SLO TORTURE FOR SCOTS
Sheer agony for Strach’s men as campaign that came
FROM CRAIG SWAN in Ljubljana HORRIBLE. Torturous. A Slo and sickening death.
It is not as if the Tartan Army have not been here before. Not as if they should not know how to handle it. Yet each passing disappointment seems to get sorer.
It is said you become immune to pain after a while. But, when it comes to Scotland, the next cut always seems to be the deepest for some unjust reason.
Gordon Strachan’s team had been flying. Before last night, 13 points out of 15 this year. Now they are six qualifiers unbeaten.
Momentum building, energy and enthusiasm coursing through the squad and a genuine belief maybe, just maybe, it would all come right and it would all feel so different.
Leading at half-time through Leigh Griffiths. On the verge.
We should have known better. Just as the bandwagon was beginning to roll, it crashed off the Road to Russia.
Slovenia became the latest major-tournament graveyard, Scotland pipped to the play-offs because of their inferior headto-head record against Slovakia.
It tastes this morning even more bitter than on the previous nine times Scotland had to swallow and digest the despair. Last night in Ljubljana finished it, but that is not what caused it.
That was down to a dreadful start to the qualifying campaign and four points from four games.
The last shafts of World Cup finals 2018 light were extinguished in an agonising second-half which brought two goals for sub Roman Bezjak.
The first followed a harsh decision from referee Jonas Eriksson, an official who Strachan said eight years ago should never be given another major game.
Scotland sub Robert Snodgrass levelled late but it was not enough. It almost acted to make it worse. Just one measly goal away as Slovenia captain Bostjan Cesar was sent off on his 100th appearance.
Injuries which robbed Strachan of midfield trio Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and James Morrison were deeply unhelpful, but the squad looked to be finding a way.
Strachan went for two up front in Chris Martin and Griffiths and named Barry Bannan and Matt Phillips as wide options, a team selection suggesting positivity.
But it was just not enough on
a dramatic evening which crackled as soon as it began.
Scotland opened the scoring on 32 minutes and it was a special finish from Griffiths.
Darren Fletcher got it going with a cross to the far post which was partially cleared. James McArthur did superbly to win a 50-50 header and keep the attack alive and Griffiths was first to the bouncing ball.
The angle was acute, but the striker’s technique was as wonderful as the sight of the ball going into the net from the half volley was for Scotland fans.
Scotland went in at the break with their precious lead intact. Slovenia boss Srecko Katanec responded by bringing on Bezjak and Nejc Skubic to start the second half and soon saw the move pay off.
Rajko Rotman had forced Craig Gordon into a save before the decision from Strachan’s old nemesis which changed the game.
Fletcher’s 52nd-minute challenge on Josip Ilicic looked fair enough, but Eriksson took an age before deciding it was a foul.
Ilicic curved the free-kick to the far-post and Bezjak stole around the back to nod home. Scotland sub Ikechi Anya shot at Jan Oblak when he could have played in Griffiths before a hammer blow for the visitors 18 minutes from time.
Scotland failed to deal with a corner and Bezjak steered the ball in to the net.
Fletcher blazed a great chance over the bar, Snodgrass raised Scotland hopes three minutes from the end and they came close to a winner, a deflected Phillips cross threatening to dribble over the line before being scrambled clear.