It's now Belgrade or bust for Scotland after penalty delight - Alan Pattullo's take from Hampden

Scotland made history at a deserted Hampden last night, not only partaking in a penalty shoot-out for the first time, but, perhaps surprisingly, winning it too.

Andy Robertson of Scotland celebrates with his team after his team's victory in the penalty shoot out in the UEFA EURO 2020 Play-Off semi-final match against Israel. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Few were here to see it and more’s the pity. It still felt momentous as substitute Kenny McLean stroked home Scotland’s fifth and decisive penalty. He was ably assisted by John McGinn, Callum McGregor, Scott McTominay and Lawrence Shankland, who all scored with accomplished kicks after a gritty 0-0 draw. Israel star man Eran Zahavi saw his first effort brilliantly blocked by David Marshall, who is still performing heroics more than 16 years after making his Scotland debut.

Mars came closer to earth than at any time in the last 17 years last night and Scotland moved as near to a major finals as they have been for almost as long.

They now travel to face Serbia in the play-off final and are ninety minutes – or perhaps 120 minutes, perhaps even another penalty shoot-out – away from Euro 2020 next summer.

The fear over McTominay’s miss

As when James McFadden steered a cross from Kenny Miller past the post in a must-win fixture against Italy in 2007, it was feared McTominay’s header which spun past the right upright shortly before half time would haunt Scotland, likewise Liam Cooper’s header off another upright in the dying moments of extra-time.

It was far from pretty, no one could argue that point. Steve Clarke had already been forced to overcome considerable difficulties. Not only in the run-up to the game when they lost as many as six players, three due to a Covid-19 positive test, but also in the 120 minutes themselves, when they were second best for long stretches.

The match remained on a knife edge throughout. Games between these sides – there have now been four in the past two years, with one more to come next month - always do.

The absence of fans served to accentuate how poor the fare was. Not even 50,000 raucous Tartan Army members would have been able to disguise it. It became particularly nervy and scrappy towards the end of the 90 minutes. Fear of losing became the overriding factor.

Stuck with three at the back

Scotland lined up with three at the back and stuck with it for the duration.

It was possible to understand Clarke’s thinking. He had road tested the system in two outings last month and nothing short of a plague sweeping through the entire team – which was almost the case – was going to stop him deploying it in Scotland’s biggest match for 13 years. Not since that aforementioned game v Italy had Scotland been so near to a promised land. Then, the years of failure extended only to nine rather than 22. But perhaps it won't be much longer.

This insistence in playing with three centre-backs even given the absence of Kieran Tierney and Scott McKenna meant Declan Gallagher was playing his first match since being part of a Motherwell backline – a four-man Motherwell backline – which conceded five times against Rangers just under a fortnight ago. By his own admission, he has not had the best of starts to his season.

It also saw McTominay – last seen playing for Manchester United in a 6-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur - playing his third consecutive international match at right centre-half.

This has become an area of national obsession in recent weeks. McTominay has proved willing enough but yearns for a midfield berth.

Last night he was handed the brief of restricting Israel’s danger men on the left as much as possible, something he largely failed to do last month against the same opponents. He did have the more defensively-minded Stephen O’Donnell for company at right wing-back on this occasion rather than James Forrest, whose first instinct is to attack rather than defend.

Threat from Israel

Manor Solomon and Zahavi would be tricky customers for anyone. It was no surprise when Israel’s first chance of the evening came down this flank. Hatem Elhamed’s shot was deflected wide by his clubmateCallum McGregor as Scotland looked worryingly exposed. It was becoming apparent that this flank might become Scotland’s Achiles heel. Israel seemed well briefed. They sought to explore this part of the field at every opportunity.

Even left wingback Elhamed, normally employed at right back at Celtic, was sensing opportunities. In his all white strip, it seemed he was thinking he was Real Madrid-era Gareth Bale the way he skipped down the flank, often at the expense of O’Donnell, who was replaced in the second period of extra-time by Kenny McLean.

What few chances there were spurned

One small mercy was the absence of clear-cut opportunities created by the visitors. Not that Scotland were carving out many for themselves before McTominay was given that clear opportunity to put Scotland ahead and provide at least some comfort.

John McGinn blazed over the bar early on after a neat chest-down by Lyndon Dykes. Oli McBurnie, meanwhile, shot weakly straight at Ofir Marciano.

With VAR being employed at the play-off stage, the handball appeals that echoed round the stadium shortly after half-time seemed more than simply fanciful cries after the ball brushed Eytan Tibi’s hand in the box after a mishit clearance from Elhamed, one of his own players.

The former was replaced shortly afterwards by Dundee United’s Lawrence Shankland after a performance that won’t have altered many people’s view with regards to whether he is an international class forward.

Callum Paterson also replaced Dykes at the start of extra-time. Neither he nor Shankland could find the goal Scotland required. Not that it mattered. Now it’s Belgrade or bust.

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