Scotland are one game away from their first major finals since 1998 after a nerve-shredding win on penalties against Israel at Hampden.
Kenny McLean scored the pivotal spot kick in the depleted Scots’ first ever shoot-out, with only a victory in Serbia on 12 November now separating Steve Clarke’s men from Euro 2020.
It was a turgid affair at an empty national stadium between two below-par teams, but five perfect penalties from the hosts have a nation daring to dream once more.
Scotland, without a clutch of players after call-offs due to Covid-19 protocols and injury, are now on a six-game unbeaten run.
However, the Serbs are lying in wait after they defeated Norway 2-1 in extra time in Oslo.
Hoping for the best, fearing the worst. The mantra of every Scotland fan on couches in homes across the land. Was it now, or would it continue to be never?
As the Tartan Army dared to whisper of the former, the preamble silenced much of the chatter.
Stuart Armstrong, Kieran Tierney, Ryan Christie, Scott McKenna, Liam Palmer, James Forrest and Oliver Burke all ruled out – the first three amid Covid controversy.
What followed in the fledgling moments of this encounter would have offered modest reassurance. While seeing plenty of the ball, Scotland struggled to serve the front two of Oli McBurnie and Lyndon Dykes. Instead, the hosts’ best efforts relied upon set-pieces.
Captain Andy Robertson arced a free-kick wide in a half chance. However, Scott McTominay, again in a back three but this time with Declan Gallagher and Liam Cooper, was guilty of missing a jaw-dropping chance as, from six yards out, he steered a free header an inch by Israel’s right post. The noise of the Manchester United man chastising himself for the miss the only thing cutting through the nervous Hampden Park silence.
The Scotland captain was four years old the last time his nation graced a major tournament, but the pressure seemed to permeate through the team going forward. While the back three looked steady, there was little intensity going forward, minimal width and nothing whatsoever for Ofir Marciano to do in the Israeli goal.
Instead, the side team ranked 93rd in the world were the ones to get the only shot of the 90 minutes on target with 18 minutes of a dour 90 minutes to play, Eran Zahavi’s zinger from distance being dealt with by Marshall.
The game limped over the line into extra time, Scotland’s first since 1961, with a unified sigh of resignment across the country. The introduction of Ryan Fraser brought intent and conviction from the Newcastle forward. It provoked flickers of intent from Scotland, but again Marciano’s gloves remained immaculate. Twenty two years of hurt down, 15 minutes to play.
The agonising torture of Scotland’s first ever penalty shootout seemed inevitable at this stage, but the Tartan Army had not reached that safe haven just yet. Israel offered one huge heart-in-mouth moment Shon. Celtic’s Hatem Abd Elhamed’s whipped cross was missed by Cooper. Lurking behind was Shon Weissman, but the Real Valladollid striker’s outstretched leg missed. The cracks in the fingers contracted tighter.
Then, the nerves were shredded further. A last-gasp corner for the Scots was delivered by Robertson on to the head of Cooper. His touch was true, but the ball crashed off the post and out to signal penalties.
Scotland were now into uncharted waters. Nothing up until this point suggested how plain sailing it would be. John McGinn, Callum McGregor, McTominay, Shankland and McLean all scored, with Zehavi’s opening spot kick miss triggering delirium on the pitch, at homes everywhere and no doubt on streets outside of pubs that closed halfway through extra time.
It’s safe to come out from the back of the couch, but best keep the spot warm for next month.
Man of the match
What did we learn?
Not as much what did we learn, but what did we get reminded. Watching Scotland should come with a health warning.
This is a national team that for so long has threatened to be consumed by the beast of a two-decade burden of of regret, angst and humiliation. While Israel didn’t threat for the most part here, the group of players in dark blue struggled to find their rhythm.
But, it wouldn’t be Scotland unless it was done the hard way. While Clarke will say Slovakia and Czech Republic in the coming days will get due respect, the focus internally will surely be on preparing for Serbia. With an influx of players returning, you just never know.
Match stats
- This was Scotland’s first goalless draw in 55 matches, since November 2013 against United States.
