At the end of a dazzling night, football in Europe had witnessed the ultimate reversal of roles.
Scotland played Spain, Spain played Scotland of old and the Tartan Army left Hampden rubbing his eyes in disbelief. No one is objecting to Steve Clarke’s new contract now.
Settling in Glasgow, this transitional Spanish team had an air of invincibility. They had lost just five of their last 68 Euro qualifying ties. They had qualified for their last 15 major tournaments; its last failure was in 1992.
However, when Spanish defender David Garcia passed the ball out of bounds to jeers from the Tartan Army, it summed up an inept and very un-Spanish display. Physical, frustrated, confused from time to time, the team sent by Luis de la Fuente was unrecognizable from the tiki taka of Iniesta and company. A million miles away.
None of this should detract from the dogged tenacity and brilliance of a Scottish side who sit top of Group A on six points from six after two games. Their first win over Spain in 38 years was also their biggest blow in world football since beating France in Paris in September 2007. It was crazy at times.
Scotland’s shock victory was due in part to their dogged brilliance and tenacity on the night.
Steve Clarke has celebrated a new three-year contract with Scotland with back-to-back wins
It was a game in which Scotland played as Spain and Spain played as the Scotland of old at Hampden Park.
When Mo Johnston scored twice in a 3–1 win in November 1984, the feat was overshadowed by a stunning goal from Kenny Dalglish. Nothing is likely to overshadow Scott McTominay turning back the years by scoring the two goals that put the former European and World champions to the knife.
John McGinn fired a Brazilian-style free kick off the crossbar as the home country pressed for the third. Substitute Lawrence Shankland nearly killed things in stoppage time yet again, and in truth, another 3-0 run would not have flattered Clarke’s side in the least.
The last time the Scots beat Spain, the coach was in the old venue watching with his dad. Jock Stein’s team secured automatic qualification for Mexico ’86 and the team have now built the best possible foundation for a run in Germany next summer: Georgia’s draw with Norway in Tbilisi made for a good night overall .
The cause of Scotland was furthered by the beginning of his dreams. For Tottenham side Pedro Porro, it was a nightmare. After a rainy day in Glasgow, nothing new there, Hampden’s slippery surface led to an untimely slip by Spain’s number two on the edge of his own penalty area.
Pressed and harassed by Andrew Robertson, the captain put the ball in and raised his head.
Slashing the ball for McTominay, the Manchester United man is acquiring quite a taste for international goals.
Deflecting the ball broadside towards the goal, Kepa Arrizabalaga had every chance of saving it until the ball bounced off the inside leg of central defender Íñigo Martínez. The ball settled into the net and, after a late brace against Cyprus on Saturday, McTominay scored his third Scotland goal in just over 16 minutes of action.
Andrew Robertson’s efforts at both ends of the field were crucial to Scotland’s shock victory.
Pedro Porro had a nightmare performance for Spain and hooked Dani Carvajal at half-time
David Garcia had a bad night at the Spain back and was inaccurate with his pass, much to the entertainment of the Scottish fans.
What a chance Scotland had to double their lead after 15 minutes. The Spaniards rocked, a sublime holdup play from McGinn lobbing the ball to Ryan Christie in the center circle.
The Bournemouth man scored with several options for the pass. He had no intention of using any of them. As the Spanish defenders spread out, space opened up and Christie pushed the ball inches from the upright with his left foot. It felt like a great moment.
With no less than eight changes to the team that beat Norway three times at the weekend, no one expected Spain’s threat to come from an aerial blitz. A penchant for the theatrical in pursuit of cheap sorrows was another unknown trait.
At the age of 32, former Newcastle striker Joselu made his first start in attack.
An old-fashioned man, Spain was hell-bent on beating him at every turn. And the game seemed to change during a three-minute period when poor defending allowed the striker two free headers on goal.
The first was too close to Angus Gunn. The crossbar has been shaking since the second after Joselu jumped past Ryan Porteous.
Robertson took a chance when he put a shoulder into Porro’s body. It was barely enough for the side to fall to the ground as if he had been shot by one of Franco’s thugs. Still, it was an unnecessary booking that, in the VAR era, risked more.
Luis de la Fuente made eight changes to the team that beat Norway 3-0 in the last half
Local support did not necessarily see events in the same way. Booed roundly by the Tartan Army, Porro nearly silenced them in an instant when he blasted a 20-yard shot on goal, forcing Gunn to push.
The first half turned into an old meaty contest. Despite his advanced age, Joselu betrayed the instincts of a little boy in the supermarket aisle when Swiss officials had no interest in two dubious penalty claims before halftime; the second after a risky pull on Porteous’s shirt.
The last act of the half saw Kieran Tierney hit a ball from a long route down the pitch for Lyndon Dykes to chase down. A heavy first touch made the chance more difficult than it could have been, the striker launched his effort high and wide and, for Spain, something had to change.
Apart from two de la Fuente changes, only Nico Williams made any kind of impact, there was also a referee change, fourth official Lukas Fahndrich switching places with injured Swiss compatriot Sandro Scharer.
Half time offered a breather to the Scots. A chance for Clarke to settle his team and reset.
And, six minutes into the second half, the Barça team redoubled their advantage with a great goal.
Tierney hasn’t seen much action at Arsenal lately. The way he ran 50 yards down the left flank from his own half, leaving Dani Carvajal for dead, you wouldn’t have noticed.
The full-back’s driven cross came off Garcia’s thigh and landed perfectly for McTominay to drill the ball into the net for the first time from 15 yards out. The roof almost fell off Hampden.
Spain looked like a shadow of itself on Tuesday night and was a long way from the 2008-12 European champions
The Tartan Army will have left Hampden rubbing his eyes in disbelief on Tuesday night.
The local team pressed for more. They were inches from a third goal when McGinn fired a free kick off the crossbar. It’s still shaking now.
Even at 2-0, some Scottish fans would have settled for a draw.
While Martinez whipped a half chance off a Williams cross, however, this was not the Spain people know and love.
There was nothing of the trade, nothing of the wit or cunning. Despite all the passing and possession, Scotland were unexpectedly comfortable. While Spanish football has seen some historic nights in this old stadium, this was one they will be eager to forget. The Tartan Army could be a bit slower to clear the tape.