A SECOND Scott McTominay double is as many games secured an historic victory over Spain at an emotional Hampden tonight and sent the national team three points clear of their renowned opponents at the top of their Euro 2024 qualifying group in the process.
The Manchester United midfielder, who had a solitary international goal to his name when Group A got underway against Cyprus on Saturday, put his country ahead in the just seventh minute.
And he volleyed beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga six minutes into the second-half following a searing break down the left wing by his team mate Kieran Tierney to send the sell-out crowd inside the ground into raptures.
It is 39 years since two Mo Johnston goals and a Kenny Dalgish wonder strike ensured that Scotland beat Spain 3-1 in a Mexico ’86 qualifier at the world famous Mount Florida venue.
Nobody who was in the crowd on that occasion has ever forgotten the 1984 triumph - and everyone who was present this evening will remember an heroic performance and remarkable result for the rest of their lives.
Steve Clarke got his tactics and team selection spot on against the former World Cup and European Championship winners and was rewarded with a win that makes an automatic place in the finals in Germany next year a very real possibility.
Here are five talking points from Scotland’s victory over Spain at Hampden.
GREAT SCOTT!
McTominay had got on the scoresheet just once in his first 37 appearances for his country – an injury-time winner in a Qatar 2022 qualifier against Israel at Hampden back in 2021.
He has now netted no fewer than four times in his last two outings; he bagged a brace in the 3-0 victory over Cyprus on Saturday and did so once again tonight to clinch a famous and fabulous triumph.
The 26-year-old has never been a prolific marksman during his career. He is more renowned for his ball-winning qualities in the middle of the park than his finishing. Indeed, he has often been used as a right-sided centre half by Clarke.
But he has found his touch in the final third and then some now. His sudden emergence as a serious goal threat has endeared him to supporters massively. If he maintains this strike rate, he will replace John McGinn in their affections.
His sensational form in attack augurs well for Scotland in the remainder of this Euro 2024 campaign.
SPANISH FOLLY
It was all change for Scotland with Lyndon Dykes, Ryan Christie and McTominay coming in for Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Jack up front and in midfield respectively.
But Clarke did not perform the same sort of radical surgery on his starting line-up as his opposite number Luis De la Fuentes did; the visitors’ manager brought in no fewer than eight new faces for the encounter.
Joselu, who had come off the bench to make his international debut at the age of 33 against Norway in Malaga on Saturday night and promptly netted a late double in a hard-fought 3-0 win, got the nod ahead of Alvaro Morata.
Elsewhere, Spain had an entirely new front four and a completely different defence. It was quite a team selection. Did the visitors have the strength in depth to rest such experienced and exceptional footballers away?
The men who were brought in played their club football for Spurs, Valencia, Real Madrid and Villarreal. Still, it was a huge gamble. It was not one that paid off. The margin of victory could have been even greater.
LIFE’S A PITCH
Clarke declared he was content with the state of the Hampden playing surface after the win over Cyprus and again at his pre-match press-conference yesterday. But many of his charges were clearly unhappy with how easily they had slipped and expressed hope it would be in better condition against Spain.
It very much was not – but they took the lead because of that. Pedro Porro fell flat on his backside when he was trying to deal with a Christie pass and Andy Robertson nipped in and stole the ball. He cut it back to McTominay and his team mate slotted beyond Arrizabalaga with a little help of a deflection off Inigo Martinez.
SON OF A GUNN
Angus Gunn, the Norwich City goalkeeper who had been drafted in to replace the injured Craig Gordon between the sticks, had a quiet international debut against Cyprus at the weekend.
How would the 6ft 5in 27-year-old, the son of former Aberdeen, Norwich, Hibernian and Scotland player Bryan, deal with facing one of the best sides on the planet in just his second appearance for his adopted homeland?
He was far, far busier. But he dealt with a Joselu attempt and a long-range Porro effort in the first-half and kept the hosts narrowly ahead. He had now difficulty dealing with a Rodri shot as the second-half got underway. He deserved a second clean sheet.
Scotland can go forward with confidence with Gunn Jnr between the sticks.
HAMPDEN ROAR RESTORED
The crowd inside Hampden for the Cyprus game had, despite being 48,195-strong, been strangely subdued. Perhaps it was the two o’clock kick-off. Maybe it was the lowly opposition. Whatever the reason, they, along with their heroes, had to raise their games if there was to be an upset tonight.
The famous old arena was packed full long before kick-off and there was quite an atmosphere by the time the sides took to the field. Not even rendition of our awful national anthem (Humza Yousaf should make replacing Flower of Scotland with 500 Miles his top priority as First Minister) dampened spectators’ spirts.
There were lusty chants in praise of John McGinn and McTominay as proceedings got underway and it clearly inspired the boys in dark blue. They dominated the ball from kick-off and deservedly took the lead in the seventh minute. The goal cranked up the decibel levels a notch or three.
When Porro went down as if he had been shot by a sniper after a rash nudge from Robertson – which the Scotland skipper was lucky just to receive a yellow card from Swiss referee Sandro Scharer for – the Tartan Army made their displeasure known. The feigning full-back was booed every time he touched the ball thereafter.
The noise when the match official blew for half-time was deafening. When McTominay bagged his second it raised the roof. There were tears when it was all over. The Scotland fans played a huge part in an epic result.
