Crunch time: Levein faces his first competitive game as Scotland boss. Pic: © SNS Group
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Craig Levein takes charge of his first competitive international on Friday night and there will be no easy introduction for the Scotland manager. A tricky away tie in Kaunas may be the opening match of the Euro 2012 campaign but in a tough five team group there can be no false steps along the way.
Scotland fans have already accepted that World and European champions Spain are hot favourites to win Group I and that the most likely rivals for second spot, and a playoff place, will be Czech Republic. Three points in Lithuania would a boost to the nations chance’s of qualifying for the finals while anything less would give Lithuania encouragement that they can challenge for the runners-up spot themselves.
Lithuania are familiar opponents for Scotland, the two nations having been drawn together in the last three European Championship qualifying groups. In the away matches, Scotland’s record is as mixed as can be, comprising one win, one draw and one defeat.
Ranked 11 places behind Scotland at number 52 in the Fifa rankings, there is real danger in the Lithuania squad. Marius Stankevicius brings experience of playing in Serie A and La Liga to the back line, while Deividas Semberas plays his club football with Russian giants CSKA Moscow.
In attack, Thomas Danilevicius has been a regular goalscorer for his country and has 19 goals in 59 caps, including a strike against Scotland in 2007.
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Craig Levein will have done his homework on Lithuania though and will be confident that if his players perform to their best then they can come away from the match with a win. The manager has already chosen a team that balances a sensible defensive set-up with the ability to cause damage in attack.
Levein has made eight changes to the side that lost 3-0 in last month’s friendly against Sweden. David Weir and Stephen McManus will line up in the centre of defence in front of goalkeeper Alan McGregor. Steven Whittaker will be deployed at left-back while Alan Hutton makes a return from injury to slot in at right-back.
Lee McCulloch has been handed the task of protecting the defence from a deep-lying midfield role and allowing the four midfielders ahead of him to support lone striker Kenny Miller.
Darren Fletcher and Scott Brown are both more than capable of breaking forward from the centre of the park but the wide men are more likely to give Miller the support and supply they will need. Steven Naismith will start on the left with Barry Robson on the right flank and the plan seems to be that both will cut inside onto their stronger foot rather than hit the bye-line to provide crosses.
With the Scotland manager sending out a competitive team for the first time and the stakes being so high even in a group opener, there is bound to be plenty to discuss. You can share your opinion on all the talking points with our live discussion from 6.30pm.
