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There doesn’t seem to be much reaction coming out of the Scotland camp right now – they are understandably deflated. The wait to take part in a World Cup will go beyond 20 years after falling just short of the win they needed tonight to reach the play-offs.
Thanks for your company, bye.
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England, by the way, beat Lithuania 1-0 tonight via a Harry Kane penalty. Sounds enthralling. Here’s how the groups look after tonight’s results.
Scotland & Hungary are the only current international sides to play in at least 8 World Cups, but none in the 21st century.
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) October 8, 2017
“At least Scotland only do failures of the glorious variety,” emails Simon McMahon. “But I’m heartily sick of them. It’s the hope etc. Maybe next time...or maybe not...”
Slovakia’s 3-0 win over Malta tonight means they have finished second in group F behind England and are likely to head to the play-offs – although they need some results to go their way to ensure they are one of the top eight runners up.
Full-time: Slovenia 2-2 Scotland
Jonas Eriksson blows his whistle to end Scotland’s rollercoaster ride. Their wait for a World Cup goes on.
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90+5 min Snodgrass flicks on Berra’s header but it’s a simple catch for Oblak. That might just be that.
90+4 min Anya tries to cross from a wide angle but it swings behind for a goal kick. Perhaps one more minute.
90+3 min Scotland pump the ball into the box but it’s well defended. Throw-in. Anya takes forever to take it, eventually finding Mulgrew whose long ball is cut out and Slovenia come forwards via Verbic, something the visitors don’t have time for.
Red card! Cesar
90+1 min Four minutes will be added on. Gordon punches clear the corner and in the ensuing to and fro, the Slovenia captain making his 100th appearance is sent off! There’s no replay yet so I’m not sure exactly why.
90 min Corner to Slovenia, and at the set piece there’s some argy-bargy which ends in a few yellow cards for various players. Time is ticking away.
89 min Craig Gordon is forced into a good save to stop Verbic’s curling goal-bound shot from finding the net.
Goal Snodgrass goes on a weaving run before offloading to Bannan, who finds D Fletcher. His pass is perfect, floated into the path of Snodgrass arriving in the box who takes a touch before nudging the ball into the corner of Oblak’s net. Game on!
GOAL! Slovenia 2-2 Scotland (Snodgrass, 87)
Could they?
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85 min Some tidy passing by Slovenia wins them another corner, which they are in no rush over.
83 min A couple of Slovenia corners are dealt with but Scotland are operating at the wrong end of the field right now.
@lawrenceostlere SCOTLAND bottling this atm. Lack of big game international experience letting us down badly!!!
— The Glendale Family (@GlendaleFamily) October 8, 2017
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81 min One last blast of Flower of Scotland rings out in the stands while on the pitch Ilicic shifts the ball on to his left foot and crashes a shot just past the near post. He has been the best player by some distance.
79 min Tierney finds Anya in the box whose blocked shot earns a corner. First Strachan will make his final change – Tierney comes off and Steven Fletcher replaces him.
78 min Snodgrass replaces McArthur.
77 min Robert Snodgrass is preparing to come on. First Scotland have a free-kick and Barry Bannan takes it, floating a ball into the box which is well cleared by Cesar. Griffiths delivers back into the centre and it falls invitingly, so invitingly, for Darren Fletcher to volley home from eight yards but he fires over! That had to go in, surely.
76 min Griffiths tries to bundle his way through the Slovenia defence but he is outnumbered and the ball runs away from him. It’s fair to say Simon McMahon, currently watching the game in Berlin, is miffed. “FFS Scotland. If it’s not too inappropriate, I’m beginning to know how East Berliners must have felt in the 1970s... is there no escape?”
75 min Scotland have had a knack of grabbing late goals in this campaign but a memorable turnaround doesn’t feel imminent.
Goal It was a poorly defended corner which led to the goal. Ilicic was able to bring the ball down on the edge of the six-yard box with his back to goal before teeing up Bezjak for the substitute to roll low past Gordon for his second of the game.
GOAL! Slovenia 2-1 Scotland (Bezjak, 72)
A massive blow – Scotland’s World Cup campaign looks over.
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70 min Tierney tries a long ball towards Griffiths, who has no chance against the full Slovenia defence, and back they come.
68 min Better from the visitors, who work the ball down the left via Bannan and Robertson but fail to create a meaningful chance at the end of it. Slovakia are now 3-0 up against Malta.
66 min McArthur slashes a left-footed shot high and wide from outside the box. Scotland don’t feel very likely to score right now, although we might have said that in the first half too.
65 min McArthur’s late slide tackle in midfield is punished by a yellow card, meaning he will miss the first leg of the play-off should Scotland get there.
64 min The assistant penalises Anya for a foul on Oblak after the Slovenia goalkeeper had come out of goal to clear up. Almost a glimpse for Scotland. Slovenia come forwards again and Ilicic whips in another stunning delivery which is defended brilliantly by Tierney at the back post.
62 min Slovakia are 2-0 up over Malta. It confirms what we already knew – Scotland must win.
