Summary

  • Scotland made to wait for qualification after first defeat of campaign

  • Morata nets stooping header for Spain opener after Scotland's McTominay has sensational free-kick controversially ruled out

  • Adams has glorious chance to level saved & Porteous own goal puts Spain 2-0 up after Hickey slip

  • Scotland lose captain Robertson to shoulder injury late in first half

  • Scotland can now secure finals place on Sunday if Norway fail to beat Spain at home

  1. Good nightpublished at 23:04 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    We'll leave it here.

    Scotland have a case to mump and grump about the disallowed goal and the confusion around the decision.

    It was such a sweet strike from Scott McTominay but the offside call is probably justified - it's just how we got there.

    Spain were on top for long spells and eventually made their pressure pay.

    We move on to Sunday now and Scotland will seal a place at the Euros in Germany next summer if Norway fail to beat Spain in Olso.

    European Championship Group A tableImage source, BBC Sport
  2. 'We showed we're a good team'published at 22:53 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    "The team was good, I feel sorry for them," said Scotland manager Steve Clarke. "It's decided on fine margins, Scott McTominay's fine fee-kick is so close to being a super goal. The second goal when Aaron Hickey slips puts an unfair gloss on the game for Spain.

    "We wanted to show we were a good team and we did that.

    "The players get all the credit. They work ever so hard. You need your little moments of luck, but the Spain moment of luck was a VAR decision that goes in their favour."

    On that disallowed effort, Clarke added: "Initially, Jack (Hendry) is a centimetre offside. Then when he step towards the keeper they've asked the referee to look at it. They've interpreted Jack as interfering with the keeper. I'm not sure the goalie is saving that shot anyway. That changes the whole night."

    On the prospect of qualifying for Euro 2024, Clarke said: "It's 100% in our hands. We've done a lot of work to get 15 points from six games.

    "If Norway don't get anything from Spain, we qualify on Sunday night. But we don't qualify because of that, we qualify from that because of the work we've done to get 15 points. If Norway win, we go into November with a realistic chance of topping the group."

    Steve Clarke with Callum McGregor at full-timeImage source, SNS
  3. Postpublished at 22:48 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Let's hear what the boss had to say. Steve Clarke coming up...

  4. From ecstasy to agonypublished at 22:47 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Let's wallow in this one last time.

    Scotland players celebrate after netting from a fabulous free-kickImage source, SNS
    Ryan Christie celebrates before the goal is disallowedImage source, SNS
    The referee checks the incident on the monitorImage source, SNS
    Scott McTominay reacts with fury and frustrationImage source, SNS
  5. Change of tune from referee 'stings' - McGinnpublished at 22:42 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    John McGinn has been talking to BBC Scotland as well and he's still not happy about the referee's apparent flip-flopping, although he concedes Jack Hendry was in an offside position.

    "What a shift we put in," said the Scotland midfielder. "It wasn't nice to defend and graft like that.

    "Every Scottish person would be frustrated watching that. The goal, you think you've got a goal to qualify. Unbelievable strike from Scotty. No keeper in the world is saving that.

    "The referee decides it's a foul. During the game he changes his mind to say it's an offside. Not sure how clear that is. That's the thing that stings really. We get the big moment, we score. Jack's right leg is offside, but it's very, very harsh."

  6. Postpublished at 22:36 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    The boos from the Tartan Army will still be ringing in Rodri's ears.

  7. 'I want to clarify my respect for Scotland' - Rodripublished at 22:33 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri tells BBC Sportsound: "It's a big win against the best team in the group at the moment. We knew how tough it would be because we compete against most of them in the Premier League.

    "The game was controlled 100% by us. We had to avoid the counter attacks and we did it so well.

    "When they scored we were like, 'oh my god'. But he was offside and it gave us the confidence to push and open the gaps. It's always difficult when you face a team so narrow with five at the back."

    On his comments on Scotland after March's defeat, he adds: "I want to say that I didn't mean that. My English isn't very good. I have 100% respect for them. I want to clarify my respect for the Scotland team."

    Rodri in action against Callum McGregorImage source, SNS
  8. 'Positives for Scotland, Spain deserved it'published at 22:30 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Willie Miller
    Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

    It was a good performance from Scotland, it's something to take forward.

    But you can't make a case to say Spain didn't deserve to win.

  9. 'You need to be careful what you say' - McGinnpublished at 22:25 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Scotland midfielder John McGinn tells Viaplay "the big moments went against us".

