Thank you very much for your company and correspondence. Here is Ewan Murray’s lovely report.
England reaction.
The earlier matches.
Simon McMahon concludes: “Not quite a knockout blow to Scotland’s World Cup hopes, but no wins from the first two games is not exactly an ideal start. The away games against Denmark and Austria in September will be decisive. At least one win will probably be required. Who wants to go to Qatar in December anyway?”
I would rather have a pint in Edinburgh than Doha.
Full-time scores
Group B: Kosovo 0-3 Sweden
Group C: Bulgaria 0-2 Italy, Switzerland 1-0 Lithuania*
Group D: Ukraine 1-1 Finland
Group F: Austria 3-1 Faroe Islands, Israel 1-1 Scotland
Group I: Poland 3-0 Andorra, San Marino 0-3 Hungary
Group J: North Macedonia 5-0 Liechtenstein, Romania 0-1 Germany
- Delayed due to incorrectly sized nets
Updated
Full-time! Israel 1-1 Scotland
A point each.
GOAL! Ukraine 1-1 Finland (Pukki, pen, 89)
The Norwich striker is comically brought down in the box when through on goal, resulting in a red for Mykolenko. Pukki then steps up and nets the leveller.
Israel 1-1 Scotland Robertson pops up in the box and whacks a bouncing ball towards goal but a defender deflects it wide.
Romania 0-1 Germany Puscas has a chance to equalise after turning Rudiger inside and out but his shot is straight at Neuer.
GOAL! Bulgaria 0-2 Italy (Locatelli, 82)
GAME OVER! No coming back for Bulgaria now after a lovely curling finish from Locatelli.
Israel 1-1 Scotland Solomon has another chance after shifting the ball in the box and whacking a shot but it is well-blocked by a defender.
GOAL! Ukraine 1-0 Finland (Junior Moraes, 80)
One of Shakhtar’s many Brazilians has scored for Ukraine.
Israel 1-1 Scotland Peretz goes down in the box after a challenge from Robertson. As the replay shows, the Israel midfielder dived in hilarious fashion and is booked.
Peter Oh says: “Although the score is now unremarkable, the Austria-Faroe Islands match is special in that it features one of the first female referees to officiate a men’s World Cup qualifier.”
Kudos to Kateryna Monzul.
Updated
Israel 1-1 Scotland Here is Ryan Fraser’s goal!
SCOTLAND PULL LEVEL! 🏴
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 28, 2021
Ryan Fraser finishes from the edge of the box.
Watch live on Sky Sports Main Event 📺 pic.twitter.com/ZuNis8ua8q
Romania 0-1 Germany Sane pings a free-kick into the face Andonie Burca in the man wall. The Romanian is very much on the deck.
Kosovo 0-3 Sweden Larsson converts from the spot. Done and dusted.
Israel 1-1 Scotland McLean and Dykes are on for Scotland.
San Marino 0-2 Hungary Sallai ends the match as a contest.
Updated
Israel 1-1 Scotland Zahavi spins on the edge of the box but drags a left-footed shot wide. Anyone’s game here.
Romania 0-1 Germany A corner from Kimmich is cleared at the front post to the edge of the box and Hagi does the rest. The ball ends up reaching Neuer who chests the ball 25 yards from his own goal into the path of Puscas. Not the best idea. Germany win it back and clear, though.
Israel 1-1 Scotland A deep cross to the back post finds Menachem unmarked but he can’t find the target with his header, hitting the sidenetting instead.
Poland 2-0 Andorra You will be shocked to hear that Lewandowski has scored again.
Updated
Romania 0-1 Germany The lead should be doubled as Sane takes the ball out of defence, drops a shoulder to beat a man and slips a pass out to Gnabry, who slides a cross along the goal-line but no one can get a telling touch.
Israel 1-1 Scotland Adams dribbles into the box, shifts the ball and then curls a shot towards the far post but the ‘keeper reads it and palms it away. Tierney has another shot sooner after, which again stings the palms of Marciano. It is all Scotland now.
Israel 1-1 Scotland The arrival of Christie on the pitch has definitely livened Scotland up. They were ruddy awful before the break.
North Macedonia 3-0 Liechtenstein Trajkovski again. We can probably ignore all mentions of this game now
GOAL! Israel 1-1 Scotland (Fraser, 56)
Adams drives towards the box before laying it off to Fraser who angles his shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards.
Updated
North Macedonia 2-0 Liechtenstein Trajkovski bags a second.
Israel 1-0 Scotland The visitors launch a rapid attack, with Robertson getting to the byline but his pullback finds no one of use in the box.
Updated
Romania 0-1 Germany Neuer receives a backpass under pressure but just drops his shoulder and leaves the forward for dead. The goalkeeper start a fine counter attack which ends with Nita producing a fine save from a Havertz drive.
Israel 1-0 Scotland Christie is on for Hendry which means a change of personnel and shape for Clarke’s side.
Second half
Here we go again!
