Final scores on a night of woe for Scotland
Gordon Strachan has a lot of explaining to do: a match that his team had to draw, at least, has ended with Scotland’s heaviest defeat in four years - and to a team that really aren’t particularly good.
Group F
Slovakia 3-0 Scotland
Lithuania 2-0 Malta
Slovenia 2-0 Malta
Group C
Germany 2-0 Northern Ireland
Czech Republic 0-0 Azerbaijan
Norway 4-1 San Marino
Group E
Denmark 0–1 Montenegro
Poland 2-1 Armenia
Kazakhstan 0-0 Romania
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GOAL! Lithuania 2-0 Malta (Novikovas 84)
Strachan’s team are in a fight to finish fifth in a group that is far easier than the one in which they finish fourth a few months ago.
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Slovakia substitution: Hamsik off, Kiss on.
GOAL! Norway 4-1 San Marino (King 83)
Time to stop celebrating your goal now, San Marino. Actually no, don’t: a thing of beauty if a joy forever.
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GOAL! Norway 3-1 San Marino (Samuelson 82)
San Marino still on course for a moral victory.
The Slovakia-Scotland match is petering out, like the Scots’ qualification campaign. They’re 3-0 down to a humdrum Scotland side. Northern Ireland, meanwhile, are only 2-0 down away to the world champions. But Paddy McNair won’t take any satisfaction from that, especially not after catching a shoulder smack bang in the face from (I think) Hummels. But he’s OK to carry on.
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This is beautiful
Reaction in Norwegian TV studio to San Marino scoring in Oslo. pic.twitter.com/nHlwchYFg3
— Christian Wulff (@aHellofaBeating) October 11, 2016
GOAL! Norway 2-1 San Marino (Diomande 77)
Party-poopers.
After 15 years we scored an away goal. What a freaking day to be alive. #norSMR
— San Marino (@soccersanmarino) October 11, 2016
Northern Ireland substitution: Lafferty on for McGuinness. Thats “Kylie” Lafferty, according to the stadium announcer in Hannover. You’re just not going to be able to get that out of your head now.
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GOAL! Lithuania 1-0 Malta (Cerych 71)
Poor Strachan just can’t catch a break. That goal could take Lithuania above Scotland in the group ...
Shane Ferguson earns a booking by sliding into Kimmich.
“It could be worse,” reflects Scotland fan Simon McMahon. “We could be in San Marino’s group.”
Slovakia had not scored for over seven hours before tonight.
GOAL! Slovakia 3-0 Scotland (Nemec 68)
Nemec meets a corner and heads into the net from seven yards while Hanley does a mime behind him. It’s a dreadful goal to concede and Scotland are turning what could have been a night of redemption into one of despair.
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Slovakia are looking cosy. Scotland are fading.
Scotland’s belated substitutions: Ritchie and D Fletcher off, Anya and Griffiths on. Scotland have 27 minutes to get their campaign back on track and save Strachan from questions he is sure to find annoying. Tough.
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GOAL! Slovakia 2-0 Scotland (Mak 56)
Oh dear. Paterson is exposed again by Hobulek, whose cross is collected by Mak. The Zenit St Petersburg forward dummies past Martin and slots the ball past Marshall. Scotland have a Ben Nevis to climb now, and it’s no use to them whatsoever that a man called Mak is in hot scoring form.
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GOAL! Norway 1-1 San Marino (Stefanelli 54)
Henrik Ibsen, Egil Olsen, Edvard Munch, Aha, Dimmu Borgir ... your boys are headed for a hell of a draw.
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GOALS! Poland 1-1 Armenia (Lewandowski 48, Haroyan 50)
And that’s with Armenia down to 10 men following the first-half dismissal of Andonian.
Boateng clips a sumptuous pass over the Northern Ireland defence for Gotze, whose header is blocked brilliantly by Hodson! Northern Ireland are doing very well to restrict Germany to two goals so far. And now, a word of advice from Charles Antaki: “Watching the German - N. Ireland game: ‘Great work rate… has been doing very well recently …. perhaps could have been a bit closer to his man there... great servant to the team…’.Is there a more forbearing or civilised commentator than Gerry Armstrong? The FA should try and bribe broadcasters to get him to do England matches. He’d have plenty of scope for his talents.
Scotland have been on top so far in the second half and now they have a corner. Ritchie swings it in, Skrtel heads it out, and Slovakia rip forward on the counter-attack. That’s their game plan in a nutshell, and it’s worked so far. Strachan really needs to turn to his bench to introduce more sharpness up front. Griffiths would be ideal, and perhaps also Anya or Forrester, too.
