Manager Alex McLeish has vowed to keep trying to make amends for Scotland’s shock defeat in Kazakhstan – and claims there will be twists and turns in their European Championship qualifying group.
McLeish and his players have come under fire after a 3-0 loss against the world’s 117th-ranked team in their opening Group I encounter, with their chances of automatic qualification already written off in many quarters.
Scotland have only once reached a major tournament after losing their opening qualifier, when they recovered from defeat against then European champions Czechoslovakia to make the 1978 World Cup.
Nations League success has earned Scotland a guaranteed play-off place should they fail to finish in the top two of a group also containing Belgium, Russia, Cyprus and San Marino, who host McLeish’s men on Sunday.
But McLeish is determined to make it up the supporters bit by bit and not wait until next year’s Nations League resumption.
1/14 Jordan Pickford – 6
A virtual spectator tonight, and he will have a solid England defence and a poor Czech attack to thank for that. Looked shaky though during a couple of the Czech half-chances.
Action Images via Reuters
2/14 Kyle Walker – 5
Got forward well as demonstrated by Sterling’s second, but was sloppy a couple of times when in his own half, with one error nearly leading to a Schick goal.
AP
3/14 Michael Keane – 6
Solid performance overall from the Everton man, putting some rather inconsistent displays with his club behind him, despite the nervy moments at the start of the second.
AP
4/14 Harry Maguire – 6
Looked unconcerned throughout despite Vydra’s pre-match comments, was the most assured of all the defenders.
AP
5/14 Ben Chilwell – 6
Did well in the first half to get forward and offer Sterling an option, and was largely adept at the back limiting the number of Czech chances.
Action Images via Reuters
6/14 Jordan Henderson – 6
Shielded the back four relatively well and was also one the receiving end of some mistimed tackles, but helped England maintain the balance in midfield.
Getty Images
7/14 Eric Dier – 5
Was in the wars early on both giving and receiving hefty challenges, and the one from Soucek saw him go off in the 17th minute for Barkley.
Getty Images
8/14 Dele Alli – 6
ot one of his finest nights, but was involved in some nice play around the box in the first half. Southgate was obviously wary of managing his fitness.
AFP/Getty Images
9/14 Jadon Sancho – 8
Showed us why Dortmund fans have been so eager to see him each game this season. He added a lovely assist for Sterling’s first and there were plenty of displays of silky skills too.
AFP/Getty Images
10/14 Harry Kane – 7
A great defence-splitting pass to put in Sancho for the opening goal, before powering home a penalty right on half-time. Wasn’t as influential in the second half but did the damage when it counted.
PA
11/14 Raheem Sterling – 9
His composure in front of goal is now clear for all to see, the second in particular a beautifully taken effort on the turn. He was a nuisance all night and he deserved his hat-trick, taking his tally to 24 in all competitions this season.
REUTERS
12/14 Ross Barkley – 6
Willing runner behind the defence and picked up some good positions in the box after coming on for Dier. Gave the likes of Dele Alli a great option
Getty Images
13/14 Declan Rice – 5
One man who looked like the occasion got to him after coming on with some hesitant touches, but is certainly one for the future.
Getty
14/14 Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6
Yet to make a Premier League start, but Hudson-Odoi carried on the good work down the left-hand side and was unlucky he did not end up with a goal, despite his heavy involvement in Kalas’ own goal.
Getty
1/14 Jordan Pickford – 6
A virtual spectator tonight, and he will have a solid England defence and a poor Czech attack to thank for that. Looked shaky though during a couple of the Czech half-chances.
Action Images via Reuters
2/14 Kyle Walker – 5
Got forward well as demonstrated by Sterling’s second, but was sloppy a couple of times when in his own half, with one error nearly leading to a Schick goal.
AP
3/14 Michael Keane – 6
Solid performance overall from the Everton man, putting some rather inconsistent displays with his club behind him, despite the nervy moments at the start of the second.
AP
4/14 Harry Maguire – 6
Looked unconcerned throughout despite Vydra’s pre-match comments, was the most assured of all the defenders.
AP
5/14 Ben Chilwell – 6
Did well in the first half to get forward and offer Sterling an option, and was largely adept at the back limiting the number of Czech chances.
Action Images via Reuters
6/14 Jordan Henderson – 6
Shielded the back four relatively well and was also one the receiving end of some mistimed tackles, but helped England maintain the balance in midfield.
