Kazakhstan thrash Scots, Croatia survive scare
Scotland’s hopes of returning to major tournament football after a 22-year absence suffered a heavy blow yesterday with a 3-0 loss to Kazakhstan in the first qualifier for next year’s European Championship.
The Kazakhs scored twice in the opening 10 minutes and added another goal in the 51st minute.
Scotland – one of the 12 co-hosts for next year’s tournament – had earned promotion in the Nations League last year and had lost just one of their last 10 competitive games.
It was only Kazakhstan’s fifth win in 35 European qualifying games since they joined Uefa in 2002.
Elsewhere in Euro 2020 qualifying, World Cup finalists Croatia nearly dropped points against Azerbaijan, only to be saved by a fine curling shot from Andrej Kramaric for a 2-1 win.
Belgium needed two goals from Eden Hazard to defeat Russia 3-1 after a costly Thibaut Courtois error allowed the Russians back into the game.
The Netherlands failed to qualify for the last two major tournaments but showed no sign of nerves in a 4-0 win against Belarus. Memphis Depay gave the Dutch an early lead and finished the match with two goals and two assists.
Even with Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne missing through injury, Belgium took a big step toward qualifying by beating Russia, their main rivals in Group I.
Youri Tielemans’ early goal for Belgium was cancelled out when Courtois gave away the ball in a rare blunder which allowed Russia’s Denis Cheryshev to score.
Russia struggled to track Hazard and when defender Yuri Zhirkov tried, he ended up tripping the Belgian and giving away a penalty which Hazard converted.
Belgium could have scored more but for Michy Batshuayi hitting the post and having another shot cleared off the line.
Cyprus routed San Marino 5-0 in the other Group I fixture.
Ever since losing to France in last year’s World Cup final, Croatia have struggled to replicate the form of their greatest ever tournament showing.
Relegation in the Nations League last year was followed yesterday by a comefrom-behind win over lowly Azerbaijan in Group E.
Azerbaijan – by far the lowest-ranked of all next year’s 12 European Championship hosts – took the lead with a fine solo goal. Ramil Sheydaev sprinted down the right flank before striking the ball over the goalkeeper.
Croatia levelled in the 44th minute thanks to Borna Barisic’s quick reactions to jab the ball in on a rebound then a moment of skill from Kramaric cracked the tenacious Azerbaijan defence again.