European Championship Qualifying
ScotlandScotland0IsraelIsrael0
Scotland win 5-3 on penalties

Scotland 0-0 Israel (5-3 pens): Scots one game from Euro 2020 after shootout

By Scott MullenBBC Sport Scotland
Kenny McLean's penalty sparked wild celebrations among the Scotland players
Kenny McLean's penalty sparked wild celebrations among the Scotland players

Scotland are one game away from their first major finals since 1998 after a nerve-shredding win on penalties against Israel at Hampden.

Kenny McLean scored the pivotal spot-kick in the depleted Scots' first ever shootout, with only a victory in Serbia on 12 November now separating Steve Clarke's men from Euro 2020.

It was a turgid affair at an empty national stadium between two below-par teams, but five perfect penalties from the hosts have a nation daring to dream of reaching a long-awaited tournament.

Scotland, without a clutch of players after call-offs due to Covid-19 protocols and injury, are now on a six-game unbeaten run.

Serbia lie in wait in the play-off finals after they defeated Norway 2-1 in extra time in Oslo.

Hoping for the best, fearing the worst. The mantra of every Scotland fan following the match across the land. Was it now, or would it continue to be never?

As the Tartan Army dared to whisper of the former, the preamble silenced much of the chatter.

Stuart Armstrong, Kieran Tierney, Ryan Christie, Scott McKenna, Liam Palmer, James Forrest and Oliver Burke all ruled out - the first three amid Covid controversy.

What followed in the fledgling moments of this encounter would have offered modest reassurance. While seeing plenty of the ball, Scotland struggled to serve the front two of Oli McBurnie and Lyndon Dykes.

Instead, the hosts' best efforts came from set-pieces. Andy Robertson arced a free-kick wide in a half chance before Scott McTominay missed a jaw-dropping chance, steering a header the wrong side of the post from six yards when left all alone.

The noise of the Manchester United man - playing again in a back three - chastising himself for the miss walking off at the break the only thing cutting through the Hampden silence.

Scott McTominay's header
Scott McTominay's free header grazed the outside of the post in the first half

Scotland captain Robertson was four years old the last time the country graced a major tournament, and the pressure seemed to suffocate him and his team-mates.

While the back three looked steady, there was little intensity going forward, minimal width and nothing for Ofir Marciano to do in the Israel goal.

Instead, the team ranked 93rd in the world were the ones to get the only shot of the 90 minutes on target, Eran Zahavi's zinger from distance being dealt with by David Marshall.

The game limped over the line into extra time - Scotland's first added half hour since 1961 - with what was likely to have been a unified sigh of resignation across the country.

Substitute Ryan Fraser brought intent and conviction to the side, the Newcastle winger sparking flickers of intent, but again Marciano's gloves remained immaculate. Twenty two years of hurt down, 15 minutes to play.

The agonising torture of Scotland's first penalty shootout seemed inevitable, but Israel offered one huge heart-in-mouth moment.

Celtic's Hatem Elhamed's cross was missed by Liam Cooper. Lurking behind was Shon Weissman, but the Real Valladolid striker's outstretched leg missed it too. The cracks in the fingers contracted tighter.

Then the nerves were shredded further. A last-gasp Robertson corner found the head of Cooper. His connection was true, but the ball crashed off an upright and out of play to signal penalties.

Scotland were now into uncharted waters. Nothing up until this point suggested how plain sailing it would be.

John McGinn, Callum McGregor, McTominay, Lawrence Shankland and McLean all scored, with Marshall saving Zehavi's opening spot kick. It trigger delirium on the pitch, at homes everywhere, and no doubt on streets outside of pubs that closed - or were supposed to, at least - halfway through extra time.

It's safe to come out from the back of the sofa, but best keep the spot warm for next month.

Man of the match

Kenny McLean
While Declan Gallagher was assured at the back, the winner of the man-of-the-match award was always going to go to whoever scored the winner. Well done Kenny McLean, a nation salutes you.

What did we learn?

Not as much what did we learn, but what were we reminded of? Watching Scotland should come with a health warning.

