“One of them was the Czech Republic game, the 4-6-0 [in 2010], where a draw would have been a really good result. The game wasn’t great and neither team threatened, but we lost the goal to a set-piece.
“So you can plan all you want to play for a certain outcome, but football is so random that you’re not guaranteed to get that.”
Levein believes Clarke’s demeanour and approach to training, the gameplan and team selection will be more influential in the players’ mindset than outside talk of only needing a point.
The inclusion of winger Ben Gannon-Doak, for example, may send a message Scotland are going to be more aggressive going forward.
“You get a feel as a manager where the players are,” Levein said.
“You’re looking at it and you’re thinking: maybe if we just put another attacking player on, it gives everybody the idea that it’s time to take the shackles off and have a go.”