Scotland vs Greece LIVE: Nations League play-off updates as rampant Greece relegate hosts to League B
Scotland 0-3 Greece: Clarke’s side are relegated to League B after a hapless showing at Hampden Park
Scotland were relegated to Nations League B as they fell to a 3-0 defeat to Greece in the second leg of their relegation play-off on Sunday night.
The hosts started off well at Hampden Park and created some early chances but were sucker-punched in the 20th minute when Giannis Konstantelias swept in a good finish to level the tie.
It remained an even match as half-time approached but it was Greece who struck again to take the lead, with a well-worked move ending in Konstantinos Karetsas curling an inch-perfect finish into the top corner.
Scotland desperately needed to regroup at the break but started the second half in the worst possible way, as Greece got forward quickly and Christos Tzolis’ accomplished finish effectively ended the tie.
From there it was all too comfortable for Greece and too pedestrian from the hosts, as Scotland fell to relegation with a disappointing showing to end the 24/25 season.
Follow all the latest updates with our live blog below:
Scotland vs Greece LIVE
We’re just 10 minutes from kick-off here, and the atmosphere is starting to build at Hampden Park.
Both teams will be in the tunnel soon enough.
Kick-off fast approaching
Just 15 minutes until kick-off at Hampden Park in what is a crucial outing for Scotland’s Nations League aspirations.
Steve Clarke’s side go into the second leg with the advantage after Scott McTominay’s first-half penalty and a remarkable second-half defensive stand earned them a valuable away win in Athens on Thursday.
Scotland are looking to maintain their status in League A, while Greece will seek promotion from League B.
All the action, coming up next. Don’t go anywhere.
Anthony Gordon pulls out of England squad with ‘worrying’ injury
Across the Scottish border, there’s worries for England and Newcastle.
Anthony Gordon has been forced to withdraw from the England squad through injury ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
The winger has returned to his club side Newcastle United after picking up a hip problem when he came on as a substitute during the 2-0 win over Albania on Friday evening.
The 24-year-old only entered the fray on 74 minutes but suffered what appeared to be a hip problem during his 15 minutes of play, which saw him limp off down the tunnel at the final whistle.
Anthony Gordon pulls out of England squad with ‘worrying’ injury
Bumper day of Nations League action
Scotland’s clash with Greece is only the start of a bumper day of action in the Nations League this Sunday.
In two other notable play-offs, the Republic of Ireland face Bulgaria while Belgium play host to Ukraine, with both Ireland and Belgium returning to home soil with advantages from the away legs.
But it’s in the Nations League quarter-finals where the big hitters come to play.
There are two major heavyweight clashes as Germany take on Italy, while the Netherlands travel to Spain - a tie that hangs in the balance after playing out a 2-2 draw in the first leg.
France also take on Croatia in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final, while Portugal host Denmark. Both Croatia and Denmark are on course to pull off an upset win over their respective opponents after emerging victorious at home in midweek.
How things fared in the first leg
Scott McTominay scored the only goal of the game as Scotland survived a second-half barrage from Greece in their Nations League play-off in Athens.
The Napoli midfielder netted a penalty he had won in the 33rd minute of the first leg and the Scots spurned a couple of other chances before the break.
An impressive performance began to flounder in the second half when 17-year-old Genk-born attacker Konstantinos Karetsas came on to make his debut for the home side, after making the switch from Belgium, for whom he had played at various youth levels.
Steve Clarke’s side withstood relentless pressure from the Greeks who hit the woodwork, although keeper Craig Gordon was not called upon to make too many saves.
The full match report from Athens:
Scotland survive Greece onslaught to earn slender lead in Nations League play-off
Greece team news
Greece boss Ivan Jovanovic has made six changes to the side that lost 1-0 in the first leg.
At full-back, Lazaros Rota and Kostas Tsimikas are replaced by Georgios Vagiannidis and Dimitris Giannoulis, while in central midfield, Emmanouil Siopis and Petros Mantalos go out in favour of Christos Mouzakitis and Christos Zafeiris.
In attack, Giorgos Masouras drops out for Konstantinos Karetsas, while Vangelis Pavlidis leads the line as he starts over Fotis Ioannidis.
Greece line-up
Greece XI: Tzolakis, Vagiannidis, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Giannoulis; Mouzakitis, Zafeiris; Konstantelias, Karetsas, Tzolis; Pavlidis.
Subs: Vlachodimos, Mandas, Retsos, Masouras, Pelkas, Rota, Fountas, Ioannidis, Chatzidiakos, Mantalos, Tsimikas, Galanopalous.
Team news
Scotland boss Steve Clarke has made just one change to the side that beat Greece in the first leg on Thursday.
Ryan Christie comes in to replace Lewis Ferguson, with the Bournemouth man staying on the left wing.
Che Adams leads the line again, with Scott McTominay in the attacking midfield role.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments