Might just be a delayed reaction to the final 60 seconds of the first half, unless I’m watching the wrong game.
It’s been a midfield battle from the start and that shows no signs of relenting as the game ebbs toward its conclusion.A word for striker Lyndon Dykes who has had to work off scraps but has held up the ball brilliantly at times. First, Israel were denied by a solid David Marshall save after The normally deadly striker headed the ball straight at the keeper and the sense of a serious let off was underlined when moments later The second half was more of the same with neither team having the better of an attritional battle for midfield supremacy.Israel pressed forward in search of an equaliser and got their reward when Eran Zahavi broke free and rifled his 20th international goal past a despairing David Marshall.Willibald Ruttensteiner's men were the better side as the game came to a close but were unable to find a moment of inspiration to give them a second goal.Relive all the action as it happened in our blog below.An uninspired performance from Scotland saw the Nations League campaign begin with a whimper.
The play-off final, which would take Scotland to Norway or Serbia if they beat Israel, will be held on 12 November before the final two matches of the Nations League fixtures take place in the following week.All 12 original Euro 2020 host venues, including Hampden, will stage games at the rearranged finals in June and July next year.Rangers are yet to find out whether they will play Leverkusen at their own stadium or elsewhere in Germany, with a one-legged knockout tournament set to be held in Cologne, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen for the last eight from 10-21 August.
Start your Independent Premium subscription today.Scotland will face Israel on 8 October in their delayed Rangers will play the second leg of their Europa League clash against Bayer Leverkusen on 5/6 August, with the remainder of the tournament also taking place in Germany later in the month.Uefa took the decision to fit the European Championship play-offs in at the start of the October and November international windows.
Seven minutes into the second half and the game’s settled back into the nothingness that characterised the first 42 minutes.A strangely uneventful game exploded into life and turned in two key moments right at the end of the first half, writes Jonny McFarlane.First, Israel were denied by a solid David Marshall save after Scott McTominay allowed Moanes Dabour space at the back post.The normally deadly striker headed the ball straight at the keeper but he was so close Marshall had no time to react and still deserves major credit for getting in the way.It felt like a let-off and that sense was underlined when moments later John McGinn got on the end of a clever Dykes knock-down and was brought down by a flailing leg for a penalty.Ryan Christie blasted the ball into the top corner with an emphatic spot-kick.All to play for in the Second half but it’s advantage to Scotland.It was a goal Steve Clarke’s side more than deserved, if you discount the opening 44 minutes.John McGinn fouled in the box. The subsequent two rounds are in the following fortnight.Glasgow City face a mini-tournament in Spain to complete their Women’s Champions League campaign. Steve Clarke's side face Israel in the Euro 2021 playoffs Credit: PA:Press Association. Scotland have drawn Israel in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-finals as they aim to reach their first major finals in 22 years. They are due to face Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals on 21/22 August with the final taking place on 30 August. A disappointing evening for Clarke’s men at Hampden.An absolutely dire encounter, and one that Scotland dropped points in despite having led at half-time thanks to Ryan Christie’s penalty. Zahavi levelled for Israel with 17 minutes remaining, and with the exception of a half-chance for substitute Stuart Armstrong Scotland never looked like winning.
Matches will be held in Bilbao and San Sebastian.Scotland then take on Israel in the play-offs before home Nations League games against Slovakia and Czech Republic in the October international breakIndependent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium.
Israel gave the ball away in the box but Ofir Marciano raced off his line to deny Stuart Armstrong.Stuart Armstrong and his hair have just come on for John McGinn.‘Scotland don’t do draws generally” says Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker, with 15 minutes remaining.
Scotland National Team Scottish Cup Scotland National Team Scottish Cup Scottish FA The Scottish Football Association Ltd, Hampden Park, Glasgow G42 9AY | T: +44 (0) 141 616 6000 Zahavi plays a lovely one-two and thrashes the ball past David Marshall. Scotland will face Israel on 8 October in their delayed Euro 2020 play-off.