    "We can still improve, but we put in some shift," he adds. "We knew at least a point tonight would get us there, so that's a really tough one to take. It's a sore blow losing Robbo early, then thinking we're ahead, we regroup and then they score.

    "We competed for long spells. It's very difficult to win here and, under the circumstances, it was near enough impossible.

    "You need to be very careful what you say. I think everyone watching that game tonight from a Scotland point of view, wherever you were, it just felt like we weren't getting any 50/50 decision - it made it very difficult against a world class team.

    "You need a perfect performance here to win, and everything to align and it was just never going to happen.

    "He (the referee) changed it (his reasoning on the VAR check) in the game, which is the annoying thing. It means it's not clear and obvious.

    "Is he going to save it? No chance. No goalkeeper in the world is going to save that. However, at one point he's said it's a foul, realises it isn't a foul, so changes it to offside."

    Scotland midfielder John McGinnImage source, SNS
  10. 'A couple of errors cost us'published at 22:21 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Craig Levein
    Former Scotland manager on BBC Sportsound

    We were back at what we were good at tonight, frustrating teams that are better than us.

    Angus Gunn not having to make any serious saves is significant. We've just made a couple errors that have cost us.

  11. Scots made it tough for Spain - Moratapublished at 22:18 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Spain striker Alvaro Morata tells BBC Sportsound: "We know Scotland are a physical team, but they also have top players who play in top teams.

    "It was tough today, at the end we take the three points and we're very happy with that.

    "They defended good and they are very dangerous in counter attacks. When they have this spirit, they are a good team."

    On potentially doing Scotland a favour on Sunday, Morata adds: "I'd hope to see (Norway captain) Martin Odegaard in the Euros, so I'd be happy if they qualified as well."

    Cheers, mate.

    Alvaro Morata scored the breakthrough goal for SpainImage source, SNS
  12. Postpublished at 22:14 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    As you can see, the screen inside the stadium said there was a foul.

    Not even goalkeeper Unai Simon was claiming after that rocket from Scott McTominay flew past him.

    Then, at full-time, we saw some hurriedly drawn lines on the screen suggesting it may have been for offside against Jack Hendry and that he was interfering with the keeper, restricting his movement.

    We could do with an explanation from Uefa.

  13. THAT moment...published at 22:09 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Scotland's Scott McTominay scores a free kick before his goal is ruled out after a VAR check during a UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier at the Estadio De La CartujaImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Scott McTominay's wonderful free kick looked to have given Scotland the lead...

    The LED Screen shows No Goal after a VAR check during a UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier at the Estadio De La CartujaImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    ...until VAR intervened.

  14. Postpublished at 22:05 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Is this the time to remind Pat that Scotland's record in Georgia is played two, lost two?

    Nah, let's stay positive. This is happening.

  15. 'Grown up plan' falls shortpublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Pat Nevin
    Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Scotland will feel fed up tonight, that's two losses in a row but it's Spain and England.

    You could see what Scotland were trying to do. It was a grown up plan which didn't quite come off.

    Steve Clarke can say to the players: 'If we beat Georgia we're through.' You'd have taken that at the start of the campaign.

  16. 'Gutting'published at 22:00 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Alan Hutton
    Former Scotland defender on Viaplay

    Let's not kid ourselves on, it was probably a fair result.

    The boys were right in it, up until near the end. There's a lot of positives that can be taken from tonight.

    But, ugh, gutting.

    Aye, we all feel the same, Alan.

  17. 'Spain got a fright'published at 21:58 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Craig Levein
    Former Scotland manager on BBC Sportsound

    That disallowed goal was a catalyst for Spain. They got a fright.

    In the last 15 to 20 minutes in the match, they got much better.

  18. As things stand - all eyes on Oslopublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Scotland are still top of Group A with 15 points from six games.

    Spain are three behind with a game in hand. That comes against Norway on Sunday.

    Norway must win that game in Oslo to be in with a chance of catching Scotland.

    So, suddenly we're all Spain fans after feeling aggrieved about the way tonight's game went. A draw would be nice, but let's not be too picky.

  19. Elsewhere in Group Apublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Cyprus 0-4 Norway

    No, there weren't four late goals for Cyprus in Larnaca.

  20. 'Clarke will be so proud of his players'published at 21:51 British Summer Time 12 October 2023

    FT: Spain 2-0 Scotland

    Michael Stewart
    Former Scotland midfielder on Viaplay

    This is an intimidating place, we were holding them, they were up against it.

    We pushed them, unfortunately they were able to get there in the end.

    But, Steve Clarke will be so proud of his players.