Fletcher's tonsils give Scots a headache

The prospects of qualification for a major finals is so precious for Scotland that they will cling to the possibility until the last moment.

With two games remaining, in Liechtenstein tonight and in Spain on Tuesday – on the face of it, a certain three points and a certain "nul points" – those chances are slim and a record of having failed to qualify for every championship since 1998 will be extended for at least another two years.

Failure to triumph in Vaduz is unthinkable, even by the often perverse standards of Scottish football – a shuddering recent example being the 97th-minute winner required to beat tonight's hosts at Hampden Park last year – and would mean that last moment arriving abruptly. However, last night's 2-0 defeat of the Czech Republic by Spain in Prague means Scotland can climb into second place with victory today, increasing their hopes of reaching the play-offs.

Craig Levein has delayed naming his side – he is in the habit of doing it the day before the game – after Darren Fletcher's late arrival following a quicker than expected recovery from a bout of tonsillitis. Fletcher trained on his own yesterday, as did Kenny Miller but the Cardiff striker was not judged to have fully recovered from the groin injury he picked up last weekend and will sit today's game out. "It's a great boost to have Darren here, especially after losing Kenny for tomorrow," Levein said last night. "He has a huge influence on the team and his presence alone will give the players a lift. We will assess him tomorrow but it is a testament to the player that he flew over as soon as he felt ready."

Both Miller and Fletcher are likely to be given more time to be ready for Tuesday's game in Spain, where their experience will be vital. Levein added: "I have to wait to see him [Fletcher] and assess him but if the medical team gives him the thumbs-up he will play; if not, he is 100 per cent certain to be involved on Tuesday."

If Scotland do lose out in their tussle with the Czech Republic for the runners-up spot, it will be an earlier selection decision involving Miller that may come to haunt Levein. When Scotland travelled to Prague in the opening stages of the campaign, he left out Miller and sent out an XI that lined up in a 4-6-0 formation. There was no coming back from Roman Hubnik's second-half goal for a side designed with a crippling lack of ambition.

Levein has since seen his side score twice against Spain and the Czechs, albeit with the return of just one point, to demonstrate they do have an attacking threat which will have to be on display tonight. The Czechs themselves scored only twice in Vaduz and Gary Caldwell, the Wigan defender, pointed out yesterday that Liechtenstein have improved. They are, though, still ranked 118th in the world. "We know that we should beat Liechtenstein," accepted Caldwell.

Levein insists the focus is all on Rheinpark stadium in Vaduz and not on Tuesday when they play the world champions in Alicante, at the home of Hercules, a name that neatly sums up Scotland's task. Levein said: "If we don't get ourselves in a good position tomorrow then Tuesday doesn't matter."