The tactical adaptor

A BRAVE new world will be ushered in when George Burley selects his first Scotland side this week. Just so long as followers of the national team appreciate it won't be brave or new in any groundbreaking sense, and they don't expect the world. Or, perhaps, even the World Cup finals.

The stern test a talented Croatia will provide at Hampden on Wednesday marks the beginning of a potentially difficult balancing act for Burley. If afforded anything like his first-choice starting XI, he admits his selection won't be a "million miles" from the favoured line-up of predecessor Alex McLeish. The team then picks itself except for left-back and one centre-back berth.

It doesn't decide how to play all by itself, however. McLeish proved more expansive than safety-first Walter Smith. By instinct, Burley is more attack-minded again; a pass-and-go practitioner in which risks are considered worth taking for the chances they could end up making. Yet, the victory over Ukraine apart, Scotland's competitiveness in their nearly-but-not-quite European Championship campaign was founded on nullifying opponents – principally France – not opening them up. And even then the men in dark blue lost a third of their matches.

"Our strength is as a team," said Scotland's coach last week, echoing any number of those in whose footsteps he is following, before acknowledging the national team's modus operandi of late. "It will be interesting to see if we can actually stop Croatia playing and then try to get our game going.

"Spirit is important and that is one of the reasons I haven't changed the squad much, except for adding youngsters Steven Fletcher and Christophe Berra. Croatia will be one of those teams who are individually better than us. Look at Nico Kranjcar, Darijo Srna, Mladen Petric and Vedran Corluka. The key for Scotland is determination."

Scott Brown would appear a perfect ingredient for Burley's footballing mix. By reputation, here is a player who breaks up play, and then bombs forward in possession with purpose. In reality, he has failed to justify such hype since his £4.4m move to Celtic last summer. Burley, though, does not buy into the notion that Brown snaps and snarls without really putting the bite on opponents.

"I've seen a lot of Scott Brown over the last few years and he's a player I have always admired for his enthusiasm, desire and the passion he puts into the game. Remember he's still young and in his first full season at Celtic. For me, he's a top international player. I have no qualms about saying that. I think the world of him and he is one I'll be looking to build a side around."

Burley will build his side around his players' ability to move the ball around. Even if he accepts that, in crunch qualifiers, Scotland will go toe-to-toe with performers of superior ability. Much has been made of Celtic and Rangers' commendable recent European exploits. They have out-sweated and out-scrapped opponents rather than matched them in mastery of the ball. Yet, Burley believes he has men to do the latter.

"They are good at passing and moving," he said. "So I won't be trying to change them. I won't be trying to change Barry Ferguson, Darren Fletcher or Brown or the other midfielders of quality we have. And I won't discourage Alan Hutton from going forward. As a full-back I used to love to do that. It is about developing our style. The team has done terrifically well the last two years and now we have to move it forward.

"With the quality we have on the ball in midfield, it will be important to play through there and use the experience and energy. I'm not going to change my style; every manager has their own thoughts. I'll have a better idea with one or two games under my belt, but I see players of enthusiasm and desire when I look at our midfield."

Up front, though, Burley will be without a key player in James McFadden, as he recovers from surgery to his knee. Before it was known that the Birmingham striker needed an operation, Burley said: "I watched McFadden this week and he was bang on form. I think he has grown in stature and is another who is exceptional on the ball."

McFadden's absence could signal a move to the starting line-up for Steven Fletcher, who has impressed for both the Under-21s and Hibernian, and who celebrates his 21st birthday on Wednesday.

Considered an adherent of 4-4-2, Burley is not oblivious to the returns Scotland have derived from playing one forward through the middle. "Is it 4-5-1? Is it 4-3-3? Is it 4-2-3-1? The key is working together as a team," he said. "I've played a number of different systems as a manager. It is about players and getting the best out of them. People make too much of it. In certain games there will be different shapes. But the key is having the bravery to get the ball down and play. We haven't got a six-foot-two target man to play it to. We have to impose ourselves with players of energy, desire and quality."

Burley is sure enough in himself not to feel the need to make a showy imprint on Scotland in his first outing as national manager, though Steven Fletcher and Berra's club form has made their progression to the senior side natural. "To give players who have been doing well opportunities is what these friendly games are for," Burley said.

A campaign seems to have been struck up for in-form Allan McGregor to be elevated above Craig Gordon, the Sunderland keeper Burley knows all about from his four months in charge at Hearts. "I know Craig more than Allan and he has never put a foot wrong for Scotland," Burley said. "They are two world-class keepers but you need one pushing the other so that if you get an injury – bang – you have another keeper who can help you qualify for a World Cup." McGregor may get the nod, if only to add to his experience, having played just 45 minutes of international football.

Burley's selection dilemmas for midweek are also the major considerations ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign that starts in September with a double-header that will take his men to Macedonia and Iceland. He has to decide whether Christian Dailly, Russell Anderson or Berra partner Stephen McManus, with 38-year-old David Weir not considered for the visit of Croatia.

Left-back would appear the problem position Burley needs serious convincing over. Injury-prone Gary Naysmith, erratic Jay McEveley and currently sidelined Kevin McNaughton appear the contenders, though Rangers' Steven Smith would come into that bracket if he were soon to pick up his Ibrox career where he left it on succumbing to various ailments 15 months ago. "I don't think anyone has put their stamp on it," Burley said.

That is for the friendlies in May and August to decide. For now, Burley should be allowed his moment of filling with pride as he prepares to lead Scotland on a journey to who knows where.