Spain 2-0 Scotland: Recent defeats can't derail Steve Clarke's side's progress
- Published
It says a lot about this Scotland team that thousands of supporters followed them to Seville with some expectation as well as plenty of hope.
Top of a Euro 2024 qualifying group that contains Spain and Norway, Steve Clarke's team have deserved so many plaudits for producing a string of results that meant they only needed one point on Thursday night.
What then played out was a rollercoaster of emotions on the way to 2-0 defeat that means the Tartan Army's focus now switches to Norway v Spain on Sunday.
Personally, I didn't go into the game with a lot of confidence for a result. That wasn't anything to do with Scotland but more to do with Spain's home record in qualifying games. Thursday was their 25th straight home win in European Championship qualifying stretching back 20 years.
However, as the game wore on and developed, we got to a point where we started to believe we could really get the draw we needed on the night.
Of course, against a top team like Spain, they will always create big chances. Within a minute on Thursday, Spain missed a one on one. They also hit a post and flashed numerous corners across the Scotland goal, but our shape and organisation was very good. It normally is under Clarke.
They made it difficult for Spain to play in behind, limiting them to a handful of clear-cut chances despite their possession. It was never going to be an evening when we were expansive and created numerous chances of our own. In the first half, we had none.
It never looked like we'd score from open play. For me, that was the one criticism. We didn't look after the ball well enough at times while in possession and that meant we were defending deep.
So, when we got that free-kick midway through the second half, it felt like this was where our threat would lie. However, nobody expected Scott McTominay to do what he did. It was a world-class finish from a man who has turned into this talismanic figure.
Even in commentary, Liam McLeod and I were in shock as much as anyone else that the referee had initially blown for a foul after a VAR review. We didn't have the luxury of a replay, we were flummoxed. Confusion reigned everywhere.
For me, though, they came to the right decision as Jack Hendry was interfering with play, but the whole saga left a bitter taste as we all started to believe it could have been our night.
'Defeats can't derail progress'
There's been so much positivity in this campaign - and rightly so. The players deserve all the credit they've received because the performances have been brilliant. There's a real harmony there.
What is crucial now is that they don't let last night and the England defeat derail the confidence that's been built up over that run of five straight Group A wins.
It's two defeats in a row - and it could well by three by Tuesday evening, when we take on the French in a friendly. However, none of that will matter if Spain manage to help us out and avoid defeat in Oslo on Sunday.
The scenario that nobody wants is for Norway to win against Spain, which then means the wait for qualification rolls on to our final two group games.
Scotland fans will be getting twitchy at the potential prospect of going to Georgia given past results. But it's important to stress how different this particular group of players is. There's a different mindset, belief and level of quality.
I would like to see Clarke look at giving some game time to others in Lille. The Scotland head coach rarely strays from his tried and tested, but the loss of Andy Robertson in Seville offers an opportunity for someone else.
You also have the likes of Lewis Ferguson, who has been playing at a really high level in Serie A. This could be the ideal time.
The disappointment of the loss in Spain will smart, but it's gone now. Scotland are still where they want to be and qualification may yet be just around the corner.
Steven Thompson was speaking to BBC Scotland's Scott Mullen in Seville.