Saints enforcer Alex Gogic believes Scotland can turn the heat up on hot favourites Spain and snatch an upset at Hampden tomorrow evening.
The Buddies battler was part of Cyprus’ back three on Saturday, picking up his seventh cap for his country while a St Mirren player – his 19th overall.
Gogic was powerless to stop Steve Clarke’s men picking up an eventually comfortable 3-0 win in their Euro 2024 qualifying stage opener, with ex-St Mirren star John McGinn netting the first to move ahead of Tartan Army hero James McFadden’s total goal tally for Scotland.
Aston Villa midfielder McGinn, 28, has now bagged 16 times for the national team, moving him up to seventh in the all-time rankings as he closes in on Kenny Miller (18) and Ally McCoist (19).
Gogic was impressed with the Dark Blues and believes they can give group favourites Spain, who thrashed Norway 3-0 in their opening clash, a run for their money tomorrow night under the Hampden lights.
Gogic said: “Are they [Scotland] capable of beating Spain?
“It is 90 minutes, 11 against 11 and if you win your battles, anything can happen.
“Steve Clarke has done an amazing job as Scotland boss.
“When they scored the first goal against us, they didn’t need to chase the game and we kept them quiet.
“Spain is a different type of game. Maybe they might be more defensive and try to hit Spain on the counter.”
Gogic accepted Scotland were the better team at Hampden at the weekend but felt his side’s late collapse put gloss on the win, with substitute Scott McTominay netting a late brace.
Cyprus have a friendly against Armenia tomorrow evening, with versatile Saints midfielder Gogic hoping his country can recover quickly when they’re back in competitive action in June.
Gogic said: “In the first half we didn’t start as well in terms of attacking, but in the second half we were better.
“The gaffer said to us at the end of the game that the last two goals were a gift to Scotland.
“We shouldn’t let our concentration levels drop. For the red card, I can understand the referee has a job to do. There was nothing in it and I didn’t think there was a need to send him off.
“We have to recover and pick ourselves up again. There will be games where we can do some damage.”
Across the other side of the world, St Mirren striker Alex Greive picked up his ninth cap for New Zealand in his country’s friendly clash with China yesterday.
Facing off in Wellington, Greive had the perfect opportunity to add to his two goals for the All Whites but missed from the penalty spot.
New Zealand went on to win the game 2-1, with an own goal and Matthew Garbett’s late strike ensuring a win.
Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain, meanwhile, will both hope to be in action tomorrow morning when Australia take on Ecuador in Melbourne.
Defender Strain will be hoping to earn his second cap for the Socceroos, having not been involved in their first friendly against Ecuador in Sydney last week.
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