After last night’s 2-0 win for Spain over the Czech Republic, this evening’s game against Liechtenstein is a MUST win game for Scotland. If they don’t pick up all three points then they can kiss goodbye to that all-important play off place, but even if they win they need Lithuania to do Scotland a favour and hold the Czechs to a draw or beat them. As for Scotland, they face World Champions Spain on Tuesday and anything out of that game would be tantamount to Scotland’s best result in decades.
The big news ahead of the match is that Kenny Miller will not play any part in tonight’s festivities, therefore Brighton striker Craig Mackail-Smith will lead the line in what is expected to be a 4-4-1-1 formation.
The Scotland team is as follows: McGregor: Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Bardsley: Fletcher, Bannan, Morrison, Adam, Naismith: Mackail-Smith.
The last time Scotland played Liechtenstein, a 97th minute winner from Stephen McManus secured all three points at Hampden Park.
Liechtenstein took the lead through Mario Frick early in the second half, before Kenny Miller equalised on 63 minutes. With the game edging towards one of Scotland’s most embarrassing results in their history, McManus popped up seven minutes into injury time to head home a Barry Robson corner to give Scotland the victory.
On top of that poor performance, Scotland were held to a 0-0 draw with Lithuania in Kaunas and not to mention the 4-6-0 debacle against the Czech Republic. Anything less than three points tonight will surely see Craig Levein at the sharp end of the sword held by the Tartan Army.
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