[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Scotland succumbed to a 3-2 Hampden Park defeat at the hands of World Champions Germany, severely denting their Euro 2016 qualification hopes.
Whilst a win was always unlikely, Ireland’s 1-0 win at home to Georgia further compounded the Scots misery. With two games remaining, Strachan’s side now sit four points behind their play-off rivals.
Although hey made a good fist of it, Scotland’s night was largely an exercise in stopping the Germans’ and their superb pass and move game. Yet they had to wait until the 18 minute for slippery space maker Thomas Muller to open the scoring.
Spirits were lifted just 10 minutes later when Shaun Maloney’s effort was parried into the path of Mats Hummels by the usually dependable Manuel Neuer, the Dortmund defender helpless in putting the ball over the line for a Scotland equaliser.
Muller once again put his side in front, yet again against the run of play Scotland equalised, this time James McArthur converting from a corner.
Germany continued to press whilst their hosts harried the ball in equal measure, a superb 54th minute team goal by the excellent Ilkay Gundogan was enough for the visitors to claim all three points – further emphasising the gulf in quality between the two sides,
many, Scotland
The league table may look grim, Scotland however will be encouraged that the standard has picked up from their previous 1-0 defeat to Georgia. Assuming they can get two wins in their remaining fixtures, the Rep Ireland must claim something from tricky games against Poland and Germany to prevent the Scots leap frogging them into the play-off positions..
Stranger things have of course happened.
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