This is a national team that for so many years has threatened to be consumed by the beast of a two-decade burden of regret, angst and humiliation. While Israel didn't threaten for the most part, the group of players in dark blue struggled to find their rhythm.

But, it wouldn't be Scotland unless it was done the hard way. While Clarke will say Slovakia and Czech Republic in the Nations League in coming days will get due respect, the focus internally will surely be on preparing for Serbia. With an influx of players returning, you just never know...

Match stats

  • This was Scotland's first goalless draw in 55 matches, since November 2013 against United States.
  • Scotland have gone six games without defeat in all competitions (W4 D2) for the first time since being unbeaten in seven matches under Gordon Strachan in October 2017.
  • Only one of the game's 29 shots was on target - Eran Zahavi's attempt for Israel in the 72nd minute.
  • It was the first time Scotland have not had a shot on target at home since the game against Belgium in September 2013.

What's next?

Scotland's focus now falls to Sunday's visit of Slovakia to Hampden in the Nations League, then the arrival of the Czechs on Wednesday. Honestly...

Player of the match

JackRyan Jack

with an average of 7.47

Scotland

  1. Squad number8Player nameJack
    Average rating

    7.47

  2. Squad number11Player nameMcBurnie
    Average rating

    4.90

  3. Squad number1Player nameMarshall
    Average rating

    4.57

  4. Squad number14Player nameMcLean
    Average rating

    4.38

  5. Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
    Average rating

    4.34

  6. Squad number9Player nameDykes
    Average rating

    4.32

  7. Squad number19Player nameShankland
    Average rating

    4.17

  8. Squad number3Player nameRobertson
    Average rating

    4.10

  9. Squad number6Player nameCooper
    Average rating

    3.98

  10. Squad number4Player nameMcTominay
    Average rating

    3.82

  11. Squad number17Player nameFraser
    Average rating

    3.78

  12. Squad number5Player nameGallagher
    Average rating

    3.63

  13. Squad number10Player nameMcGregor
    Average rating

    3.56

  14. Squad number13Player namePaterson
    Average rating

    3.41

  15. Squad number2Player nameO'Donnell
    Average rating

    3.21

Israel

  1. Squad number2Player nameDasa
    Average rating

    6.26

  2. Squad number11Player nameSolomon
    Average rating

    5.97

  3. Squad number7Player nameZahavi
    Average rating

    5.85

  4. Squad number10Player nameDabbur
    Average rating

    5.84

  5. Squad number18Player nameMarciano
    Average rating

    5.72

  6. Squad number17Player nameElhamed
    Average rating

    5.70

  7. Squad number6Player nameNatcho
    Average rating

    5.69

  8. Squad number16Player nameAbu Fani
    Average rating

    5.69

  9. Squad number22Player nameGolasa
    Average rating

    5.67

  10. Squad number21Player nameTibi
    Average rating

    5.60

  11. Squad number9Player nameWeissman
    Average rating

    5.60

  12. Squad number12Player nameYeini
    Average rating

    5.53

  13. Squad number4Player nameBitton
    Average rating

    5.45

  14. Squad number19Player nameElmkies
    Average rating

    4.99

Line-ups

Scotland

Formation 3-4-1-2

  • 1Marshall
  • 4McTominay
  • 5Gallagher
  • 6Cooper
  • 2O'Donnell Substituted forMcLeanat 113'minutes
  • 8Jack Substituted forFraserat 83'minutesBooked at 105mins
  • 10McGregor
  • 3Robertson
  • 7McGinnBooked at 58mins
  • 9Dykes Substituted forPatersonat 91'minutesBooked at 119mins
  • 11McBurnie Substituted forShanklandat 73'minutes

Substitutes

  • 12McLaughlin
  • 13Paterson
  • 14McLean
  • 15Porteous
  • 16Fleck
  • 17Fraser
  • 18Taylor
  • 19Shankland
  • 21McCrorie