60 min Without Chris Martin, Scotland are struggling to get their clearances to stick in their opponents’ half and are camped in their defensive third. When they eventually do get out, Anya speeds down the right and unleashes, but his high shot is held by Oblak.
58 min Griffiths opts for a long range shot when it wasn’t really on, firing well wide from 35 yards.
56 min Rotman is booked for a late challenge on Bannan, who actually punched his opponent’s ankle on the ground in frustration. I’m not sure Rotman noticed.
55 min Slovenia sense Scotland are rocking. They pour forwards and Gordon is forced into and excellent save from Bezjak’s deflected strike. A moment later Ilicic curls one but it’s at Gordon’s chest and is easy enough to hold.
54 min Strachan makes a change – Ikechi Anya, who was so effective against Slovakia from the bench, replaces Chris Martin.
Goal Disaster for Scotland. Ilicic bends in a deep free-kick with pace and it quickly becomes clear the substitute Bezjak is in space at the far post. He bounces a header across Craig Gordon and into the opposite corner and now Scotland have work to do to save their campaign.
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GOAL! Slovenia 1-1 Scotland (Bezjak, 52)
Oh dear.
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50 min Mulgrew pumps a free-kick to Matt Phillips in the air, who doesn’t seem a natural target man, and sure enough he misses the header. At the other end Craig Gordon is called into action by Rotman who takes advantage of the deep Scottish midfield to shoot from range. It’s a decent stinger which is tipped over the bar.
47 min Flower of Scotland rings around the stadium as Slovenia come forwards with the ball. It will be fascinating to see how Gordon Strachan handles this delicate lead. A clean sheet will ensure Scotland’s play-off place but so too would a second goal, you would think.
46 min Mevkja, who looks a lot like Olivier Giroud, is immediately hurt in a collision with Chris Martin. He’s OK, but it means a brief stoppage.
Second half kick-off!
Slovenia make two changes at the break: Skubic for Struna at right-back, Bezjak on for Repas in the centre of midfield.
The players are out and the second half in Ljubljana is coming right up. If Scotland are still winning in 45 minutes’ time, they will have themselves a play-off for a spot at World Cup 2018.
Half-time: Slovenia 0-1 Scotland
There haven’t been many talking points or moments of quality, and Slovenia have probably been the better side, but that flash of striker’s instinct from Leigh Griffiths has given Scotland a crucial advantage at the break.
44 min Ilicic shows some slick footwork before slamming a cross into the side netting of Gordon’s goal. Too many of Slovenia’s attacks have ended in harmless goal kicks.
42 min Scotland’s No9 is back on his feet and in the game after that knock. It looks like the hosts will be ending this half on the front foot.
40 min Leigh Griffiths has taken a knock after a clumsy challenge by Mevlja. He’s down receiving treatment and the game stops. Given their tussle earlier, that might not have been entirely unintentional from the big centre back.
38 min The Tartan Army are, understandably, in excellent voice.
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37 min Slovenia have been playing some good football since the goal but when Struna gets in a good position to cross on the right, he overelaborates with a low pass inside and Rotman eventually runs the ball of the pitch.
35 min The goal came just as Slovakia took the lead against Malta. A terrible minute or two for Slovenia’s hopes of World Cup qualification. As it stands Scotland are heading to a play-off, and Slovakia and Slovenia will miss out.
Goal The game had been meandering until James McArthur’s header sailed high towards Griffiths peeling away at the far post. He kept his eyes on the ball and connected perfectly with his low angled volley to beat Oblak. What a massive moment that could prove to be.
GOAL! Slovenia 0-1 Scotland (Griffiths, 32)
Scotland lead!
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29 min “Evening Lawrence,” emails Simon McMahon. “On the MBMs recommendation I’m watching the match in Murphys Irish Bar in Berlin. It’s not authentically German, or Irish, but there’s beer, and there’s football. So what’s not to like? Anyway, COME ON SCOTLAND!!!” I watched a rugby match there once. We got into a conversation with a man who seemed could strike with a fist at any given moment for no actual reason, so we left.
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28 min Scotland suddenly break with Robertson making a rapid overlap which Barry Bannan tries to employ, but it’s easily read and Slovenia clear the danger.
26 min Ilicic is all left foot but Scotland haven’t cracked that puzzle just yet. He spins in off the right again and surges through the middle of the pitch before trying to link up with a team-mate on a very different wavelength, and the move breaks down.
24 min Matt Phillips dribbles positively down the right and attempts a cross but it’s blocked. Corner. It’s punched by Oblak to Barry Bannan and he leaps to scissor a volley towards goal but that’s blocked too, and Slovenia escape.
22 min A lull as Scotland clear their lines and win a throw in. This game needs a spark of quality.
19 min Chris Martin takes a clattering from the Slovenian captain, Cesar, in midfield and they launch another set piece forwards. Berra wins the header but can’t find the target.
17 min Bannan tries a low ball towards Martin in the box who can only control it and pass back to midfielder. Robertson finds him in space with their next advance and this time Martin fires off a shot, which Oblak gets down and holds at his near post.
