Scotland are falling quick in large matches because of the finer particulars, mentioned Scott McTominay after a “self-inflicted” defeat to Poland.
McTominay scored a 76th-minute equaliser at Hampden Park on Thursday, as Scotland seemed all set to take a 2-2 draw from their Nations League opener.
But deep in stoppage time, Nicola Zalewski put away Poland’s second penalty of the night time to sentence Steve Clarke’s workforce to defeat.
Scotland, who crashed out of Euro 2024 with a whimper, at the moment are winless of their final 5 house video games, their longest such run in 16 years.
“It’s a troublesome one to be trustworthy,” McTominay, who has now scored 9 in his final 16 appearances for Scotland, informed ITV Sport.
“I believed we have been good within the sport, I felt like at half-time once we have been 2-0 down it was unjustified. That’s soccer, it’s merciless at instances.
“We had numerous field entries from our sides. It’s disappointing however we confirmed nice character to get again into the sport and we are able to take perception from that. We actually got here again nicely and didn’t hand over.
“The targets are self-inflicted from the collective, everyone knows that. It’s these little particulars which might be making us fall quick in larger video games. We will return and have a look at little tweaks to hopefully enhance.
“Each single sport of soccer has errors and generally you get punished and generally you don’t. It’s one thing we as a gaggle must take possession of.
“You possibly can’t do something however do your finest on the pitch and hopefully rating the following objective and in opposition to Portugal [on Sunday] we could be those who come out profitable.”
Thanks to your implausible assist tonight
Onto Sunday in Lisbon.#SCOPOL pic.twitter.com/Fvl535383u
— Scotland Nationwide Group (@ScotlandNT) September 5, 2024
Scotland went 2-0 down within the first half, with Robert Lewandowski teeing up Sebastian Szymanski’s early opener earlier than netting from the penalty spot.
Lewandowski has been concerned in 10 targets in his final 10 begins for Poland (six targets, 4 assists), whereas the Barcelona ahead has scored every of his final 4 penalties since failing to take action in opposition to Mexico on the 2022 World Cup.
Poland, in the meantime, transformed two spot-kicks in a sport for the primary time since June 2017 in a World Cup qualifier in opposition to Romania. Although with Lewandowski off the pitch late on, the accountability for the second fell to Zalewski.
Billy Gilmour, who, like McTominay, joined Napoli final week, received Scotland again into it simply after half-time, although the comeback efforts in the end proved fruitless.
“We’re disillusioned. We felt we have been the higher workforce,” the midfielder mentioned. “Within the second half we felt we confirmed that and went for it.
“Getting two targets again after which to concede one other penalty was powerful. We’ll return and have a look at it and make it proper.
“There was great things there as nicely, however in the end the ultimate outcome wasn’t good.
“It’s a troublesome one, we actually felt like we should always have gotten the win. We depart it on the market on a regular basis, we’re a gaggle of boys proud to characterize our nation.”
