Scotland 2-0 Spain: Steve Clarke’s side earn consecutive Euro 2024 qualification wins

Sensational Scotland took a seismic leap in their bid to reach consecutive European Championships by stunning Spain in a heroic triumph.

Steve Clarke’s team rode their luck to stay ahead at the break, only for McTominay to repeat his earlier feat just after the restart to cause chaos in the stands as well as in the bamboozled Spanish defence.

Scotland, in their first competitive victory over Spain for 39 years, now top Group A – three points above the humbled Spaniards and five in front of a stuttering Norway.

This one was for the lovers. It was also for the the long suffering.

Scotland’s support are among the most passionate. Even in defeat in Kazakhstan; in incessant matches with Israel; in a 1-0 humbling by Costa Rica; in a last-gasp Harry Kane equaliser; and also in getting to a major championships for the first time in a generation only to have your goalie lobbed from the half-way line.

A top-10 side in Croatia were undone here 10 years ago, but surely not since World Cup finalists France were heroically beaten in 2006 and 2007 has that loyalty been vindicated as it was at a national stadium dripping with drama as much as the damp Glaswegian weather.

Clarke steered Scotland to Euro 2020, but in terms of landmark nights, this one is up there with dumping Denmark and shootouts in Serbia. And then some.

From the seventh minute, Scotland were on the march. Pedro Porro, Spurs’ beleaguered full-back, slipped, leaving the door open for Andy Robertson to pounce. His cut back was perfect for McTominay, whose low rifled shot whizzed off the sprawling Inigo Martinez and into the net.

If that was met with hysteria, you could have heard a pin drop when Scotland’s new hero struck again on the 51st minute.

This time it was Kieran Tierney’s cross after a marauding run that the Spaniards didn’t deal with. Fifty thousand held their collective breath as the leather of McTominay’s boot struck on the half volley.

Bedlam ensued in the stands, while Clarke allowed himself a modest fist pump in a fleeting glimpse of emotion.

In truth, it was a killer blow that caused Spain – who made eight changes from the side which overcame Norway 3-0 on Saturday – to capitulate. Passes all over the place, 50/50s lost.

They were a shadow of the team that had the Scots clinging to a half-time lead. Their second defeat in 39 European Championship qualifiers was in the post.

While Ryan Christie’s meandering run and toe poke whistled past for what would have been a quick second, Espanyol’s Joseulu soon caused chaos. He had a free header straight at Angus Gunn saved, before then thundering another off a rattled crossbar.

There was then a moment of madness from Robertson, who was lucky to escape a shoulder to Porro’s jaw. It was a bombardment at that point.

But Scotland should have added to their lot, too. Lyndon Dykes steered over when one-on-one just before the break, while John McGinn whacked the bar straight from a free-kick.

In the end it did not matter. The game came to a close with a chorus of “no Scotland, no party”. It may be going for some time.

Player of the match – Scott McTominay

Are sweet dreams made of these? – analysis

This isn’t how it’s meant to be, is it?

After two games, Scotland are sitting pretty in Group A. Their performance here was markedly up from the one which was enough in a perfunctory 3-0 win over Cyprus on Saturday. In truth, it is potentially a new watermark for this team.

With a new contract just signed, there is a feeling now Clarke and this squad have a real future. An anti-climactic Euro 2020 and a dismal World Cup play-off defeat will act as markers along the road for this team, painful memories in the rear-view mirror to offer a sign of what can happen when this wee nation gets carried away.

But the Tartan Army, just perhaps, can allow themselves to dream big again. Norway will be a different proposition with Erling Haaland back in their ranks, and undoubtedly Scotland got a Spain in transition at exactly the right time. But what a chance they now have.

Match stats

• Scotland earned their first win over Spain since November 1984 (3-1 in a World Cup qualifier), while this was just their third ever competitive victory against them (1957, 1984 and 2023).
• Spain suffered their first defeat in a Euro qualifying match since October 2014 (1-2 v Slovakia), having won 17 of their last 19 such fixtures (D2) and never conceding more than once in a game in this run.
• Scotland have won five consecutive home matches for the first time since September 2006-October 2007, when they won six in a row between tenures of Walter Smith and Alex McLeish.
• McTominay became the first Scotland player to score a brace against Spain since Maurice Johnston in a World Cup qualifier in November 1984, which also came in a win at Hampden Park.
• McTominay has scored twice in each of his last two caps, becoming just the second Scotland player this century to score a brace in consecutive international outings, after James Forrest in November 2018.
• Robertson has assisted three goals in his last three games for Scotland, while he’s the first player to assist in three consecutive appearances since Ryan Fraser in March 2019.

What’s next?

Scotland go to Norway on 16 June (19:45 BST) for an encounter which could have huge ramifications in Group A, before hosting Georgia three days later.

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