Key events
67 min: “Given that Hungary have volunteered to (or have been press-ganged into) hosting Euro qualifiers for other nations, do they (the Hungarian FA) get paid for the inconvenience of doing so?”
It’s a good question. You would think so, although I don’t know for sure regarding Israel v Italy. Certainly for this game, the the Football Federation of Belarus had the choice of venue and they plumped for Zalaegerszeg, despite Hungary not bordering Belarus. It’s not entirely clear why they made that choice.
GOAL! Belarus 0-2 Scotland (OG Volkov, 64)
A crucial second goal for Scotland! Is that the game?! Gilmour and Adams combine neatly on the edge of the box, the latter floating a delicious through ball. Gilmour squares the ball towards McTominay in the middle, but Volkov heads into his own net in attempting to reach the cross!
60 min: On the hour mark, let’s check on some live scores in the World Cup qualifiers across Europe. “Shocking scoreline from Kosovo where the Swedes are 2-0 down!” notes Dean Kinsella.
Italy have just gone from 2-1 down to 3-2 up after two goals in five minutes against Israel. That is a game that is also taking place in Hungary, for fairly obvious reasons.
59 min: This isn’t a vintage McTominay performance, but Scotland’s talisman looks the most likely to increase his side’s lead. The Napoli midfielder traps the ball nicely on the turn and shoots wildly with his weaker left foot into row Z. Still, you have to buy a ticket.
57 min: It will be interesting to see if Belarus come a little bit more out of their shell as they chase an equaliser. Ten men behind the ball isn’t going to cut it now.
54 min: Big chance for McTominay! In a move not dissimilar to the opening goal, McGinn crosses from the right and finds McTominay in the box, within the width of the two posts, but the Napoli marksman can only glance his header straight at Lapoukhov. Either side of the Belarusian keeper and that was 2-0.
52 min: Roles reversed as Kalinin leaves his mark on Ferguson in midfield. It’s a really nasty challenge actually, with Kalinin’s studs imprinted on the top of Ferguson’s foot. Another yellow card is dished out.
50 min: Yellow card for Gannon-Doak, who clatters into the back of Ebong when there was no need. Senseless.
47 min: Belarus have made two changes. Pigas for Karpovich, who was given a torrid time by Gannon-Doak in the first half. Perhaps more surprisingly, the lively Malashevich is off. In his place, the highly-rated teenager Melnichenko, who plays his club football for Porto, although the 18-year-old is yet to break into the first time there.
Peeeeeeeeep!
We’re off again in Hungary.
Half-time reading:
“It’s only bloody well coming home, Michael”, emails Simon McMahon. “I can see it now, the POTUS wearing a kilt and a MSGA bunnet, handing the trophy to Andy Robertson.”
Half-time: Belarus 0-1 Scotland
A sluggish half that finished with a fine goal. Gannon-Doak has been the only real spark for Scotland.
45 min: Clarke admitted he would take a 1-0 win before the game. Well, now Scotland have something to defend.
44 min: Should mention that just before the goal, Scotland nearly took the lead through Gilmour, who tried his luck from range and forced Lapoukhov to tip a clumsy save onto the post. After a couple of further phases of play, Adams scored.
GOAL! Belarus 0-1 Scotland (Adams 42)
A massive goal for Scotland, who could easily be behind but now take the lead! It’s a well constructed goal, as McGinn crosses to the back post, McTominay leaps like a Scottish salmon at the back post to nod the ball back across goal and Adams is there to tap the ball in from close range, stabbing home on the stretch. Good goal and a great time to get it, just before half-time.
40 min: Huge chance for Belarus! A lay-off towards the offside Malashevich is left alone by the forward. Instead Ebong runs from deep – and from an onside position – to catch Johnston and the rest of Scotland’s defence cold, and suddenly Belarus’ captain has a free run at goal! A heavy touch allows Gunn to close the angle and the Forest keeper makes a big save to keep the scores level! What a let off for Scotland! That heavy touch was decisive.
39 min: This is increasingly a poor performance from Scotland.
37 min: Belarus punt a long ball forward and Malashevich threatens to get in behind Scotland’s defence, but Gunn comes off his line well to quell the danger. That was well judged from Scotland’s keeper.
