Scotland do 'dirty side' but Greece tie 'not dead'

BBC News

21-03-2025

Scotland showed "a different side" to their game as they beat Greece in the first leg of their Nations League A play-off, according to head coach Steve Clarke.Scott McTominay's first-half penalty was the only goal in Piraeus, but Clarke's side had to withstand substantial pressure in the second half. Anthony Ralston did superbly to put Christos Tzolis off and divert the Greece forward's effort onto the post, while centre-back partners Grant Hanley and John Souttar were colossal as the hosts penned Scotland in.Greece - who also had a penalty award overturned and a goal disallowed - had 24 shots on goal in total, but only forced goalkeeper Craig Gordon into one save."We knew they would come at us second half," Clarke said. "We didn't quite manage to regain our rhythm so we had to show a different side to our game."Two of the defenders don't play regularly at their clubs - Anthony Ralston and Grant Hanley. They go in there and do a great job."You defend as a team. We were under a lot of pressure. But it wasn't like Craig was making save after save after save."
Lewis Ferguson - in his first Scotland game for almost a year following his return from knee surgery - was keen to shine a light on the "dirty side" of the performance."We knew we were going to have to weather the storm," the Bologna captain said. "We could have been calmer on the ball, but you need to show that side of the game if you're going to get results away from home - the dirty side, the running, tackling, blocking, heading."Scotland could have been further in front at the break in a fine first-half display.Billy Gilmour shanked wide, Che Adams shot straight at Konstantinos Tzolakis with the goal at his mercy, and the Torino striker then fired another effort across the face of goal as Scotland repeatedly hurt Greece in transitional moments.Clarke praised how his players troubled their hosts, but is taking nothing for granted before Sunday's return leg at Hampden - live on the BBC - as Scotland try to preserve their top-tier status in Nations League."First half we were really good, we could've been two in front," he added. "If I'm being greedy I could say three. This game is not dead yet. No way."
'Souttar & Hanley were giants' - the pundits' view
This was a win built on Scotland's rearguard, a victory for grit and bloody-mindedness. Greece's 24 shots was their highest total in a single match in the 2024-25 Nations League. Not since 2007 in victory against France have Scotland faced more shots (27) and kept a clean sheet.Hanley, Souttar and Ralston made 32 clearances between them as the Scots repelled cross after cross. Ralston also won all eight of his duels on the night despite struggling for game time at club side Celtic. "It was incredible how dominant Greece were in the second half and how well Scotland defended," former Scotland defender Willie Miller said."Souttar and Hanley at the heart of defence were immense - they were giants out there. Anything crossed in was a magnet for Hanley's head."We rode our luck a little bit, but there are many ways to win a game."Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin says the result is a reflection of how far the national team have come under Clarke's management."The Greeks really turned it up in the second half, but Steve Clarke has taught Scotland different ways to win," he said on Sportsound."Hanley and Souttar gave nothing away at the back and the Scotland fans are enjoying themselves."
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