Simon McMahon says: “Marshall should have done better. Went for it like he had boxing gloves on.”
Here is the Israel goal. Should Marshall do better?
ISRAEL LEAD! 🇮🇱
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 28, 2021
It's a beauty from Dor Peretz, beating David Marshall from distance.
Watch live on Sky Sports Main Event 📺 pic.twitter.com/fIp5qSiORP
This happened earlier.
As you can see, Austria has scored again but it probably does not class as a key event now. For those wondering: Kalajdzic scored.
Half-time
Here are the scores.
Group B: Kosovo 0-2 Sweden
Group C: Bulgaria 0-1 Italy, Switzerland 1-0 Lithuania
Group D: Ukraine 0-0 Finland
Group F: Austria 3-1 Faroe Islands, Israel 1-0 Scotland
Group I: Poland 1-0 Andorra, San Marino 0-1 Hungary
Group J: North Macedonia 1-0 Liechtenstein, Romania 0-1 Germany
GOAL! Bulgaria 0-1 Italy (Berlotti, 43)
The striker nets from the spot.
Updated
GOAL! Israel 1-0 Scotland (Peretz, 44)
What a hit! Solomon plays the ball to Peretz around 30 yards from goal, he tees himself up and whacks the ball into the top corner via the fingertips of Marshall.
Updated
Kosovo 0-2 Sweden Isak has doubled the lead. Not a bad striker, to be fair.
GOAL! Austria 2-1 Faroe Islands (Baumgartner, 37)
Call it off.
Updated
Malc Shuttleworth is having a great time: “I am here in Gernany enjoying the Romania v. Germany game. It’s like the good old days. No dreaded VAR. When Germany scored, the ref signalled a goal and that was it! No standing around waiting for some guy to make the wrong call. Bliss.”
Mary Waltz offers some political satire: “Scotland’s poor performance stems directly from the Salmond-Sturgeon feud. Half the squad is team Alex the other Team Nicola, no unity.”
Peter Oh says: “It must be intimidating for defenders representing the tiny mountainous country to hear Lewandowski repeatedly knocking on their Andorra.”
You’re on a warning, Peter.
Romania 0-1 Germany I have received messages from a former Steaua Bucharest player, he says: “Romania need to be believe more and the high line is dangerous.”
You don’t get that analysis elsewhere.
Romania 0-1 Germany Havertz is having great fun down the right - every time he gets the ball he looks like creating a chance.
Poland 1-0 Andorra I feel Robert Lewandowski will enjoy himself tonight. He already has one.
Updated
Israel 0-0 Scotland Robertson’s floated free-kick causes problems in the box as Arad gets the ball stuck under his feet when facing his own goal but eventually he clears.
The Austrian equaliser is bad news for the Irish.
@Will_Unwin Dear god please let the Faroe Islands prevail so there is some chance RoI Lux isnt the most jaw droppingly awful result of these qualifiers. Hopefully they will score 12.
— nick dowling (@nickdowling3) March 28, 2021
Austria 1-1 Faroe Islands (Dragovic, 30)
Is the dream over for the Faroes?
Updated
Israel 0-0 Scotland “Do Scotland actually have 11 men on the park ? There is no one in midfield. Shambles so far.”
Ian Ferguson-Brown is not especially pleased.
Romania 0-1 Germany The visitors are playing some lovely stuff in Bucharest, ripping the Romanian side apart. The latest free-flowing move ends when Kimmich’s shot from the edge of the box is blocked.
Israel 0-0 Scotland Arad whacks a shot from 20 yards but it flashes a little high and wide.
Israel 0-0 Scotland Marshall makes a fine save after Solomon does well to control a strong pass from Natcho, before flashing a shot at goal from 15 yards. Again the Donetsk man should do better.
Switzerland 1-0 Lithuania Amar has an update: “The match is underway - not before one of the nets had to be repaired with strapping tape - and Shaqiri immediately puts Switzerland ahead.” Considering the power in Shaqiri legs, he might break the nets if he hits one sweetly.
Austria 0-1 Faroe Islands (Nattestad, 19)
THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
Updated
GOAL! Romania 0-1 Germany (Gnabry, 16)
The ball is played over the top of the Romanian defence, allowing Gnabry to tap into an attempt net following a square pass.
Israel 0-0 Scotland Robertson sends in another dangerous corner but there is a foul on a defender and Israel get the free-kick.
Kosovo 0-1 Sweden Augustinsson scores for Sweden after a shambles at the back for Kosovo, allows him to knock the ball into an empty net.
San Marino 0-1 Hungary Szalai scores from the spot. I am not sure San Marino are going to get anything from this.
Hungary’s forward Adam Szalai celebrates after scoring a penalty. Photograph: Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images
Updated
Amar Breckenridge brings some much-needed comedy: “Meanwhile in Switzerland ... the game against Lithuania has been delayed because the goals weren’t the regulation size.”
In my mind, I am picturing five a side nets.
Updated
North Macedonia 1-0 Liechtenstein Bardhi has opened the scoring for the hosts.
