Belgians bossed as Gemmill lauds ‘high level’ kids
SCOT GEMMILL heaped praise on his Scotland kids after they bossed Belgium for most of the game in an encouraging display in Sint-Truiden.
Scotland’s Under-21s were out of the Euros qualification reckoning before their penultimate match against the runaway group winners.
Belgium had won six of their seven games and drawn the other, leaving them huge favourites to end their campaign with another triumph.
But Gemmill’s side not only held firm, they were the better team and created more chances as Newcastle midfielder Elliot Anderson went closest to breaking the deadlock.
Gemmill believes the display was up there with wins over France, Brazil and Croatia by previous age-group sides.
He said: “It was a really good performance in all aspects in difficult circumstances.
“In recent years, the 1998s group have dug out really good performances.
“The 1996s produced some really good performances too.
“And I would include this one now.
“This was a really, really high-level performance.
“They were very good. We’re in a privileged position where we can give these opportunities to players.
“But they have to confirm it and show there’s more to come. It’s fantastic when they repay you with that level of performance, so that was really good.
“Looking back, we have been honest from the start.
“We have always been playing a bit of catchup, when you think of the disruption right from the first game when we went to Turkey and 10 English-based players couldn’t travel.
“I missed two games with Covid too, so there has been a lot of disruption.”
Gemmill handed first starts to Anderson and Dundee United defender Kieran Freeman.
Scotland lined up with a bold three-man attack and Anderson nearly handed them a dream start when he smashed in a low shot, which forced a fine save from Genk’s Maarten Vandevoordt.
The away side’s high pressing continued to trouble Belgium, who were being watched by national boss Roberto Martinez and his No.2 Thierry Henry.
And the young Scots almost snatched it with 10 minutes to go when Anderson stabbed a Connor Barron cross just wide at the back post.
SCOTLAND UNDER-21s
(3-4-3): Sinclair, Welsh (Clayton 84), Mayo, Graham, Freeman, Barron, High, Burroughs, Mebude (Mulligan 88), Leonard (Kelly 71), Anderson.