Source: FOOTYMAD
Cast The Net WIde
Craig Levein wants to lead a successful side and will use all the rules he can to get hold of eligible players Success on the pitch for Scotland will see any controversy over national manager Craig Levein determination to use any and all the rules over eligibility for players largely forgotten. such as will be forgotten if he produces a winning team. Levein is continuing to pursue an interest in Newcastle and England Under-21 striker Andy Carroll, who has a Scottish grandparent, despite getting little encouragement so far. Such moves generates a feeling of disquiet among some contingent of fans who feel the identity of the national team would be diluted. But Levein pointed to the make-up of Germany's impressive World Cup team as evidence that Scotland must follow suit. Strikers Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose were born in Poland and Germany also fielded Brazil-born striker Cacau. Levein said: "I hear people say 'oh this player or that player shouldn't play because he is not Scottish'. But Germany did well at the World Cup and they have guys from all over the place. The rules are there and other people are using the rules. And while there might have been some people sitting there with their arms crossed, determined not to celebrate when they beat England or Argentina because a certain guy is Polish or whatever, the majority supported the team. We just want to win and if we do that it covers up a lot of these problems and the majority of Scottish fans will be happy." Levein feels previous attempts to unearth players eligible to play fro Scotland have been "amateurish" and he claimed it would have been a "travesty" if Scotland had missed out on Hearts winger Andrew Driver. Levein succeeded in making the Oldham-born player a Scotland candidate after lobbying for the home nations rule that qualifies non-native players who have attended school in their adopted country for five years to be tweaked. Levein is similarly determined to persuade Carroll to choose Scotland, with the help of Newcastle first-team coach Colin Calderwood. Levein said: "I haven't given up on that one yet, not until he says 100% that he doesn't want to play for Scotland. I have Colin Calderwood down there and he is chipping away at him." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
