Stunning strikemeans nothing to Hagi, while Gemmill defends Aaron
Ianis Hagi insists his wonder goal for Romania against Germany on Friday night meant absolutely nothing – because they ended up losing the match.
The Rangers ace netted a superb opener in Hamburg as the visitors took a shock lead in the World Cup qualifier.
Hagi nutmegged Antonio Rudiger before poking a shot past Marc-andre ter Stegen to put his side ahead after just nine minutes.
However, the hosts hit back in the second half, with Serge Gnabry equalising after 52 minutes and veteran Bayern Munich striker, Thomas Muller, grabbing the winner nine minutes from time.
Hagi insisted his second international goal – while winning his 21st cap – counted for nothing because his side headed home with no points.
He said: “I’m not interested in whether it was the best goal I have ever scored.
“I don’t even want to think about my goal because we’re leaving here without any points. Our aim was to get at least a draw.
“It’s normal that I’m disappointed because when you go in 1-0 up at halftime, you think you will go on to win the game, or at least get a point.
“I thought we had them in real trouble, but we failed to score a second goal and then they equalised before we lost that late goal.
“We now have a huge game against
Armenia on Monday in Bucharest, and we have to win that.
“We’ll go back over the match against Germany, and analyse it. But, right now, I am extremely disappointed.
“We are a young group of players, and we are going home extremely sad because we lost 2-1 in Germany.
“I think that says a lot about the ambitions of this squad.”
Meanwhile, Scotland Under-21 coach, Scot Gemmill, has hit back at any suggestions that former Hearts full-back, Aaron Hickey, is not committed to the country.
Hickey played – and scored – in a friendly for Bologna, just hours after the young Scots had lost 1-0 against Denmark in a European Championship qualifier at Tynecastle.
The 19-year-old had withdrawn from
Gemmill’s squad for the match – along with Aberdeen starlet, Calvin Ramsay – with an unspecified injury.
On Friday, Hickey played and scored Bologna’s fourth goal in a training match 4-1 friendly win against the Serie A club’s Under-19 team.
Gemmill, however, insisted there were no issues with Hickey’s desire to play for his country.
He said: “Did you see the pictures of Aaron in the summer, with the Scotland flag around his shoulders?
“There is no doubt that he wants to play for Scotland.”
Hickey made history this season when he became the first Scot to score in Italy’s top flight since Graeme Souness netted for Sampdoria 35 years ago.
He scored again against Lazio last weekend.