Neither Gordon Strachan nor Michael O’Neill have made a substitution during the break. Germany have replaced Ozil with Gundogan.
I’ve just seen a replay of the foul on Fletcher before Slovakia’s goal and can now understand why Scotland were so angry: the striker was taken out with a deliberate barge as he threatened to break into the box. The defender - Durica - was nowhere near the ball and made no effort to play it. His foul aborted a Scottish chance and set in motion a Slovakian attack that led to Mak’s goal. It’s a clear injustice. But Scotland have also been guilty of sketchy play around the opposing box, otherwise they’d be level at least. Griffiths needs to come on soon.
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Half-time scores:
Slovakia 1-0 Scotland
Germany 2-0 Northern Ireland
Denmark 0-1 Montenegro
Norway 1-0 San Marino
Czech Republic 0-0 Azerbaijan
Poland 0-0 Armenia
Lithuania 0-0 Malta
Slovenia 0-0 England
Neuer fumbles a corner under pressure from McAuley. Perfectly legitimate pressure, but not according to the referee, who awards the keeper a freekick.
Tremendous save by Marshall! Slovakia burst out of their shell and tore forward. Mak turned past poor Paterson and let fly from 18 yards but the goalkeeper dived full length to parry with both hands. And he made another good save from the ensuing corner, beating away an eight-yard shot by Durica - it was straight at him but powerfully struck.
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Algeria’s manager, Milovan Rajevac, has just resigned - after two games: a 6-0 win (over Lesotho) and Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Cameroon.
Slovakia have adopted what the Romans used to call the Testudo formation.
GOAL! Denmark 0-1 Montenegro (Beqiraj 31)
Montenegro will go top of the group if the score stays like that.
Scotland enjoying plenty of time and possession in the opposing half, and probing well. Tierney puts forward the case for his inclusion by joining in the latest attack and slaloming past two defenders before having a pop from 20 yards. It’s a miscued effort that dribbles wide but, even still, Scotland can take heart: they’re still well capable of turning this game around.
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Over in Hannover, Northern Ireland fans are taking pride in outsinging their hosts. When losing, shifting the goalposts is always a fun option.
More good stuff from Scotland, who are penning their hosts back with some enterprising moves. The final touch hasn’t been there yet. And Slovakia look nimble on the counter-attack, especially down Scotland’s right, where Paterson is struggling to cope with Holubek and not getting much help.
Scotland respond well. Fletcher slips a nice pass in to Snodgrass, whose shot on the slide lacks power, but the Slovak keeper still has to push it out for a corner. There’s more goals to come in this game, thats for sure.
GOAL! Slovakia 1-0 Scotland (Mak 16)
Anger and angst for Scotland! Fletcher was furious not to be awarded a freekick after being blocked, even more so when Slovakia swept forward and opened the scoring. Holubek crossed from the left and Hamsik headed towards goal from beyond the far post. Marshall’s save should have been better, for he only succeeded in pushing the ball towards the penalty spot - and Mark walloped it into the net on the half-volley. Nice finish, big setback for Strachan’s men.
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GOAL! Germany 2-0 Northern Ireland (Khedira 16)
Bang goes Plan B. And Northern Ireland will be particularly unhappy with the way they conceded the second goal: it came from a corner and Germany won two headers in the opposing box, Khedira nodding in from close range to leave Michael O’Neill’s men in need of a miracle. But if anyone can perform one, it just might be them ...
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GOAL! Germany 1-0 Northern Ireland (Draxler 13)
Bang goes Plan A. Draxler collected the ball on the edge of the area and was allowed to turn and place a shot into the bottom corner. McGovern got a touch to it but couldn’t keep it out.
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GOAL! Norway 1-0 San Marino (Simoncini og, 11)
Didn’t see that coming.
A wonderful diagonal pass from Snodgrass over the head of Skrtel and right on to Fletcher’s. But the striker totally mistimes his effort and nods feebly wide from 12 yards! that was a great chance - to score and to vindicate being included instead of Griffiths.
A strong run down the right by Paterson. He then offloads to Ritchie, who fires a decent ball into the danger area. Slovakia clear. But that was bright play from Scotland in a game that has been tight so far.
Anyone interested in the potential League of Ireland title decider than is happening tonight may like to know that Dundalk are 2-0 up against Cork City thanks to a couple of goals from Daryl Horgan in front of the watching Martin O’Neill. An international summons surely awaits.
Michael McGovern is in hero mode again tonight: he’s just made a terrific save to turn away a header from Gotze following a cross by Müller. A minute prior to that Northern Ireland almost shocked their hosts, as Neuer hurtled out of his box to prevent McGuinness from reaching a breaking ball but shanked an attempted clearance to Ward. The Charlton forward’s hurried attempt to punish him from 40 yards failad to find the target.