15 min Tierney chips a free-kick towards Chris Martin on the far side who wins the header, but can’t direct it into the path of his team-mates. In fairness to Martin, no one seemed to anticipate him actually winning it. A moment later a Robertson cross into that corridor causes some confusion at the back for Slovenia, who all stand and watch as it bounces away for a goal kick.
14 min Mike MacKenzie emails: “Please tell me that should Scotland win today and subsequently qualify for Russia, that they’ll celebrate with a new away kit.” We live in hope.
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12 min Griffiths and Mevlja have fallen out. The striker seemed to throw the Slovenia defender to the ground attempting to reach a loose ball and Mevlja didn’t take kindly to it, but referee Jonas Eriksson calms things down without need for a card.
11 min Scotland relieve the pressure, venturing forward and winning a corner which comes to nothing.
8 min Slovenia have been the dominant side in the early minutes – Josip Ilicic has looked particularly threatening. Scotland are sitting deep and trying to soak up the pressure.
6 min Ilicic shows a lovely jink of quick feet to get away from a couple of Scotland midfielders before passing to Matavz, who gets a dangerous shot away arrowing towards the top corner which Gordon parries clear.
4 min Slovenia are the first side to enjoy a sustained period of possession. They work it out to Verbic on the left wing who takes on Tierney, drawing a foul and an early yellow card.
3 min Darren Fletcher pinches the ball in midfield and slings the ball out for Andrew Robertson in space on the left. The Liverpool full-back puts his head down and steams forward before putting in a low cross, but it doesn’t find a pink shirt.
2 min Ilicic fires off an early effort from the edge of the box which is well held by Craig Gordon.
Kick-off!
Slovenia get us going in that two-tone green that they showed off at Wembley last week. Scotland are wearing their traditional fluorescent psychedelic pink away kit.
The players shake hands, exclusively opting for the upright vertical shake over the traditional horizontal method which, if I was a player, I would unnecessarily insist upon. Game time.
The Slovenia captain, Bostjan Cesar, receives a lovely orb to celebrate his 100th cap. Now, the anthems:
An impressively chilled Gordon Strachan: “The players are focused, they’re ready to go, we’ve done our homework. It’s a big ask but we can do it. I’m really looking forward to the game starting now.” He gives striker Chris Martin a firm endorsement, too.
For some recommended pre-match reading, here’s Ewan Murray on Scotland’s bumpy journey to Slovenia:
Happy Scots in Ljubljana, an exhibition:
So James Morrison is not involved after a calf injury picked up yesterday, which hands James McArthur a start. The only other change is the man who scored the winner in the reverse fixture at Hampden Park, Chris Martin, coming in to the side up front for Celtic’s James Forrest. Gordon Strachan looks to be starting with two strikers, which means Matt Phillips will take up duties on the right of midfield and Barry Bannan will do his thing from the left. He has been using more of a 4-3-3/4-5-1 in the past couple of games so it will be interesting to see how this works out.
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The teams!
Slovenia Oblak; Struna, Mevlja, Cesar (c), Jokic; Kurtic, Rotman; Repas, Ilicic, Verbic; Matavz.
Subs: Skubic, Viler, Sirok, Belec, Bezjak, Mlinar Delamea, Koprivec, Vetrih.
Scotland Gordon; Tierney, Mulgrew, Berra, Robertson; D Fletcher (c), McArthur, Bannan, Phillips; Martin, Griffiths.
Subs: Archer, A McGregor, Anya, Cooper, Hanley, Wittaker, Forrest, McGinn, C McGregor, Snodgrass, S Fletcher.
Referee Jonas Eriksson (Sweden). Fun fact about Jonas: he is richer than most of the players after selling a 15% stake in a media rights business ten years ago.
Preamble
If football games lasted 85 minutes, Scotland would have nine points and presumably Gordon Strachan would be looking to secure a gig on ITV’s World Cup coverage next year. Instead Scotland head into their final group game with 17 points and a manager still hopeful of leading his team to Russia and their first World Cup for 20 years.
He has overseen the remarkable turnaround of a team almost down and out when they first played Slovenia six months ago. Having been thumped 3-0 by both Slovakia and England, Scotland were ambling towards an insipid draw – and quite possibly Strachan’s sacking – at Hampden Park when Chris Martin bobbled in a late winner off the post.
Since that moment everything changed. They could and maybe should have beaten England, but they did beat Lithuania and Malta before last week’s crucial win over Slovakia, courtesy of Martin Skrtel’s dramatic late own goal. The celebrations told the story of just how far they have come.
Scotland’s task in Ljubljana tonight is not easy but the permutations are simple: win and they will secure a World Cup play-off, something which seemed unimaginable not so long ago. A defeat will spell the end of the road, as will a draw in all probability given Slovakia’s gimme against the group stragglers, Malta. Slovenia can still qualify but require both a win against Scotland here and a Maltese shock – so neither side will be settling for a draw.
Kick-off 5pm BST
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