Scotland realistic about ’slim‘ Euro 2020 qualification hopes, says David Marshall
David Marshall admits the chances of Scotland qualifying for the 2020 European Union are“slim“ Following the 2-1 defeat by Russia at Hampden Park on Friday.
Steve Clarke’s side took the lead after just 10 minutes when midfielder John McGinn scored his first international goal but Russia scored both sides of half-time to shoot all three points.
After two wins at five fittings, Scotland have been in fourth place in Group I with six points Russia are next with 12 points.
Even the Nations League semi-final play-off next March offers Scotland a different way to Euro 2020 but if asked about the odds of getting there by the conventional route, the 34-year-old Wigan goalkeeper said:“It’s obviously slim.
„We all know that, we’re sensible about it. We have to go and win Monday night and there is half of the campaign gone we know that.
„It’s a massive request at this stage however you feel better in a couple of days after you get a couple of days training in and we will go again on Monday.
„There is a good deal of football to be playedwith. We need to get our minds directly. There is five matches.
„We understand how slender it is we have to go and acquire a major game.
„We clearly know Belgium really nicely. We will have a game plan that might change because it has become a game we will need to go and win now. I am certain that we’ll be prepared.
„Football affects very quickly. We had been in the ascendancy and came away it. So we will go and give it a go on Monday.
„We all know what the crowd is similar to here [in Hampden] when we begin and when we could get a start on Monday such as we did from Russia ideally we can assert it. But we are under no regrets.“
Like the majority of the Scotland gamers, Marshall has been at a loss about how the home side didn’t build in goal and their early play.
The former Celtic, Cardiff and Hull goalkeeper stated:“It was a huge game and we needed the points. They’re a fantastic team but I don’t think we played that.
„It was just a disappointing outcome. Our game plan was to get after it and them worked well.
„This was a perfect beginning for us but the game simply seemed to change. They got a lot of ownership and the aim before half-time was significant for them.“
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