Scotland should still make it to Euro 2024 but qualification will have to wait for another day and another place. A point in Seville would have sent them through with two games to spare, but a belting second-half goal from Scott McTominay that seemed to have put them into the lead and within touching distance of the tournament was ruled out, the cruel, controversial and confusing verdict handed down by the VAR, after which their resistance was finally broken. “We’re disappointed because we came here to qualify, but we have a very realistic chance to win the two games and that’s what we will focus on now,” the coach, Steve Clarke, said.
At first, it seemed that the referee Serdar Gozubuyuk had taken away yet another brilliant moment from the Manchester United midfielder because of the lightest of “fouls” on Unai Simón from Jack Hendry, but then appeared to change his mind and give offside instead. Asked if he would seek clarification, Clarke said: “What’s the point? Let’s move on.” Either way, he insisted, this had hurt. “A hammer blow,” in John McGinn’s words. The roar from the 4,000 Scotland fans had barely died down, joy killed by the small screen, when with 15 minutes remaining Álvaro Morata dived to head beyond Angus Gunn.
