Scots step up pursuit of Czechs

Scotland will look to drag themselves back into the race for a UEFA EURO 2012 place as they take on a Czech Republic side ranked second in Group I.

• The Scots trail their visitors by five points, and have little chance of catching section leaders Spain. However, with a game in hand on the Czechs, they could yet snatch second place and a berth in the play-offs.

• The Czechs got the better of the sides' first Group I meeting in Prague on 8 October last year, winning 1-0 with Roman Hubník heading the only goal with 21 minutes remaining at the Eden Stadium.

• Scotland's record in 14 games against the Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia reads W7 D0 L7 (W5 D0 L1 at home).

• The Czechs' only win in Scotland came in a UEFA EURO 2000 qualifier on 31 March 1999. Jan Suchopárek and Vladimír Šmicer put the visitors ahead at Celtic Park, with Eoin Jess replying after the interval.

• The two nations got a good look at each other on 3 March 2010 in what was Craig Levein's first match as Scotland manager, Scott Brown registering the only goal of the fixture somewhat against the run of play at Hampden Park.

• That victory ended a run of three straight defeats for Scotland against the Czech Republic and represented their first win against their rivals since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

• Perhaps the most unusual game between Czechoslovakia and Scotland came in qualifying for the 1962 FIFA World Cup. The teams finished level on points at the top of Group 8 and needed a play-off on neutral territory to decide who would advance to the finals in Chile. In the end, the Czechs prevailed 4-2 in extra time following a 2-2 draw in Brussels.