SCOTLAND manager Craig Levein has revealed he had received goodwill messages from all across the country ahead of tonight's last push against Spain in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Around 7000 Scots have tickets for the Estadio Jose Rico Perez, but thousands more are expected to be in Alicante in the hope that Scotland will deliver a sensational victory, or else qualify for the play-offs because group rivals the Czech Republic get a bad result in Lithuania. Both matches kick-off at 7.45pm UK time and Scotland are one result away from their first play-off place since 2003.

Scotland are in the crucial runners-up spot in Group I, but their play-off place is deeply precarious because it is more likely the Czechs will do well in Kaunas than Craig Levein's team will win or even draw away to the World and European champions.

But, if the Czechs lose, Scotland are through, whatever happens in Alicante. The management team will be kept informed of the score in Kaunas by one of the backroom staff during the game.

The excitement in and around the Scotland camp at La Manga yesterday was impossible to miss. The match is the biggest of Levein's managerial career so far.

"To go into a game like this as national team manager is great. It's part of the reason I took the job," he said.

"It feels like the whole country is behind us, 100%. There are people flying out here from all over the world just to be with us. They won't even get into the stadium, but they will still come to be outside the ground if we win. I've had loads of messages from loads of people, too many to go into."

Scotland have not appeared at a major tournament since France 98. They reached the play-offs for Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, but lost to England and Holland respectively.

"Football means everything to the people of Scotland. Whatever the sport is, the nation is patriotic. But football is our sport. This is the sort of situation our fans respond to and we can feel the goodwill of the people of Scotland. It does help. I don't know if it equals a goal but it helps.

"It's crazy that fans will come just to be near the stadium. The atmosphere in this one will be fantastic and it will be made by our supporters. They will be fuelled up and ready to go.

"Would I have fancied this when I was a player? Of course. You don't get into international football without dreaming of playing in a game like this.

"One year ago, 18 months ago, I didn't know the players. I didn't know what system to play. There was no evidence 18 months ago that we were capable of beating Spain. But what has happened in the last year, since we played Spain in Glasgow, is that we have improved."

Levein's men lost 3-2 to Spain at Hampden a year ago. As long as they at least match the number of points the Czechs get tonight, they will be in Thursday's draw for the play-offs. Those two-leg ties take place next month. But first, Spain.

"We will need to score a goal, or score goals, so our game won't be completely about defending," he said. "If it was just a draw that we were needing I might have gone a bit differently. But we will need to score in this game so guys like James Morrison and Steven Naismith will be so important."

Scotland's main injury concern is over Barry Bannan. Levein would like the option of Bannan in midfield, but the Aston Villa midfielder has a cut on a heel which has made it difficult for him to wear a boot. If the SFA medical team can come up with a way to prevent the wound being opened up by rubbing, he has a chance.

"I want him available. Bannan is one that I am very much thinking of playing, but I can't say for certain if he will make it."

Darren Fletcher and Craig Mackail-Smith should be fine, despite ankle and hamstring concerns respectively. Kenny Miller's groin problem has not improved and he is out.