After struggling through Group C with one win in three games, Fabio Capello's men were comprehensively beaten 4-1 in their last-16 clash with old foes Germany.

Speculation that the Italian would lose his job in the wake of their unexpectedly early exit from South Africa was only ended yesterday when it was revealed, after a Football Association board meeting, that he would remain in charge for the next two years.

The Scotland boss, preparing for the friendly in Sweden next month, the last time he can get his squad together before the European Championship qualifiers which begin in September, claims too much is expected from the England players - which makes it difficult for the manager.

"They (England) are under an enormous amount of pressure," told Real Radio.

"I think the expectation levels of England are way above what they should be.

"I said before the tournament that if England got to the semi-finals it would be a terrific achievement.

"They didn't quite manage it.

"I'm not one of those people who looks at it and revels in them going out.

"I think it would be good for everybody if they had progressed further but it's a difficult job, the England manager's job, as you see."

Levein is aware that his task is simply to qualify Scotland for a major tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup in France.

His only game since being appointed last December was a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic in a friendly at Hampden in March.

Following the opening qualifier in Lithuania on September 3, the Scots will play Liechtenstein at Hampden four days later before a double-header against the Czech Republic and Spain in October.

The former Dundee United and Hearts boss, who was capped 16 times for Scotland, is confident he can break the mould and take the national team to the 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine.

"I would love to be involved," he said.

"I was fortunate enough to play in the World Cup in 1990 and it was such a marvellous experience so I would love to have the opportunity to take Scotland to a World Cup or more imminently, a European Championship.

"We have a good group of players and have probably underperformed a bit in recent years.

"But I don't kid on, I don't say it's going to be easy.

"We had a good result against the Czech Republic and if we get a bit of momentum going anything is possible.

"But I will be doing my best to get us to Poland and the Ukraine."

Levein revealed be will step up his own preparations over the next few weeks.

"I've been really busy," he said.

"I've been to Spain, the United States, Austria, Lithuania and Italy, I've been all over the place and I'm away to Liechtenstein in a couple of weeks' time.

"I've been watching games and getting to grips with our opponents.

"So I've been really busy.

"Just about everybody is back at pre-season training now so I expect that maybe 10 days from now, I will be on the road down south watching games, having a look at the players and seeing what kind of form they are in before I name my squad."