34 min: In the other match in this group, Denmark have taken a first-half lead over Greece! Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard has scored to make it 1-0! That means Denmark are now top of the group, as things stand with four points. Greece second with three points, Scotland third with two points, Belarus fourth with one.
32 min: Another penalty shout for Scotland! And this one is a decent one, as Parkhomenko clatters into McTominay right on the edge of Belarus’ penalty box! It’s a clear penalty for me – Parkhomenko gets nothing of the ball and bundles into McTominay – but the referee waves play on, and VAR do not intervene! Strange decision!
30 min: McTominay goes close! Johnston is effectively playing as a right winger – Belarus have a back five – and the Derby County defender’s first-time cross loops towards McTominay in the middle. The former Manchester United man stabs at a finish and studs the ball just inches wide of the post. That is the closest the visitors have come. Better from Scotland.
28 min: “Evening Michael,” emails Simon McMahon. “This is the type of fixture that strikes fear into the heart of every Scotland supporter. A closed door fixture against the group whipping boys who have just been thrashed by a rival in their previous fixture. A win and we’d be in a great position in the group, given that Greece and Denmark play each other tonight too. But we’ve been here before, in qualifying and in finals. I’m thinking Estonia, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Iran, Costa Rica…”
26 min: McTominay is fouled and Robertson has a good chance to fling a cross into Belarus’ box from the set piece. The Liverpool left back obliges with a beautifully-flighted curler towards Souttar, but the Scotland defender is crowded out and can’t divert a header on target.
24 min: Belarus have had 12.7% possession but this is a fine display from the ‘home side’, given they were 4-0 down to Greece at half-time in their last match.
22 min: In Belarus’ goal, Lapoukhov has twice claimed two testing crosses from Scotland’s right flank. Good keeping.
20 min: The tempo has gone out of the game slightly. The lack of fans is certainly having an effect.
17 min: Encouraging signs for Belarus and it’s Pyachenin at the heart of both moves. The left back wins a back-post header to test Gunn for the first time and then Pyachenin beats McGinn with a bit if skill before zinging a brilliant cross across the face of Scotland’s goal. Only an excellent glancing defensive header from Souttar clears the dangers for Scotland. Barkovskiy was lurking.
15 min: From the corner, Scotland work something off the training ground to feed McTominay on the penalty spot … he wafts a right foot at the ball but slices wildly!
14 min: Scotland claim for a penalty! Gannon-Doak leads a counter-attack and squares the ball to McGinn, who goes right to Gilmour. The Napoli midfielder goes down in the box under a clumsy challenge, but Zabelin just gets a toe on the ball, and the referee signals for a corner.
12 min: It’s Scotland with the majority of possession, but Belarus are defending deep and forcing the visitors to be patient. Johnston is increasingly high from right back, but Gannon-Doak looks like the best outlet.
10 min: This is a VERY Covid-esque atmosphere. I’m getting flashbacks of staying up too late and eating mountains of crisps.
8 min: Steve Clarke does not look overly content on the Scotland bench. This is his 70th match in charge of his country. He is dangerously close to becoming the longest-serving Scotland manager in terms of games overseen.
6 min: Malashevich uses his pace to sprint behind McKenna but the defender – now at Dinamo Zagreb of course – uses his experience to shepherd the attacker to the byline and concedes the corner, which comes to nothing.
4 min: Promising signs for Scotland on the left as Gannon-Doak ghosts past Karpovich to reach the byline but it’s a poor cross from the Scotland winger and easily cleared at the near post. Gannon-Doak made it look easy there though.
2 min: Adams goes down in a heap as he gets a nasty nudge in the back from Volkov. A nice welcome to the game from the Belarusian defender.
Peeeeeeeeeep!
And we’re off in Hungary!
Looks like Ebong will captain Belarus tonight. It’s a much changed side from the XI that lost heavily to Greece. Belarus are the world’s 97th-ranked team, and have not fared well since Uefa and Fifa imposed the current sanctions, winning just three of their 11 competitive matches under the new rules.
The players are out! It’s an eery atmosphere in Zalaegerszeg as the teams make their way out onto the pitch in front of the empty stands. Reminscent of Covid times, although it does give us an opportunity to hear the visiting players belt out a rendition of Flower of Scotland. I can’t say that I am familiar with Belarus’ national anthem but I do know that their players are absolutely dreadful singers, to a man. Let’s hope for a better performance on the pitch.
