I think the Czech Republic have very good players but for me this is a game that we don't need to win but the Czech Republic must win. The pressure for me is not on the Scotland's players, it's on the Czech Republic.”
With a draw being a favourable result for Scotland, Levein has set up his team to play defensively and stifle the Czechs. He will also deploy an unusual 4-2-2-2 formation with the intention of closing down the Czech players in midfield.
He has also opted to drop Kenny Miller, who has scored ten goals for Rangers already this season, from his starting line-up in favour of in-form debutant Jamie Mackie of Queens Park Rangers.
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