Getty Images
7/14 Eric Dier – 5
Was in the wars early on both giving and receiving hefty challenges, and the one from Soucek saw him go off in the 17th minute for Barkley.
Getty Images
8/14 Dele Alli – 6
ot one of his finest nights, but was involved in some nice play around the box in the first half. Southgate was obviously wary of managing his fitness.
AFP/Getty Images
9/14 Jadon Sancho – 8
Showed us why Dortmund fans have been so eager to see him each game this season. He added a lovely assist for Sterling’s first and there were plenty of displays of silky skills too.
AFP/Getty Images
10/14 Harry Kane – 7
A great defence-splitting pass to put in Sancho for the opening goal, before powering home a penalty right on half-time. Wasn’t as influential in the second half but did the damage when it counted.
PA
11/14 Raheem Sterling – 9
His composure in front of goal is now clear for all to see, the second in particular a beautifully taken effort on the turn. He was a nuisance all night and he deserved his hat-trick, taking his tally to 24 in all competitions this season.
REUTERS
12/14 Ross Barkley – 6
Willing runner behind the defence and picked up some good positions in the box after coming on for Dier. Gave the likes of Dele Alli a great option
Getty Images
13/14 Declan Rice – 5
One man who looked like the occasion got to him after coming on with some hesitant touches, but is certainly one for the future.
Getty
14/14 Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6
Yet to make a Premier League start, but Hudson-Odoi carried on the good work down the left-hand side and was unlucky he did not end up with a goal, despite his heavy involvement in Kalas’ own goal.
Getty
“The only apology we can give the fans is to go out and win the next game,” he said.
“We are all hurting. We’re fans as well. I followed the team as a young man and I was always proud to wear the jersey. And these guys are as well.
“They don’t mean to play badly. They don’t mean to have one off night. In recent months they have shown some great skills, some great results, and we just need to continue with a little bit of continuity in terms of selection of the squad.
“We just have to concentrate on winning the next game, and if we can do that, we try and win the game after that.
“It’s the first game. We know it’s hugely disappointing for the Scottish nation and we are gutted as well. I don’t like losing. It’s not a great feeling, believe me.
1/14 Jordan Pickford – 6
A virtual spectator tonight, and he will have a solid England defence and a poor Czech attack to thank for that. Looked shaky though during a couple of the Czech half-chances.
Action Images via Reuters
2/14 Kyle Walker – 5
Got forward well as demonstrated by Sterling’s second, but was sloppy a couple of times when in his own half, with one error nearly leading to a Schick goal.
AP
3/14 Michael Keane – 6
Solid performance overall from the Everton man, putting some rather inconsistent displays with his club behind him, despite the nervy moments at the start of the second.
AP
4/14 Harry Maguire – 6
Looked unconcerned throughout despite Vydra’s pre-match comments, was the most assured of all the defenders.
AP
5/14 Ben Chilwell – 6
Did well in the first half to get forward and offer Sterling an option, and was largely adept at the back limiting the number of Czech chances.
Action Images via Reuters
6/14 Jordan Henderson – 6
Shielded the back four relatively well and was also one the receiving end of some mistimed tackles, but helped England maintain the balance in midfield.
Getty Images
7/14 Eric Dier – 5
Was in the wars early on both giving and receiving hefty challenges, and the one from Soucek saw him go off in the 17th minute for Barkley.
Getty Images
8/14 Dele Alli – 6
ot one of his finest nights, but was involved in some nice play around the box in the first half. Southgate was obviously wary of managing his fitness.
AFP/Getty Images
9/14 Jadon Sancho – 8
Showed us why Dortmund fans have been so eager to see him each game this season. He added a lovely assist for Sterling’s first and there were plenty of displays of silky skills too.
AFP/Getty Images
10/14 Harry Kane – 7
A great defence-splitting pass to put in Sancho for the opening goal, before powering home a penalty right on half-time. Wasn’t as influential in the second half but did the damage when it counted.
PA
11/14 Raheem Sterling – 9
His composure in front of goal is now clear for all to see, the second in particular a beautifully taken effort on the turn. He was a nuisance all night and he deserved his hat-trick, taking his tally to 24 in all competitions this season.
