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Attendance: 32,432
Scotland national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Sep 6, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Russia national football team

1-2

McGinn (11')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Dzyuba (40'), O'Donnell (59' og.)

David Marshall admits Scotland's Euro 2020 chances now "slim"

After just two wins in five fixtures Scotland are in fourth place in the table.

Goalkeeper David Marshall spoke of the "slim" hopes of Scotland qualifying for the 2020 European Championships through Group I after the 2-1 defeat by Russia at Hampden Park.

Steve Clarke's side took the lead after just 10 minutes on Friday night when midfielder John McGinn scored his first international goal.

However, the visitors levelled through skipper Artem Dzyuba five minutes before the interval and in the 59th minute Scotland defender Stephen O'Donnell put through an own goal under pressure from Yuri Zhirkov.

After just two wins in five fixtures Scotland are in fourth place in the table on six points while Russia are second with 12 points, three behind leaders Belgium who visit Hampden on Monday night.

The Nations League semi-final play-off next March offers Scotland another way into Euro 2020 but when asked about the chances of getting there by the traditional route, the 34-year-old Wigan goalkeeper said:  "It is obviously slim.

"We know that, we are realistic about it. There is half the campaign gone and we have to go and win on Monday night, we know that.

"It is a massive ask at this stage but you feel better in a couple of days after you get a few days training in and we will go again on Monday.

"There is a lot of football to be played. We need to get our heads right. There is still five games to go in the group.

"We know how slim it is but we need to go and win a big game.

"We obviously know Belgium really well. We will have a game plan which may change because it is turned into a game we need to go and win now. I am sure we will be ready.

Soccer – UEFA Euro 2016 – Qualifying – Group D – Scotland v Gibraltar – Hampden Park
David Marshall insists Scotland will be ready for the challenge of Belgium (Kirk O'Rourke/PA)

"Football changes very quickly. We were in the ascendancy and came off it. So we will go and give it a go on Monday.

"We know what the crowd is like here (at Hampden) if we get going and if we can get a start on Monday like we did against Russia hopefully we can maintain it. But we are under no illusions."

Like most of the Scotland players, Marshall was at a loss as to how the home side failed to build on their early good play and goal.

The former Celtic, Cardiff and Hull goalkeeper said: "It was a big game and we needed the points.

"They are a good team but I don't think we played that well.

"It was just a disappointing result. Our game plan was to get after them and it worked really well.

"It was a perfect start for us but the game just seemed to change.

"They got a lot of possession and the goal before half-time was important for them."

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Ryan Fraser in action for Scotland on March 24, 2019
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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