Scotland hero Scott McTominay hails his side and fans after Steve Clarke’s men stun Spain
‘These are the nights people remember’: Scotland’s two-goal hero Scott McTominay greets his team and fans after Steve Clarke’s men stunned Spain to go top of Group A.
Scott McTominay hailed a performance to remember on Tuesday after Scotland stunned former world champions Spain.
Steve Clarke’s side went top of Group A with six points from a possible six after McTominay scored an international double for the second time in four days.
The biggest scalp for the Scotland national team since a 1-0 win over France, a 2-0 win was also their first win over Spain since Jock Stein was manager in November 1984.
Building on Saturday’s 3-0 win over Cyprus, goals early in each half put the Scots in dream country and sent Tartan Army home in ecstasy.
“Look at this place,” McTominay said. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this, incredible.
Scott McTominay (left) has praised his team after they stunned Spain on Tuesday night.
McTominay scored twice as his team beat the former world champions 2-0 at Hampden Park
The midfielder also thanked the Scottish fans for their historic victory in Group A
The manager said this is our chance to create legacies as Scotland players and these are the nights in 20, 30 years that people remember. We cannot thank the fans enough.
With just one international goal heading into the current campaign, McTominay capitalized on a Spanish slip to score after six minutes, adding a second early in the second half.
“We did really well, we didn’t have much of the ball, but the coach said we had to be clinical when we had the chances.” I thought we had more than enough opportunities tonight to hurt them and score some goals.
“When I was a kid I was an attacking midfielder and I got too big for that, but now I’m more of a sitting midfielder, but I like to do both, I like to get into the box.” For me, I have to keep doing that and get more goals and assists in my game.”
Norway’s 1-1 draw in Georgia left the Scots as the only team with a 100 per cent record in Group A.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke urged his team to stay grounded after their victory.
Heading to Oslo in June, manager Clarke refused to be carried away despite an excellent start to the campaign.
‘You don’t go through with six points,’ said the Scotland coach, ‘so we have a long way to go.
‘Two good performances in the nine days we’ve been together.
‘All the credit belongs to the players. Sixteen players on the pitch and none let us down.
‘Tonight was an opportunity to make our mark on the group. We want to be competitive against the best team and that’s what we did tonight.”
Luis de la Fuente is the first coach to lose his first away game in charge of Spain since Vicente Miera lost a Euro qualifier in September 1991.
Making eight changes to the team that beat Norway 3-0 on Saturday, the frustrated visitors lost for the sixth time in Euro 69 qualifying and threatened, at times, to lose the plot.
Luis de la Fuente is the first manager to lose his first game away from home as Spain coach since 1991
The last time the Spaniards failed to qualify for a major final was in 1992 and, bracing himself for the inevitable criticism to come, de la Fuente said: “The match went as we thought it would.
‘It was a difficult game, very dense. We had our chances to score. But we didn’t finish it. But overall I’m happy with what I saw on the field. It bodes well for the future.
‘It doesn’t change our general plan. There are six games left so let’s go for it. We will continue working.
‘Scotland have a very powerful team. They are very strong physically with some good individuals. It is too early to predict the group. There are still six games to go.
‘I’m not happy, but we can think about the future.’