A 23-year wait for an appearance at a major tournament means followers of the Scotland national team are made of hardy stuff.
So a 100-minute delay at a sodden Hampden was nothing to sweat about as the Tartan Army stayed the course to soak up a 2-0 win over Georgia to maintain their perfect start to Group A. But this streamlined qualification for Euro 2024 is already at the halfway stage and Steve Clarke's side are closing in on a second consecutive European championship appearance. These are heady days for a nation who were starved of success.
It was a night to remember as Callum McGregor's opener had punters loving it before Scott McTominay got in on the second half as the Manchester United star made it a remarkable five goals in qualifying. Here is what the pundit's said.
Michael Stewart
"The momentum just continues to build. The belief, the team have now had real statement victories, two against Spain and the one in Oslo. It starts to make you believe you can win anywhere. This team is capable of big results. The character of the team is fantastic. It is phenomenal. Because this has turned into a fairly routine victory against the most difficult fourth seed. Norway are probably the most difficult third seeded team we could have got.
"The performance in Oslo was not one we would get a load of the ball. This team can mix it whatever way they need to, there are many different sides to it to make a pretty formidable force now."
Kevin Thomson
"I think Steve Clarke got his shape bang on. Andy Robertson is the driving force. He just keeps running and running and running. They deserve it, the work rate, belief and the nation is right behind us. They go from the heat of Oslo to endure what they had to tonight. A proper performance"
Willie Miller
"It's such a tight angle (McTominay's) got to find and he's sliding for it. It's instinct to throw the left foot out, he just finds a little gap to put it past the keeper and into the net, a quite sensational goal.
"The fans can go home happy after such a long night. And they can go home anticipating the Euros because I can’t see us throwing away the position that we’re in now. It would have to be an incredible sequence of results for us not to qualify. Not that you’re going to get Steve Clarke confirming that, but that’s my opinion."
Craig Levein
"I don't think you can ever be comfortable standing on the touchline as the manager, but if there ever is a time it's maybe when you stand and watch the team playing as well as this team are. The defensive shape is superb and generally it's been a great evening."
