The highs and lows of Craig Levein’s Scotland reign

Published on Tuesday 6 November 2012 00:27

HIGHS: March 2010: In his first match as manager, the former Dundee United boss gets off to a happy enough start by overseeing Scotland’s first friendly win at Hampden in 14 years with a 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic.

May 2011: Scotland beat Wales 3-1 in Dublin to set up a Carling Nations Cup decider against the Republic of Ireland, having earlier seen off Northern Ireland. But the hosts win 1-0.

September 2011: Scotland move two points behind Czech Republic in Euro 2012 qualifying with two games to go as Steven Naismith scores in 1-0 win over Lithuania, one of only three competitive victories in three years.

LOWS

October 2010: Deploys a 4-6-0 
formation in Prague for the Euro 2012 qualifying tie – a tactical decision which looks likely to define his period in charge of the national team. The negative selection stands firm until the 69th minute when Roman Hubnik secured a 1-0 win for the Czech Republic, but Scotland never looked like scoring.

February 2011: Apparently frustrated by the tactics deployed in Prague and his inability to force his way into the team, striker Steven Fletcher texts an SFA official to turn down a call-up for the Carling Nations Cup clash against Northern Ireland. His exile goes on to last 20 more months.

September 2011: Two controversial late penalty decisions go against Scotland as the Czechs fight back for a 2-2 Hampden draw that puts them in pole position for a play-off place, which they sealed the following month.

May 2012: Suffers heaviest defeat as Scotland manager as the United States cruise to a 5-1 friendly win in Florida. Landon Donovan scores a hat-trick on a humiliating night for the Scots.

September 2012: Scotland have to fight back for a home draw against Macedonia days after opening their World Cup qualifying campaign with a goalless Hampden clash with Serbia.

October 2012: Gareth Bale scores twice in the final ten minutes as a Wales team recently beaten 6-1 by Serbia beat Levein’s men – for whom Steven Fletcher finally returns – 2-1 in Cardiff. Days later Scotland fall to the bottom of the group with a 2-0 defeat by Belgium.

November 2012: Relieved of his duties as national team manager.

Taken from the Scotsman