REUTERS
12/14 Ross Barkley – 6
Willing runner behind the defence and picked up some good positions in the box after coming on for Dier. Gave the likes of Dele Alli a great option
Getty Images
13/14 Declan Rice – 5
One man who looked like the occasion got to him after coming on with some hesitant touches, but is certainly one for the future.
Getty
14/14 Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6
Yet to make a Premier League start, but Hudson-Odoi carried on the good work down the left-hand side and was unlucky he did not end up with a goal, despite his heavy involvement in Kalas’ own goal.
Getty
1/14 Jordan Pickford – 6
A virtual spectator tonight, and he will have a solid England defence and a poor Czech attack to thank for that. Looked shaky though during a couple of the Czech half-chances.
Action Images via Reuters
2/14 Kyle Walker – 5
Got forward well as demonstrated by Sterling’s second, but was sloppy a couple of times when in his own half, with one error nearly leading to a Schick goal.
AP
3/14 Michael Keane – 6
Solid performance overall from the Everton man, putting some rather inconsistent displays with his club behind him, despite the nervy moments at the start of the second.
AP
4/14 Harry Maguire – 6
Looked unconcerned throughout despite Vydra’s pre-match comments, was the most assured of all the defenders.
AP
5/14 Ben Chilwell – 6
Did well in the first half to get forward and offer Sterling an option, and was largely adept at the back limiting the number of Czech chances.
Action Images via Reuters
6/14 Jordan Henderson – 6
Shielded the back four relatively well and was also one the receiving end of some mistimed tackles, but helped England maintain the balance in midfield.
Getty Images
7/14 Eric Dier – 5
Was in the wars early on both giving and receiving hefty challenges, and the one from Soucek saw him go off in the 17th minute for Barkley.
Getty Images
8/14 Dele Alli – 6
ot one of his finest nights, but was involved in some nice play around the box in the first half. Southgate was obviously wary of managing his fitness.
AFP/Getty Images
9/14 Jadon Sancho – 8
Showed us why Dortmund fans have been so eager to see him each game this season. He added a lovely assist for Sterling’s first and there were plenty of displays of silky skills too.
AFP/Getty Images
10/14 Harry Kane – 7
A great defence-splitting pass to put in Sancho for the opening goal, before powering home a penalty right on half-time. Wasn’t as influential in the second half but did the damage when it counted.
PA
11/14 Raheem Sterling – 9
His composure in front of goal is now clear for all to see, the second in particular a beautifully taken effort on the turn. He was a nuisance all night and he deserved his hat-trick, taking his tally to 24 in all competitions this season.
REUTERS
12/14 Ross Barkley – 6
Willing runner behind the defence and picked up some good positions in the box after coming on for Dier. Gave the likes of Dele Alli a great option
Getty Images
13/14 Declan Rice – 5
One man who looked like the occasion got to him after coming on with some hesitant touches, but is certainly one for the future.
Getty
14/14 Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6
Yet to make a Premier League start, but Hudson-Odoi carried on the good work down the left-hand side and was unlucky he did not end up with a goal, despite his heavy involvement in Kalas’ own goal.
Getty
“We have to believe the group stage is going to have twists and turns. We know there’s a clear favourite but we think there will be blips along the way.”
McLeish has Andy Robertson, Callum Paterson and Ryan Fraser available after they missed the Kazakhstan game – the Liverpool left-back with a dental problem and the latter two because of an agreement that they would not play on the artificial pitch.
And the Scotland boss is determined to focus on the future rather than pore over their humbling in the Astana Arena.
“We didn’t have a debrief per se,” the 60-year-old said. “Obviously the lads are hurting by the result, because people expected us just to turn up and win. We know football is a little bit different to those kinds of expectations but you have to be at your best and we weren’t at our best, and we admit that.
“They knew. And it’s a very quick turnover in terms of the two games. We travelled seven or eight hours on Friday so in terms of the turnover, it’s difficult to dwell on something that was very negative while we can get ourselves immersed in the future and the next game.”
McLeish was even less willing to reflect in his pre-match media conference on what people are calling Scotland’s worst result.
“I have not thought about that,” he said. “The only thing I am thinking about is the game tomorrow night. I’m not a dweller on history, so I look forward to the next game.”
When asked whether he would expect to still be in his position if Scotland did not beat San Marino, he said: “I don’t deal with speculative issues and speculative questions. We just prepare the very best with the squad we have and we look to the guys to perform to their top level.”
PA