Israel

Formation 5-3-2

  • 18Marciano
  • 2Dasa
  • 4BittonBooked at 55mins
  • 21Tibi
  • 12Yeini
  • 17Elhamed
  • 22Golasa Substituted forElmkiesat 101'minutes
  • 6NatchoBooked at 12mins Substituted forAbu Faniat 69'minutes
  • 11Solomon
  • 10Dabbur Substituted forWeissmanat 83'minutesBooked at 87mins
  • 7Zahavi

Substitutes

  • 1Harush
  • 3Menachem
  • 5Dgani
  • 8Lavi
  • 9Weissman
  • 13Saba
  • 14Karzev
  • 15Arad
  • 16Abu Fani
  • 19Elmkies
  • 20Abu Hanna
  • 23Nitzan
Referee:
Ovidiu Hategan

Match Stats

Home TeamScotlandAway TeamIsrael
Possession
Home42%
Away58%
Shots
Home17
Away12
Shots on Target
Home0
Away1
Corners
Home4
Away4
Fouls
Home16
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Scotland 0(5), Israel 0(3).

  2. Penalties over

    Penalty Shootout ends, Scotland 0(5), Israel 0(3).

  3. Post update

    Goal! Scotland 0(5), Israel 0(3). Kenny McLean (Scotland) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  4. Post update

    Goal! Scotland 0(4), Israel 0(3). Mohammad Abu Fani (Israel) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

  5. Post update

    Goal! Scotland 0(4), Israel 0(2). Lawrence Shankland (Scotland) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  6. Post update

    Goal! Scotland 0(3), Israel 0(2). Shon Weissman (Israel) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.

  7. Post update

    Goal! Scotland 0(3), Israel 0(1). Scott McTominay (Scotland) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  8. Post update

    Goal! Scotland 0(2), Israel 0(1). Nir Bitton (Israel) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.

  9. Post update

    Goal! Scotland 0(2), Israel 0. Callum McGregor (Scotland) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.

  10. Post update

    Penalty saved! Eran Zahavi (Israel) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.

  11. Post update

    Goal! Scotland 0(1), Israel 0. John McGinn (Scotland) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  12. Penalties in progress

    Penalty Shootout begins Scotland 0, Israel 0.

  13. Post update

    Second Half Extra Time ends, Scotland 0, Israel 0.

  14. Post update

    Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Sheran Yeini.

  15. Post update

    Liam Cooper (Scotland) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross following a corner.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Ilay Elmkies.

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Andrew Robertson (Scotland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by John McGinn.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Shon Weissman (Israel).

  19. Post update

    Andrew Robertson (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Offside, Israel. Nir Bitton tries a through ball, but Shon Weissman is caught offside.

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2 Czech Rep 8 5 0 3 13 11 2 15
3 Kosovo 8 3 2 3 13 16 -3 11
4 Bulgaria 8 1 3 4 6 17 -11 6
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2 Portugal 8 5 2 1 22 6 16 17
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2 Netherlands 8 6 1 1 24 7 17 19
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Team P W D L F A GD Pts
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2 Denmark 8 4 4 0 23 6 17 16
3 Republic of Ireland 8 3 4 1 7 5 2 13
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2 Sweden 10 6 3 1 23 9 14 21
3 Norway 10 4 5 1 19 11 8 17
4 Romania 10 4 2 4 17 15 2 14
5 Faroe Islands 10 1 0 9 4 30 -26 3
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2 Austria 10 6 1 3 19 9 10 19
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4 Slovenia 10 4 2 4 16 11 5 14
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1 Belgium 10 10 0 0 40 3 37 30
2 Football Union of Russia 10 8 0 2 33 8 25 24
3 Scotland 10 5 0 5 16 19 -3 15
4 Cyprus 10 3 1 6 15 20 -5 10
5 Kazakhstan 10 3 1 6 13 17 -4 10
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1 Italy 10 10 0 0 37 4 33 30
2 Finland 10 6 0 4 16 10 6 18
3 Greece 10 4 2 4 12 14 -2 14
4 Bos-Herze 10 4 1 5 20 17 3 13
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