We’re under way everywhere. But Scotland are the only team playing in pinks tops and black knicks. Slovakia are all in white
It’s national anthem time and teams are signing all over Europe.
“Despite all the negativity surrounding Scotland and Strachan after the uninspiring home draw with Lithuania, it’s not all over - yet,” bugles Simon McMahon. “A point tonight keeps us in the group, a win sets us up nicely for a genuine attempt at qualification. A defeat, well ... We do however have a genuine match winner in the shape of the in form Robert Snodgrass - or the Scottish Garrincha as I prefer to call him. Come on Scotland!” I agree wholeheartedly. Even a draw tonight would be acceptable as there is every chance of Scotland winning at Wembley. A victory tonight, meanwhile, would virtually eliminate Slovakia, who’d have no points after three games.
Strachan has just spoken to Sky Sports and explained the thinking behind his changes:
“We’ve picked a team to combat their system and a team with a bit of height because they’re a big side.”
Of the selections of Tierney (ahead of Robertson) and Fletcher he says:
“Kieran has played a lot of European games with Celtic. I’d like to have more of our players who’ve got that. Fletcher’s back in, he gives us height and pace and he can hold the ball up.”
Of Oliver Burke’s non-inclusion on the bench he says: “Tonight’s game is for experienced players.”
Germany v Northern Ireland
Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Hector; ; Kroos, Khedira; Özil, Müller, Draxler; Götze.
Subs: Ter Stegen Mustafi, Howedes, Rudy, Leno, Weigl, Brandt, Meyer, Villand, Gundogan
Northern Ireland: McGovern; Hodson, Hughes, McAuley, J Evans, Ferguson; C Evans, Norwood, Davis, Ward; McGuinness
Subs: Carson, McLaughlin, Paton, McNair, Smith, Washington, Lund, Lafferty, Mannus, McGivern, McGinn, Morris
Slovakia v Scotland
So then, what are we to make of Gordon Strachan? He initially reinvigorated Scotland and got them playing with encouraging vibrancy, but bottling qualification for Euro 2016 vexed Scotland fans, who knew their team outplayed Ireland in both meetings but still contrived to finish below Martin O’Neill’s men. They began this campaign with a good win in Malta but the performance during Saturday’s home draw was deflating. Instant improvement is now needed but has Strachan banjaxed his lineup? I’m saying aye, unless Andy Robertson’s omission is down to injury or illness. Robertson was Scotland’s best player against Lithuania thanks to his raids down the left so leaving him out seems like a manager overthinking things. Omitting Leigh Griffiths is slightly more understandable insofar as Steven Fletcher might hold the ball up better but, then again, Griffiths is far sharper, and are Scotland really in a position to eschew an in-form goalscorer? The team sheet I’ve been given doesn’t even have Oliver Burke on the bench, so either he’s injured or that’s a mistake - by the typist or Strachan. I’ll let you know when we get to the bottom of that.
Slovakia: Kozacik, Sabo, Skrtel, Durica, Holubek, Kucka, Skriniar, Duris, Hamsik, Mak, Nemec
Subs Pauschek, Stetina, Kiss, Novota, Hrosovky, Gregus, Bakos, Svento, Salata, Dubravka, Povazanec
Scotland: Marshall; Tierney, Hanley, Martin, Paterson; Fletcher, Bannan; Snodgrass, McArthur, Ritchie; S Fletcher
Subs: Gordon, Hamilton, Berra, Robertson, Wallace, Anya Forrest, Maloney, McGinn, Morrison, Greening, Griffiths, C Martin
Preamble
Hello. If it’s hot international football action that you’re after, then this may or may not be the place to be. We’ve got updates from Scotland’s trip to Slovakia and wee Northern Ireland’s attempt to win away to Germany (population: 80 million and counting). Both games are hugely significant and not just because the UK government may soon ban all mingling with foreigners. We’ll get to those matches in a moment but first be warned that we’ll also be defying the censors to provide updates from highly suspicious meetings consisting entirely of teams from non-UK countries. There’s an absolute swarm of them, just look:
Group F (England and Scotland’s group, to give it its proper title)
Lithuania v Malta
Group C (Northern Ireland’s group)
Czech Republic v Azerbaijan
Norway v San Marino
Group E (for English, which none of them even speak)
Denmark – Montenegro
Poland v Armenia
Kazakhstan 0-0 Romania FT
Below is Ewan Murray’s scene-setter for Scotland’s mission to Slovakia.
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