Scotland 1-2 Russia: Steve Clarke’s side suffer Euro 2020 blow
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By Tom English
BBC Scotland in Hampden
Scotland hopes of automatic qualification for Euro 2020 dangle with a ribbon after Russia came from behind to win at Hampden.
John McGinn gave Steve Clarke’s side the lead, but poor defending allowed until Stephen O’Donnell’s own purpose put Russia 27, Artem Dzyuba to strike.
Scotland sit six points adrift of those Russians in fourth with five matches to play and the two qualifying.
Belgium is hosted by them, the top rated team in Glasgow on Monday, in the world.
Scotland’s qualification hopes will rest with a place already procured, on the Nations League play-offs.
This is the nation’s first home defeat because then-world winners Germany succeeded.
Scotland faded badly and could have lost more intensely, together with the Russians hitting the woodwork twice and having an attempt hacked off the line.
It ended about the strike with Scotland and started about the attack with Scotland – it had been the big piece.
Before the final whistle you lost count of the number of times the ball was given by Scotland away and made their lifetimes murderously. Long prior to the last whistle you lost count of the number of chances Russia failed to take within their pursuit of a game-clinching third objective.
In the reckoning, they did not require that next. Two did the job. Two was sufficient to kill off. After goal’s early boon, Scotland were thoroughly outplayed and outclassed.
Brieflythere was hope. Given the jolt that descended on the centre-halves of Scotland – four of them going down injured from the build-up to this qualifier – there was a introduction given to Leeds United captain Liam Cooper.
In the other end, Clarke proceeded with Oli McBurnie, a player who turned together with the seriousness of a guy who had a whole lot to prove, that is what exactly what he is, whatever the eye-watering amount that Sheffield United spelled him out in the summertime.
McBurnie had looked unthreatening and leaden in his prior appearances for his country, but he played with a very large role in what was a fast start by Scotland. Even before the opening goal they had caused Russia some bother, Stephen O.Donnell hooking an effort on goal from close range just for Guilherme to receive his body in the way to obstruct it.
The goal came in the 11th minute and the place made a fair racket once McGinn scored though Hampden had vast segments. Unsurprisingly it all started from the left by Ryan Fraser, his cross being crushed by Guilherme and falling to McGinn who took advantage of a gift of a chance.
Guilherme was definitely unnerved by the existence of McBurnie when the ball was in the air out of Fraser, the striker failing to make contact but success in deflecting the goalkeeper. McBurnie looked hungry and effective .
As the half wore on the Russia came in to it, although it was a start from the Scots. They were helped by a hesitancy and stress in the home team. Energy and that accuracy that they had early on shortly disappeared. They couldn’t keep the ballcouldn’t attract any composure for their own drama. Pass was by misplaced pass. Trouble was on its approach.
It came when Scotland place pressure and again gave away possession. To increase the error count,” In attempting to clear the ball Robertson helped it to Dzyuba.
The striker with the record had time and space he had to knock his shot past David Marshall. This had been his goal in 37 games for his country. What Scotland would give to get a target machine such as the Zenit lighthouse.
Russia took complete control of it then, helped along their merry way by Scotland’s desperate inability to continue to the ball. The amount of times they shipped Russia running and lost it was notable.
Early in the second half that they started to pepper Scotland’s target. Charlie Mulgrew had to control a piledriver from Golovin down. Two minutes later, Golovin broke free but sliced his shot wide. Scotland’s wastefulness was not just asking to be punished, it had been practically begging for this.
Over the hour, they got what was coming. It was. Aleksei Ionov chose up it, played a chunk behind Cooper to Golovin who squared it into the veteran Yuri Zhirkov.
O’Donnell sliding to stop danger, got the last touch, although the very first touch was obtained by the Russian. Whoever is imputed with the target barely matters. Russia had the lead and they never actually looked like giving up it .
The miracle was that they didn’t add to it. Mario Fernandes forced a save from Marshall, Magomed Ozdoev’s deflected shot hit a post, Zhirkov’s attempt had to be pushed away by the Scotland goalkeeper in a different wave.
Scotland did not deserve to get it together and pushed hard for an equaliser but didn’t get it. Belgium night, next on Monday. Life does not get any easier for Clarke along with his players.
Aleksandr Golovin ran. He was on a level buzzing around, picking up balls and also with vision and his wisdom to trigger Scotland no end of terror. A world-class player.
More to follow.