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By Tom English
BBC Scotland at Hampden
Once Russia came from behind to win at Hampden scotland hopes of automatic eligibility for Euro 2020 dangle by a thread.
John McGinn gave Steve Clarke’s side the guide, but slack defending let Artem Dzyuba to strike until the own purpose of Stephen O’Donnell put Russia.
Scotland sit six points adrift of the Russians in fourth with five games to also the top two qualifying along with play.
Belgium is hosted by them, the top rated team in the world.
Barring an unlikely sequence of results, Scotland’s eligibility hopes will rest with a place currently procured, on the Nations League play-offs.
This is the nation’s first competitive home defeat because then-world champions Germany succeeded.
After a bright start, Scotland vanished and might have dropped together with the Russians with an attempt and hitting the woodwork twice.
It began with Scotland on the assault and ended with Scotland on the strike – it was the bit in the middle that was the problem.
Long before the last whistle you lost count of the quantity of days Scotland gave the ball away and made their lifetimes murderously. Before the last whistle you lost count of the number of chances Russia failed to take within their pursuit of a next objective.
In the past reckoning, they did not need that next. Two did the task. Two was sufficient to kill off any hope Scotland may have had of becoming in the shake-up inside this group. Following goal’s first blessing, Scotland outclassed and were thoroughly outplayed.
There was hope. Considering that the plague that descended on the centre-halves of Scotland – of these going down, four hurt from the build-up to this crucial qualifier – a debut was awarded to Leeds United captain Liam Cooper.
In the opposite end, Clarke went with Oli McBurnie, a player who turned with the seriousness of a man who had a whole lot to prove, that is exactly what what he is, regardless of the eye-watering amount that Sheffield United splashed out for him in the summer.
McBurnie had seemed leaden and unthreatening but he played with a very large role in what had been a quick launch by Scotland. Even before the opening target they’d caused Russia some bother, Stephen O.Donnell putting an attempt on goal from close range only for Guilherme to get his body in the way to block it.
The goal came at the 11th minute and the place created a fair old racket when McGinn scored though Hampden had enormous sections. It all began with a delivery by Ryan Fraser, his cross being spilled by Guilherme and dropping in the abandoned.
Guilherme was definitely unnerved by the existence of McBurnie once the ball was in the atmosphere the striker, from Fraser failing to make contact but success in distracting the goalkeeper. McBurnie looked hungry and successful .
As the half wore on the longer Russia came in to it, although it was a encouraging and glowing start from the Scots. A growing hesitancy and anxiety from the house team helped them. Energy and that precision they had evaporated. They could not keep the ball, couldn’t bring any composure for their own drama. Pass was by pass. Trouble was on its approach.
It came when Scotland once again gave away possession and place pressure on themselves. To increase the error count, Robertson helped it to Dzyuba In attempting to clear the ball from Aleksandr Golovin.
The large striker using the prolific record had time and space he needed to slam his shot past David Marshall. It was his 21st goal in 37 games for his country. What Scotland would give to get a goal machine like the Zenit lighthouse.
Russia took control of it after that, helped in their merry way from Scotland’s desperate inability to hold on to the ball. The number of times they lost it and shipped Russia running was remarkable.
Early in the second half they started to the goal of pepper Scotland. Charlie Mulgrew needed to charge a piledriver from Golovin down. Two minutes later, Golovin broke free but sliced his shot wide. Scotland’s wastefulness was not only asking to be punished, it had been begging for it.
Over the flip side they got what was coming. It was. Aleksei Ionov picked up it, played a stunning ball behind Cooper into Golovin who uttered it Yuri Zhirkov.
O’Donnell slipping in an attempt to avert danger, got the final touch, although the Russian obtained the bit. Whoever is imputed with the aim matters. Russia had the lead and they never really looked like giving it up despite a late flurry from the Scots.
The only miracle was that they didn’t add to it. Mario Fernandes made a save Magomed Ozdoev shot struck a post, the effort of Zhirkov needed to be pushed off by the Scotland goalkeeper in another tide.
Scotland did not deserve to receive it and pushed hard for an equaliser but did not get it. Belgium following on Monday night. Life doesn’t get any simpler for Clarke along with his or her players.
Aleksandr Golovin ran. He was on a level using vision and his wisdom to cause Scotland no end of dread, picking up balls and also buzzing around. A world-class player.
More to follow.
Read more here: http://nemetvolgyiantikvarium.hu/?p=3063