Scotland squad named for Euro qualifiers

Scotland boss Craig Levein named his squad for the two Euro qualifiers and the discussion is around the strikers left out.

Craig Levein named his squad today for the games with Leichtenstein andSpainknowing two wins are the only hope of making a play off place.

There was much talk beforehand about the form of Hibs Garry O’Connor since the start of the season. The striker has bagged 10 League and Cup goals already this season, but has not been considered.

Levein did explain this was down to his off field worries and the striker was in his thoughts for the future. If Hibs can play him during his off field worries, why notScotland. If we wait to the future he may have lost form, when it is now we need goals in these two games.

He has also left out the top scorer in the Championship with Ross McCormack having bagged eight goals already. This is the same total as Kenny Miller and Mickail-Smith combined, but they are included and McCormack left out.

This seems to go against the often quoted mantra he will only players on form. The exception to all his selections is if you play inOrangeand at Tannadice, with the latest beneficiary of this criteria being Craig Swanson.

While I admire Swanson as a player I am not sure what he has done this season to merit a call up ahead of McCormack or O’Connor.

At least he has move to bring back some experience at centre back, with Steven McManus ofMiddlesbroughbeing called back into the squad. This may be a bit late, as his experience could have been vital against the Czechs.

It is these decisions managers are judged on, and it will be interesting to see howScotlandfare in these two games, and if the manager escapes unscathed!