This piece is worth your time.
Looks like Scotland are moving from the 4-4-2 against Denmark back to a more familiar 4-2-3-1. That is Adams leading the line, McTominay in the No 10 role, Doak-Gammon on the left and McGinn on the right wing. Only four players – Denis Law (30), Kenny Dalglish (30), Hughie Gallacher (23) and Lawrie Reilly (22) – have more goals than McGinn (20), who is a canny presence in that more advanced role.
Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson are the two sitting midfielders in front of the back four. Ryan Christie is unlucky to miss out, having started against Denmark. Scotland’s strength in depth is impressive these days. I’d also be interested in seeing both Lennon Miller and Kieron Bowie off the bench, the latter moving recently from Motherwell to Udinese.
Monday’s Football Daily is here for your reading pleasure.
Scotland will be wary of Belarusian striker Herman Barkouski, who came off the bench to score Belarus’ only goal in the 5-1 defeat to Greece. Standing at 6ft3in, the forward will certainly keep be a physical match for Souttar and McKenna.
At the other end, interesting that Clarke has gone with Adams as his No 9 over Dykes. Remember, Scotland also have George Hirst to come off the bench as well. Veteran captain Aleksandr Martynovich will be tasked with marking Adams.
Perhaps a little surprising to see Clarke make FOUR changes from the side that drew with Denmark. The introduction of Gannon-Doak and Gilmour was expected given that Scotland will have more of the ball and look to be more enterprising against Belarus, but changing McKenna for Hanley at centre back and Johnston for Hickey at right back is something of a surprise.
The teams!
Belarus: Lapoukhov, Karpovich, Parkhomenko, Volkov, Zabelin, Pechenin, Myakish, Kalinin, Ebong, Malashevich, Barkovsky.
Subs: Ignatovich, Pavlyuchenko, Martynovich, Demchenko, Gromyko, Yablonskiy, Korzun, Malkevich, Kovalev, Pasevich, Pigas, Melnichenko.
Scotland: Gunn, Johnston, Souttar, McKenna, Robertson, Ferguson, Gilmour, McGinn, McTominay, Doak, Adams.
Subs: Kelly, Clark, Hickey, Hanley, Doig, Dykes, Christie, Hendry, Miller, Hirst, Bowie, McLean.
Referee: Nikola Dabanovic (Montenegro)
Preamble
Scotland’s 0-0 away draw in Denmark, the top seeds in Group C, meant Steve Clarke and co secured a valuable point at the beginning of their qualifying campaign as the Scots bid to play in their first World Cup since 1998.
But if the Danish draw was a result built on resilience and caution, the onus will now be on Scotland to go and win tonight against Belarus, surely the weakest team in this group and also hampered by no home support here – Monday’s match will take place in Hungary in front of precisely zero fans, owing to Uefa-imposed sanctions related to the Belarus’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. If that is a huge blow for Belarus, it is also disappointing for the Tartan Army – the city of Zalaegerszeg was reportedly favoured over Budapest because it is 80 miles from the nearest airport and seen as a deterrent to travelling Scottish fans, although it does appear from some early pre-match photos that some Scotland fans have made the journey regardless.
Clarke started in Copenhagen with a conservative 4-4-2, and with wide players Ryan Christie and John McGinn that are valued just as much for their defensive work as their attacking threat. Might we see Ben Gannon-Doak from the start instead on the wing, even if the 19-year-old has only featured 45 (torrid) minutes for Bournemouth this season? Scott McTominay was forced to play in a deeper role against Denmark, but if the Napoli man is fit to start (he is said to be carrying a knock), expect the current Serie A MVP to be much more advanced here, roaming much closer to the striker(s). Belarus’ defensive midfielder Nikita Korzun is poised to have a busy and exhausting night as he attempts to shackle McTominay.
Belarus were pumped 5-1 by a resurgent Greek side in their own opener and are rank outsiders for qualification. But Scotland have become unstuck in these sorts of games before. Clarke knows that only too well but this is already a must-win game for Scotland, if they are to break their 27-year World Cup hoodoo.
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST.
