Craig Levein has revealed the real reasons behind his infamous decision to play with NO strikers during a game in his ill-fated spell in charge of Scotland.
After leaving Dundee United to take on the national team job in December 2009, Levein got off to a winning start with a friendly against the Czech Republic, before suffering a 3-0 defeat to Sweden in his second game at the helm. Scotland’s qualifying campaign to reach the finals of Euro 2012 started with a dismal display in a 0-0 draw away to Lithuania and an unconvincing 2-1 home victory against Liechtenstein that required an injury time goal from defender Stephen McManus.
And it was Levein’s fury with his forward players that saw him utilise a 4-6-0 formation in a rematch with the Czech’s in their third European qualifier, with Jamie Mackie and Steven Naismith being tasked with the job of dropping into midfield whenever possession was lost. Ultimately, Levein’s plan failed, with the Dark Blues falling to a 1-0 defeat in Prague. Improved performances in the back-end of the campaign gave Scotland a chance of reaching the Euros but Levein was later relieved of his duties after a disastrous start to the qualifying section for the 2014 World Cup in November 2012.
Speaking on the Open Goal Podcast, he said: “You are better being remembered for something than f*** all. I tell everyone that Pep (Guardiola) saw that game and has copied me, but deep down I don’t believe that. My thinking was that the strikers were playing s*** at the time and I was really f****** annoyed with them, so I said ‘f*** we won’t play any’.
“Nobody noticed for a while. Jamie Mackie and Naisy were just dropping back into midfield, that was basically it. But the whole idea was to try and win 1-0. They struggled against us but we lost a goal at a set piece.”
Levein added that although none of the squad approached him about his bizarre choice of tactics, he knew that it wasn’t too popular with them. “We worked on it in training before the game, but I could sense that they weren’t happy”, he stated. “Kenny Miller would have made his 50th appearance. but he didn’t play. I’ve not spoken to Kenny about it but if I was due my 50th cap I’d have been f****** right in there with the boots.”
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