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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Scrambling Spain A listers blame 'long grass' for Scotland defeat as Real Madrid star has major Hampden gripe

Humbled Spanish superstars have turned on the Hampden pitch as they frantically look to explain the Euro 2024 defeat to Scotland - with David Garcia blaming "long grass" for the humbling 2-0 loss.

Scott McTominay ’s double claimed a historic victory over the Spanish - our first since 1984 - to blow the top of Group A wide open and put Steve Clarke ’s men top and in pole position to win the section after Norway were held to a 1-1 draw in Georgia. It was a landmark performance for this group of player's as they saw off one of world football's heavyweights - but the Spain squad have been scrambling for excuses to explain the Euro 2024 qualification stumble.

Captain Rodri was first out the blocks as he launched a bitter blast claiming Scotland had been taking part in diving and time wasting antics and claiming that their approach to the game had been “rubbish". However, he has now been joined by teammates Dani Cebellos and Garcia in throwing out excuses for the 2-0 defeat - with the pitch at the national stadium now in the firing line.

Osasuna defender Garcia reckons the pitch in Glasgow was a key deciding factor, telling Teledeporte: ‘We already saw that the grass was too long and that it was difficult. We can’t make excuses for that, we have to look at ourselves and correct what we did wrong."

Real Madrid midfielder Ceballos claims that the standard of the pitch derailed the Luis de la Fuente's gameplan. He added: "It’s a bittersweet taste. I’m happy to start the game but I think the defeat is very painful for us.

"We had a clear starting plan, to dominate the game but the ball was rolling very slowly. They (Scotland) found themselves with the ball very quickly."

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