Updated
Israel 0-0 Scotland Down the other end, Robertson pings in a corner which finds McTominay eight yards out but the Manchester United man heads it just wide.
Israel 0-0 Scotland Solomon picks up a loose ball on the edge of the box, gets it out of his feet and fires a shot just wide. Arguably he should do better, considering the position and how much space he has.
Romania 0-0 Germany The hosts are putting a lot of pressure on Germany with an energetic high press. Can they keep it up for 90 minutes?
Updated
Israel 0-0 Scotland A cross is sent to the back post from the right where O’Donnell is to meet it but he gets clattered in the back and Scotland win a free-kick.
Updated
Israel 0-0 Scotland McGinn flashes one wide from 30 yards, as Scotland show some early intent.
Chris Steele asks: “Looking forward to a 2-1 Scotland win... why are rugby players far better than footballers when singing anthems... maybe the Guinness instead of lager tops?
“Enjoy the match, c’mon Scoatlaaand!”
Rugby is just the more patriotic sport.
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Whistles go across Europe.
“There were only virtual fans at the Northern Ireland v USA friendly, but they cleverly booed the penalty call that sealed it for the US.”
I am not sure we can count them, Mary Waltz.
National anthems are being sung across the continent as we speak.
You can get in touch in the usual places, as stated above.
England have already won.
“There were fans in Sochi for Slovenia v Russia,” says Andrew Bartlett in Brooklyn.
Simon McMahon has emailed to ensure you lot actually learn something about Scotland: “Good evening Will. Big night ahead for Scotland; after dropping points at home to Austria on Thursday, anything less than a win will put us in a difficult position after only two games, especially given the way Denmark have started the group. I notice Israel have Marciano in goals - hopefully it’s not a Rocky night for Steve Clarke’s men...”
Updated
My esteemed colleague Mr Nick Ames says: “There were fans at Armenia v Iceland, I think.”
Ezra Finkelstein says: “Had the great joy of returning to a football stadium to watch a football game last Thursday, to watch Israel lose out to two avoidable goals from Denmark.I wonder if other qualifiers were played with fans?”
There were some at Georgia v Spain, I know that. I am sure our readers will know of more.
Spain scraped a win.
Dani Olmo with a winner in 93rd minute, Spain 🇪🇸 get the midnight train out of Georgia 🇬🇪 with all 3 points.
— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) March 28, 2021
Want to learn more about Manor Solomon? Luckily, I have an old interview for you.
Starting lineups: Bulgaria v Italy
Bulgaria: Ivanov; Dimov, Antov, Bozhikov; Cicinho, Chochev, Kostadinov, Vitanov, Tsvetanov; Delev, Galabinov.
Italy: Donnarumma; Florenzi, Bonucci, Acerbi, Spinazzola; Barella, Sensi, Verratti; Chiesa, Belotti, Insigne.
Starting lineups: Romania v Germany
Romania: Nita; Popescu, Chiriches, Tosca, Camora; Stanciu, Marin; Hagi, Tanase, Mihaila; Keseru.
Germany: Neuer; Klostermann, Ginter, Rüdiger, Can; Gündogan, Goretzka, Kimmich, Havertz, Gnabry, Sané.
Starting lineups: Israel v Scotland
Israel: Marciano, Dasa, Arad, El Hamed, Tibi, Menachem, Natcho, Peretz, Solomon. Zahavi, Weissman.
Scotland: Marshall, O’Donnell, Hanley, Hendry, Tierney, Robertson, McGregor, McTominay, McGinn, Fraser, Adams
Preamble
Welcome to another night of joyous World Cup qualifiers.
Scotland play Israel for roughly the 45th (sixth) time in the last few years. Steve Clarke’s side will be boosted by securing a late draw against Austria thanks to a fine overhead kick from John McGinn, however, they have put in some woeful performances against Israel in recent times. When it mattered in their Euros playoff, however, Scotland held their nerve to win on penalties.
Manor Soloman scored the winner in November for Israel. The Shakhtar Donetsk man has seen off Real Madrid this season and has held talks with Arsenal over a summer move, so he is one to watch out for.
Romania host Germany in Bucharest, with the hosts hoping to cause an upset. There is definitely plenty of talent in the Romanian squad but being able to beat Germany is another kettle of fish. The likes of Ianis Hagi should relish the chance to come up against some of the world’s best players, so it could be a fascinating contest in Bucharest. Jamal Musiala could be given his second cap for Germany, which is something to watch out for after England missed out on securing his services.
Here is the full list of 7.45pm BST kick-offs:
Group B: Kosovo vs Sweden
Group C: Bulgaria vs Italy, Switzerland vs Lithuania
Group D: Ukraine vs Finland
Group F:, Austria vs Faroe Islands, Israel vs Scotland
Group I: Poland vs Andorra, San Marino vs Hungary
Group J: North Macedonia vs Liechtenstein, Romania vs Germany
There is plenty of intrigue around, that’s for sure.
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