- Scotland have gone six games without defeat in all competitions (W4 D2) for the first time since being unbeaten in seven matches under Gordon Strachan in October 2017.
- Only one of the game’s 29 shots was on target – Eran Zahavi’s attempt for Israel in the 72nd minute.
- It was the first time Scotland have not had a shot on target at home since the game against Belgium in September 2013.
What’s next?
Scotland’s focus now falls to Sunday’s visit of Slovakia to Hampden in the Nations League. Honestly…
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Scotland
Squad number1Player nameMarshall
Squad number4Player nameMcTominay
Squad number5Player nameGallagher
Squad number6Player nameCooper
Squad number2Player nameO’Donnell
Squad number8Player nameJack
Squad number10Player nameMcGregor
Squad number3Player nameRobertson
Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Squad number9Player nameDykes
Squad number11Player nameMcBurnie
Squad number13Player namePaterson
Squad number14Player nameMcLean
Squad number17Player nameFraser
Squad number19Player nameShankland
Israel
Squad number18Player nameMarciano
Squad number2Player nameDasa
Squad number4Player nameBitton
Squad number21Player nameTibi
Squad number12Player nameYeini
Squad number17Player nameElhamed
Squad number22Player nameGolasa
Squad number6Player nameNatcho
Squad number11Player nameSolomon
Squad number10Player nameDabbur
Squad number7Player nameZahavi
Squad number9Player nameWeissman
Squad number16Player nameAbu Fani
Squad number19Player nameElmkies
Line-ups
Scotland
- 1Marshall
- 4McTominay
- 5Gallagher
- 6Cooper
- 2O’DonnellSubstituted forMcLeanat 113′minutes
- 8JackSubstituted forFraserat 84′minutesBooked at 105mins
- 10McGregor
- 3Robertson
- 7McGinnBooked at 58mins
- 9DykesSubstituted forPatersonat 90′minutesBooked at 119mins
- 11McBurnieSubstituted forShanklandat 73′minutes
Substitutes
- 12McLaughlin
- 13Paterson
- 14McLean
- 15Porteous
- 16Fleck
- 17Fraser
- 18Taylor
- 19Shankland
- 21McCrorie
Israel
- 18Marciano
- 2Dasa
- 4BittonBooked at 55mins
- 21Tibi
- 12Yeini
- 17Elhamed
- 22GolasaSubstituted forElmkiesat 101′minutes
- 6NatchoBooked at 12minsSubstituted forAbu Faniat 69′minutes
- 11Solomon
- 10DabburSubstituted forWeissmanat 83′minutesBooked at 88mins
- 7Zahavi
Substitutes
- 1Harush
- 3Menachem
- 5Dgani
- 8Lavi
- 9Weissman
- 13Saba
- 14Karzev
- 15Arad
- 16Abu Fani
- 19Elmkies
- 20Abu Hanna
- 23Nitzan
Live Text
Match ends, Scotland 0(5), Israel 0(3).
Penalty Shootout ends, Scotland 0(5), Israel 0(3).
Goal! Scotland 0(5), Israel 0(3). Kenny McLean (Scotland) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal! Scotland 0(4), Israel 0(3). Mohammad Abu Fani (Israel) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal! Scotland 0(4), Israel 0(2). Lawrence Shankland (Scotland) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal! Scotland 0(3), Israel 0(2). Shon Weissman (Israel) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Goal! Scotland 0(3), Israel 0(1). Scott McTominay (Scotland) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal! Scotland 0(2), Israel 0(1). Nir Bitton (Israel) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Goal! Scotland 0(2), Israel 0. Callum McGregor (Scotland) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Penalty saved! Eran Zahavi (Israel) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Goal! Scotland 0(1), Israel 0. John McGinn (Scotland) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty Shootout begins Scotland 0, Israel 0.
Second Half Extra Time ends, Scotland 0, Israel 0.
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Sheran Yeini.
Liam Cooper (Scotland) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Ilay Elmkies.
Attempt blocked. Andrew Robertson (Scotland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by John McGinn.
Foul by Shon Weissman (Israel).
Andrew Robertson (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Israel. Nir Bitton tries a through ball, but Shon Weissman is caught offside.
Source link