How much do Scotland's new generation really love the game?

While England were enduring their shambolic defeat against Spain last week, the new Scotland boss Alex McLeish got his squad of 30 together for a training camp. At the same time, he announced a Scotland "B" squad, who played a friendly fixture against Finland. The result - 2-2 - was not that impressive, but that was not really the point. The exercise gave McLeish a chance to look at those players who are pushing for a senior cap.

That meant a total of nearly 50 players training or playing in the national colours last week, and there are yet more who can count themselves unlucky not to have been called up - most notably, Steven Naismith of Kilmarnock. The contrast with a decade ago is striking. Craig Brown's squads became increasingly reliant on an ageing band of players, as he felt the quality to replace them just didn't exist. In fact, Brown typically looked to "Anglos" such as Don Hutchison - who had grown up and played in England his entire career, but qualified for the Scottish team via a grandparent - rather than at home when new faces were needed.

Now, Scotland aren't yet world beaters. But there are lots of reasons to be positive about the future. A new generation of players has come through - roughly defined by Kenny Miller, 27, as the oldest, through to the 19 year old Naismith - who could play together for years to come, and develop as a team. Even Miller might not have peaked yet (Celtic supporters will certainly hope not, because he's had a poor season), while players like Naismith, Derek Riordan and Shaun Maloney still have the bulk of their careers ahead of them. These 3, in particular, have more than youth on their side... they each have plenty of raw talent, and the ability to produce something out of the ordinary, to turn a game on its head. The thought of a Scotland team with that kind of genuine attacking threat is a mouth-watering prospect.

Berti Vogts was this week trying to claim credit for the emergence of this new generation, but the real reason has much to do with the dramatic change in fortunes experienced by Scotland's biggest clubs. The collapse in TV money suffered by the Scottish Premier League 5 years ago meant that clubs were faced with no option other than to dramatically cut costs, meaning high-earning first team players were cut from the wage bill, and replaced by the cheapest option - kids from the youth team. 18 and 19 year olds who previously wondered if they would ever get a chance were suddenly playing for the first team week in, week out. Of course, not all young players can cope with that kind of pressure, but many have thrived on the opportunity.

Encouraged, many clubs in Scotland have since invested in their training and academy facilities, realising that these are not longer optional, but a key element in the business plan. Graduates from the youth set up don't command a transfer fee, but may just earn a profit if another club comes in for them. Meanwhile, wage expectations have tumbled. There will always be a place for foreign players, of course, but the investment in academies is welcome, and will have a long term impact. Even the Old Firm, who - insulated by their huge fanbases - were slower than others to implement reform, are now placing a renewed emphasis on home-grown talent.

The attitude of the clubs, however, is only part of the story. It is the attitude of the players themselves that will really determine how successful they are. It is a question about their level of ambition, and the sacrifices they are prepared to make to excel in their careers.

Garry O’Connor should have been involved with the Scotland set-up last week, but wasn’t, for reasons entirely of his own making. A late substitute in the famous victory over France in October, O’Connor missed the subsequent Sunday curfew at the team hotel, and was ejected from the squad who flew to the Ukraine. He blamed his absence on family problems, but that didn’t really wash with the many witnesses who saw him out drinking in the early hours of Sunday morning. Alex McLeish has hinted there may be a way back for the player, but also that alcohol was the real route of his problems, not a partner struggling to adjust to life in Moscow.

He’s not the only one with a fondness for a tipple. Paul Le Guen was reportedly horrified at the drinking culture when he arrived at Rangers, but rather than persuading his players to lead a more responsible lifestyle, it became a major source of disagreement, with Barry Ferguson organising a piss-up in Newcastle in direct defiance of the (by then) embattled boss. These are not isolated incidents, but part of an endemic culture in Scottish football, and a long line of players – from Andy Goram to Duncan Ferguson – have demonstrated their propensity to drink.

Scotland, of course, is a hard-drinking nation: a combination of the Protestant work ethic, which allows honest award in return for honest work, and a Catholic culture of celebrating with alcohol, means that drink is woven into the fabric of the country. There are many supporters who believe that there is no problem with players drinking, so long as they still “put a shift in” on the park.

Yet all the evidence is that this is not the way to excel at sport, or maximise your performance. The revolution led by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal changed the way his first team there thought about how they lived, and how they behaved away from the training ground. Having talent is no longer enough. Hard work alone is not enough. Living like a professional at all times is now vital if players want to succeed at the very highest level.

So here’s the question. Is this a generation of Scottish players who will be talked about in decades to come, who revolutionised attitudes in their country, and achieved the impossible? Or will they be content to do just enough, and continue to live the lifestyle of their predecessors?