GROUP I Scotland 2 Czech Republic 2:CRAIG LEVEIN is refusing to concede that Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifying hopes are at an end, although the manager could barely hide his anger at the referee, Kevin Blom, in the immediate aftermath of the draw against the Czech Republic. The Dutchman's decision handed the Czechs a last-minute spot-kick.
Lithuania are the visitors tomorrow and Scotland need the Czechs to drop points against Spain and Lithuania in their closing Group I games to have a chance of qualifying.
Scotland travel to Liechtenstein and Spain to end their campaign.
“Until the position arises that we can’t qualify, then we’ll fight on,” said Levein.
“We are on five points and the Czechs are on 10. They’ve still got to go to Lithuania, and face Spain at home. So it is not beyond the realms of possibility for them to lose these two games.
“If the Czechs lose these two games, and we win our next two, we’ll go a point in front of them.”
The prospect of Scotland having to beat Spain in the world champions’ own country does not faze Levein.
Scotland’s showing in losing 3-2 to Spain at Hampden remains their best performance of the qualifying section thus far.
“We’ve played them here, when there was everything to play for,” Levein said.
“I believe that, when we go over there, they will have qualified, they might have new players playing, and if our improvement continues, then I’ll have no worries.
“I’m just disappointed that it is more difficult now than it should have been.”
The depth of Levein’s squad will be tested against Lithuania. Kenny Miller and Scott Brown are suspended and Craig Mackail-Smith is out with a back injury. There are also injury concerns over Phil Bardsley, Charlie Adam and Steven Naismith.
“Stephen Crainey didn’t make it on to the bench,” said Levein of the Czech match. “Nor did Graham Dorrans, nor Robert Snodgrass.
“We’ve got Grant Hanley coming back and Steven Whittaker coming back. Plus, all the guys who were on the bench on Saturday.”
Miller opened the scoring on Saturday afternoon before Jaroslav Plasil deservedly hauled the visitors level.
Darren Fletcher seemed to set Scotland on course for victory until Michal Kadlec converted the controversial penalty.
“What is done is done,” Levein said. “All I can affect now is Tuesday night. As soon as the final whistle finished I was extremely angry, but now I have to start to think about Tuesday night.
“There was a lot of people at Hampden to watch us and I’m hoping they will think we are worth coming back to see on Tuesday night.”
SCOTLAND: McGregor, Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Bardsley (Wilson 75), Naismith (Robson 86), Fletcher, Adam (Cowie 79), Brown, Morrison, Miller. Subs Not Used: Gilks, Goodwillie, Bannan, Forrest. Booked: Brown, Miller, Berra, Wilson.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Lastuvka, Hubnik, Rajnoch, Sivok, Kadlec, Hubschman, Plasil, Petrzela (Rezek 56), Rosicky, Jiracek (Pekhart 77), Baros (Vacek 90). Subs Not Used: Drobny, Pudil, Pospech, Lafata. Booked: Jiracek, Plasil, Rezek, Baros, Pekhart.
Referee: K Blom(Holland).
