Scotland coach Craig Levein believes his team is still on course to reach the playoffs for the 2012 European Championship despite two defeats in five days.
After failure to qualify for six straight tournaments and last week's loss in the Czech Republic, Scotland might be expected to curse its luck and give up hope after Tuesday's unlucky 3-2 defeat by Spain left it in third place in a five-team qualifying group.
But Levein says that the spirit and intelligence his players showed to recover a two-goal deficit and hold the world and European champions at 2-2 until the 79th minute bodes well for the next three matches.
''In my eyes, we always had to beat the Czech Republic and Lithuania at home and Liechtenstein away,'' Levein said. ''Nothing has changed.''
Levein will be without defender Steven Whittaker because of suspension after the defender was sent off for two yellow cards, the first of which was for a handball that gave David Villa a first-half penalty and a Spanish record 45th international goal.
But the coach's biggest challenge will likely be to maintain momentum created by an unexpectedly strong performance. While Spain, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Liechtenstein all play in March, the Group I fixture list leaves Scotland idle in qualifying until September 2011.
Scotland hosts the Czechs on Sept. 3 and Lithuania on Sept. 6 before completing qualifying the following month with trips to Liechtenstein and Spain, which has now won 17 straight games in qualifying for all competitions and is five points ahead of the Scots.
''I can't wait for the next time,'' Levein said.
Levein may also have bought himself some breathing space after he was widely criticized in the Scottish media for fielding a team with six midfielders and no strikers in the 1-0 loss to the Czech Republic.
His lineup against Spain appeared only marginally more attacking when announced, but lone striker Kenny Miller continually dragged one of Spain's central defenders out of position to leave space for midfielders Steven Naismith, Darren Fletcher, James Morrison and Graham Dorrans to run into.
Both Scotland's goals came from such runs.
Naismith drifted into the area in the 58th to score a diving header from Miller's floated cross for his first international goal. Ten minutes later, defender Gerard Pique, trying to protect the empty space left behind him, redirected Morrison's right-wing cross past goalkeeper Iker Casillas from close range.
The home fans at Hampden Park, who have not seen their team reach a major tournament since 1998, responded raucously to Scotland's efforts.
''I felt the players did everything that I asked from them,'' Levein said. ''They tried to follow every instruction to the letter. In my eyes, they could not have done any more and the supporters appreciated that.
''The chemistry between the players and supporters was as good as I've seen here in a long, long time and the place was rocking.''
Miller, who made his 50th international appearance on Tuesday, showed that the lone striker system can be dangerous when a team has willing runners breaking from midfield.
The Rangers striker, restored to the side after Levein omitted him against the Czech Republic, rarely threatened to score but worked hard to create space and openings for his teammates.
''If we can play the way we did tonight against the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Liechtenstein, then I don't think we've got much to fear,'' Miller said. ''Reproducing that display is going to be tough and they will be hard games. But if we can win our two home games and win away in Liechtenstein I don't think we will be far away from second spot.''
