ADAMS THE ONE BRIGHT SPARK ON ANOTHER GL0OMY NIGHT
GOOD news. Scotland don’t need to play Israel again for another 194 days. By the time of the seventh meeting in this increasingly wearisome three-year rivalry, we’ll know how Steve Clarke’s squad have fared at the delayed Euro 2020 finals. We’ll also have discovered whether there is any chance of this now-toiling World Cup qualification campaign being turned around.
On both fronts, the further inclusion of Che Adams will surely be beneficial. If there was any kind of positive to take from Scotland again making a team ranked 89th in the world look far better than they are, it lay in the Southampton striker’s first international start.
Skilful, sharp, strong and smart, Adams looked made for this stage. His substitution on 74 minutes was a perplexing call by Clarke as he appeared the most likely outlet for a much-needed winner. As it was, the 24-year-old had to be content with an assist — and strengthening his argument to lead Scotland’s attack when the big-time rolls around in June.
There was little else substantial about this team display. Despite Clarke playing down the need for a win pre-match, three points were badly required if the national side
It was a shame his team-mates couldn’t give him more possession
was not to fall into the familiar pattern of relying on unlikely outcomes from elsewhere. The old ‘Ah, but if..’ argument.
Denmark turned up in Tel Aviv last week and recorded a comfortable 2-0 win. After sticking eight past Moldova last night, the top seeds are going about their business in a pretty ruthless way.
Scotland still lack that collective instinct. And the frustration was all the more pronounced because, in Adams, they had an individual who looked capable of making the difference. In both deeper link-play and touches around the penalty area, he carried the hallmark of English Premier League quality.
It was just a shame his team-mates couldn’t give him more possession. After a dismal opening period, Scotland rose to somewhere around average following the break.
It was a tough watch. Clarke’s men were often pushed so deep during the first half that Adams was left with only little moments of detail to show his talent.
It was there, though. In his touch and movement. Dropping off into midfield, his control and turn released Callum McGregor for a promising counter-attack that fizzled out too soon. Similar assuredness was displayed when killing a throw-in from Andy Robertson (right) stone-dead, twisting away from his marker in one movement to win a free-kick.
These were only snapshots. Little, fleeting glimpses of what Adams might be able to offer. Watching them, you hungered to see the ball at his feet inside the Israeli penalty area.
The moment almost arrived on 34 minutes. Adams forced the ball to Ryan Fraser before taking off in pursuit of a return pass that was just a little too long.
Ofir Marciano had bolted off his line and already had a hand on the ball when Adams slid in to try and make a connection. The striker’s eagerness was understandable on a personal landmark, but he was never going to get away with it.
German referee Deniz Aytekin settled for a word of warning. Standing 6ft 5ins tall, the official gives off a ‘do-not-mess’ vibe. Adams didn’t mess.
He then tried to channel his aggression in a more positive way. A terrific lay-off to Stephen O’Donnell saw him take off into space through the inside-left channel. O’Donnell was a fraction slow in releasing the long ball back in front of him, with Adams eventually blocked out. Again, though, he hustled back into his own half to get in front of Israeli skipper Bibras Natcho. All of these indications of his worth were having to be dug out with real effort. Adams could only dream of the space being granted to the home side’s attacking threats. It was too easy, too often for Israel. Especially in that bleak first half. Scotland were woefully passive in midfield. It was timid, baffling stuff as they failed to shut down space or put the man in possession under sufficient pressure. Backing off seemed to be the default option.
It was all the more puzzling because everyone knew exactly what to expect. Alex McLeish was still the manager when Scotland visited Haifa for a Nations League match in November 2018. A shambles unfolded. Somehow ahead through a Charlie Mulgrew penalty at half-time, John Souttar’s red card and Kieran Tierney’s own goal eventually helped Israel to a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory that would have been more embarrassingly emphatic but for the excellence of Allan McGregor.
Netanya last November wasn’t quite so bad — but it was dispiriting nonetheless. Scotland arrived needing victory to seal Nations League promotion. In the end, Manor Solomon’s thumping strike ensured there would be no alternative route towards the World Cup play-offs for Clarke’s squad.
Lessons didn’t seem to have been learned. When Dor Peretz thumped in a long-range strike that David Marshall should probably have repelled, you couldn’t say that Israel didn’t deserve their lead.
Clarke changed shape at the interval — replacing Jack Hendry with Ryan Christie — to try and lift his side out of their torpor The hosts were no longer being given the freedom of Bloomfield Stadium. Then, on 56 minutes, it clicked.
Adams was released towards the area, drawing two Israeli defenders towards him before sliding the ball to Ryan Fraser in a more central position. There was still a lot of work to do but the Newcastle winger did it superbly to draw Clarke’s men level.
They had to keep on feeding Adams. Lovely footwork created an opportunity out of not that much, with an eventual right-foot shot being well parried by Marciano.
That was Adams’ last opportunity. But enough had been seen to suggest he may well be central to Scotland’s hopes of improvement ahead.