What a morale-sapping exercise this quickly regressed into for Scotland. Those unconvinced by the regime of Alex McLeish – and there are plenty of them – were given no scope for optimism as Belgium dismantled the Scots in Glasgow. McLeish cut a disconsolate, helpless touchline figure long before a cathartic final whistle arrived. Belgium had been four ahead, the winning margin, after an hour.
Belgium’s brilliance must be noted but this was a poor Scottish effort, laced with individual errors and otherwise notable for the non-appearance of organisation or spirit. McLeish has presided over five matches in his second Scotland tenure, all friendlies, with just one win. The other four have resulted in losses.
There was no dispute about the level of embarrassment dished out by Belgium here: this marked Scotland’s heaviest home defeat since 1973. “Mistakes cost us,” said McLeish. “At this level, against a team of that stature, the consequences are devastating. The guys have to learn fast.” He added: “The next game is massive for us. But it’s not about statistics for me, the best Scotland team would find it tough against that side.”
The serious stuff – or as it is depicted – begins for McLeish with Albania’s visit to Glasgow for a Nations League tie on Monday. Belgium’s level of possession dominance means the opposition could barely be more contrasting. There was also, of course, the live danger of a confidence crisis for the Scots if the world’s second ranked team inflicted a heavy defeat on their hosts. So it painfully transpired. The Albania clash now has huge significance for Scotland’s management.
Belgium’s desire for a fixture in Scotland made more sense. Roberto Martínez’s side start next week in Iceland, rendering this an ideal stop-off from a geographical point of view if nothing else. “I think both teams understand that the game that really matters is the next one,” said Martínez. “We were very clinical in front of goal. The players brought the standard here from the World Cup.”
The latest hashtag marketing fad deployed by the Scottish FA includes the slogan “nothing matters more”. Apparently it does; swathes of empty seats at the national stadium formed a depressing if predictable backdrop. Years of disappointment at international level have understandably bruised the Tartan Army but there was also an underwhelming reaction to McLeish’s appointment. Only 20,196 attended this game.
Christian Benteke and Marouane Fellaini had withdrawn from the Belgium squad because of injury but the front seven chosen was still laced with menace. The clever promptings of Eden Hazard, naturally, were the key feature of the game’s opening stages.
Belgium hardly needed the assistance afforded them for the opening goal. Craig Gordon rolled the ball to John McGinn with the Aston Villa midfielder facing his own goal, just 20 yards out. Nonetheless, McGinn knew the pass was coming well before he miscontrolled. Mousa Dembélé pounced to seize possession; two short passes later and Romelu Lukaku was on hand to stroke his 41st international goal into an unguarded net.
Gordon was subsequently fortunate not to concede what was an obvious penalty after upending the marauding Timothy Castagne. From the corner instead awarded, Vincent Kompany clipped the bar with a header. Within 40 minutes Scotland were gasping desperately for air.
Inside just eight second-half minutes, the contest had been ended – if it ever existed, that is. Belgium clearly needed validation of their part in a non-contest and rapidly received it.
Eden Hazard lashed home at a tight angle to double Belgium’s lead, the ferocity of the finish itself worthy of the applause which met the Chelsea man as he was substituted shortly afterwards. Critics of Scotland’s defending will note that both Ryan Fraser and Kevin McDonald were in close attendance without applying any pressure to the scorer.
Thursday
League A, Group 1: Germany 0-0 France
B1: Czech Republic 1-2 Ukraine
B4: Wales 4-1 Republic of Ireland
C3: Slovenia 1-2 Bulgaria, Norway 2-0 Cyprus
D1: Kazakhstan 0-2 Georgia, Latvia 0-0 Andorra
D4: Armenia 2-1 Liechtenstein, Gibraltar 0-2 Macedonia
Friday
A3: Italy 1-1 Poland
B2: Turkey 1-2 Russia
C1: Albania 1-0 Israel
C4: Lithuania 0-1 Serbia, Romania 0-0 Montenegro
Saturday
A2: Switzerland 6-0 Iceland
A4: England 1-2 Spain
B3: Northern Ireland 1-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
C2: Finland 1-0 Hungary, Estonia 0-1 Greece
D2: Belarus 5-0 San Marino, Luxembourg 4-0 Moldova
Sunday
B1: Ukraine v Slovakia
B4: Denmark v Wales (5pm BST)
C3: Bulgaria v Norway, Cyprus v Slovenia
D1: Georgia v Latvia
D4: Macedonia v Armenia, Liechtenstein v Gibraltar
Monday
A3: Portugal v Italy
B2: Sweden v Turkey
C1: Scotland v Albania (7.45pm BST)
C4: Serbia v Romania, Montenegro v Lithuania
D1: Andorra v Kazakhstan
D3: Kosovo v Faroe Islands, Malta v Azerbaijan
Tuesday
A2: Iceland v Belgium
A4: Spain v Croatia
B3: Bosnia-Herzegovina v Austria
C2: Hungary v Greece, Finland v Estonia
D2: San Marino v Luxembourg, Moldova v Belarus
Belgium’s third was another disaster for the hosts. Charlie Mulgrew, when under no duress whatsoever, passed the ball directly to Dembélé. Eden Hazard duly fed Michy Batshuayi, who passed the ball calmly beyond Gordon.
Ryan Jack was the next Scotland player to display a horrendous technical shortcoming. The substitute had his pocket picked in midfield, with Batshuayi again on hand to drill home. A calm acceptance descended over Hampden; one of many sad aspects of the Scottish international scene is the external refusal to get angry at dire displays such as this.
Thibaut Courtois was called into a modicum of action, saving late on from Fraser and Steven Naismith. Yet this was a harrowing scene for all with a vested interest in the Scottish game. If the collective is worse than it should be with these individuals, and there is a case for that, then McLeish really does have problems.
