Scotland boss Craig Levein has hit out at the press for their 'hysterical reaction' to the 0-0 draw with Serbia in their opening World Cup qualifier.
Manager unhappy to be 'fighting negativity' from press
Scotland boss Craig Levein has hit out at the press for their 'hysterical reaction' to the 0-0 draw with Serbia in their opening World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
The Scots were booed off the pitch at Hampden Park following their first Group A encounter, with many newspapers and pundits unhappy with the performance and the manager's tactics.
Levein and his players have an immediate opportunity to pick up their first victory on the road to Brazil in 2014 when they play host to Macedonia on Tuesday evening.
And with nine games still to play in a group which also features Belgium, Croatia and Wales, Levein is baffled by some of the critical comments at such an early juncture.
"I'm a little bit annoyed about the hysterical reaction. We have played one game and we can go top of the group if things go our way," he told a press conference prior to the Macedonia match.
Complete nonsense
"It's complete nonsense to be talking about qualification or non-qualification just now. We've still got 27 points to play for.
"We are very positive about what we are doing. What's important to me is that there is an overwhelming feeling within the country about the positivity of our national team.
"Going onto that pitch and having that whole stadium behind you - everyone in the press behind you - then everybody is contributing towards us going to Brazil. I think that is really important.
"We are fighting negativity at times when there is no reason for that. If the press, the players and the supporters are all working together to help us qualify, then it is so much easier.
"I keep saying to the players that we should have more swagger and we should be more confident. That's what we're aiming towards, that's what we're trying to achieve.
"That is why everyone is sticking together and everyone is really tight. I have to again compliment the supporters for adding to that on Saturday and I'm sure it will be exactly the same (on Tuesday)."
