SCOTLAND looked like they had the Euros on their mind as they blew their Nations League bid.
Subs Scott McKenna and Leigh Griffiths came close with a couple of last-gasp attempts after Manor Solomon drilled Israel’s winner on 44 minutes – while home defender Eli Dasa rode his luck when he handled inside his penalty area in stoppage time.
Kieran Tierney reflects on Scotland’s misfortune as defeat in Israel denied them promotion in the Nations LeagueCredit: SNS Group
Israel striker Manor Solomon celebrates his winner against ScotlandCredit: AFP or licensors
But it was too little, too late as the Czech Republic beat Slovakia to win the group.
Boss Steve Clarke will put a brave face on it, but he will be secretly seething at squandering the chance to step up to the top table of Nations League football.
More importantly, it would have left a clear route to a World Cup play-off place.
But with a date with destiny against England safely booked for next summer, they will soon dust off their disappointment.
There may be 36 more sleeps until Christmas.
But every Scotland fan will know there are 154 more sleeps until Wembley, where they will face the Auld Enemy on June 18.
And that is plenty of time to convince themselves that this young, developing Scotland team will be capable of putting the Three Lions to the Claymore.
If Clarke wanted to lull Gareth Southgate into a false sense of security, then he did it with this lacklustre performance.
Steve Clarke saw his Scotland side waste last chances to avoid defeatCredit: AFP or licensors
Scotland midfielder Callum McGregor gets to grips with home defender Eli Dasa Credit: AFP or licensors
Scotland’s play-off heroics in Belgrade seemed a distant memory, despite the manager sending out the same starting team that ended 22 years of hurt by holding their nerve to beat Serbia on penalties last week.
Despite Clarke giving the vast majority of his first choice team the day off in Slovakia at the weekend, too many still appeared hungover in Netanya.
Aston Villa’s John McGinn came closest to breaking the first-half deadlock with a flashing header.
But his former Hibernian team-mate Ofir Marciano denied him with a brilliant fingertip save.
There was no cutting edge and elsewhere trouble was brewing in Pilsen, where the Czechs had taken the lead against Slovakia to leapfrog Scotland at the top of the group.
If that came as a blow, worse was to follow when Israel took the lead a minute before half-time.
Solomon had already served warning of his threat with a long range effort which zipped narrowly past David Marshall’s post.
But the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder was not to be denied his first goal for his country.
McTominay is a work in progress at centre-back.. The prospect of Grealish and Kane running at him will torment the Tartan Army.
He piled pressure on the Scots when he exposed Scott McTominay’s defensive deficiencies again.
The Manchester United midfielder is a work in progress at centre-back and it showed as Solomon turned him inside out before drilling a low shot beyond Marshall.
The prospect of Jack Grealish and Harry Kane running at McTominay will torment the Tartan Army.
But there is still time for the rookie defender to cram in some swotting during three World Cup qualifiers in March before his biggest test.
Clarke sent on fresh firepower in the shape of Griffiths, Oli McBurnie and Oli Burke.
But after five recent meetings between the two sides, Israel seemed to know their opponents inside out.
They dealt with everything Scotland could throw at them as Marciano defied Stephen O’Donnell and Kieran Tierney with a couple of routine saves.
In fact it took a late stop from Marshall to prevent Eyal Golasa adding a second for Israel.
And if Scotland repeat this showing at Wembley next year, Marshall will surely need to dig out his super-hero cape once again!
Scotland players do the conga and chant David Marshall in incredible Euro 2020 celebrations
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
