Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Levein stresses Scots' positives

Levein lauds grit and determination

Scotland coach Craig Levein preferred to enjoy his side's comeback win over Liechtenstein rather than consider what could have been an embarrassing draw.

"I am not too interested in people wanting to highlight negative things," he said after Stephen McManus's last-minute Euro qualifying Group I winner.

"For me, we've got the points, they are in the bag, we are top of the group.

"And, from that point of view, I am a happy man. Why would I want to talk about something that could have been?"

Liechtenstein, who had won only three and drawn four of their previous 40 European Championship qualifiers, were dreaming of their most famous victory to date when they took the lead through Mario Frick shortly after half-time.

But Scotland looked to be heading for a second draw in four days until McManus headed in with the last move of the game to add to Kenny Miller's 65th-minute equaliser.

People will tomorrow have a pop at the way the game went, but let's just be grateful that the players stuck in, dug in, got the result and that gives us a good platform to move forward from

Scotland coach Craig Levein

And Levein paid tribute to the part played in the fight-back by West Brom midfielder James Morrison, who had replaced misfiring talisman James McFadden after 45 minutes.

"I made the decision at half-time that I didn't think he was contributing enough for the team and I felt that James Morrison could maybe add something and I firmly believe that he did and he has played his way into my plans with that performance in the second half," said the Scotland coach.

"I thought the performance of James Morrison was absolutely fantastic.

"He did all the work rate that was required, he chased back, he helped his full-back, he showed composure on the ball.

"When he lost the ball, the first thing he did was get back behind it and, if we are going to play as a team, that is the kind of effort we need."

Levein also praised the fans, despite the team being booed off the park after a goalless first half.

"That was a game that was set up for us to slip on a banana skin," he said. "But, even after Liechtenstein scored, they stayed with us and stayed with us right to the end of the match and got what they deserved.

Victory most important - McManus

"So I am chuffed to bits that they had belief in us. We can get better and will get better, I have no doubt about that."

Lithuania, with whom Scotland drew 0-0 in Kaunas on Friday, caused a surprise by defeating Czech Republic 1-0 in Olomouc.

"Lithuania go win in the Czech Republic and we got criticised in some quarters on Friday for only getting a point in Lithuania," said Levein.

"We did not play well tonight. I know that. The players know that.

"But this team are very well organised and we spoke about how they would play out of defence and had good players and were no mugs.

"Everybody can sit back and analyse the game as they want. The fact is we are top of the group. We might have scored in the last seconds of the match, but for me that doesn't matter.

"People will tomorrow have a pop at the way the game went, but let's just be grateful that the players stuck in, dug in, got the result and that gives us a good platform to move forward from."

Potenshöjande medel - potenshöjande medel

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