BLOWN TO EL

SCOTLAND'S babes were savaged by Spain's superkids to leave their European Championship hopes hanging by a thread.

The Spanish staged a show of attacking flair that came as a reality check for the young Scots who need to beat Turkey on Sunday or face the flight home.

A double from Manchester United's magnificent Gerard Pique and strikes by Alberto Bueno and Mario Suarez brought Archie Gemmill's side to their knees.

In traditional Scottish fashion it goes to the wire at the weekend and their destiny is no longer in their hands. A Scotland win over Turkey and a Spanish victory over Group B rivals Portugal is all that's required if progress is to be achieved.

Gemmill included Calum Elliot at the expense of Dundee United's Greg Cameron in the key alteration to a line-up that kicked off the campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Portuguese.

Celt Michael McGlinchey also made way for Motherwell's Mark Reynolds, signalling a more cautious approach by the coach after the gung-ho attitude that proved so costly two days earlier.

Spain's quality was underlined by a defence that saw Pique partner Liverpool's Antonio Barragan. They also had the luxury of a front pairing of Barcelona's Jeffren and Diego Capel, of Seville.

It was a daunting enough prospect without the added problem of playing in blistering heat with temperatures tipping 40 degrees.

The Scots may have had the weather against them but the venue was right up their street - a glorified public park that had been dressed up for the occasion but, if truth be told, the camouflage was kidding no one.

A busy main road to the right and a lake to the left, as home comforts go it was Poland's very own Glasgow Green.

It made for a no-frills start as the Spaniards crafted the first opening. Capel drove down the left and his delivery was met by Mario whose free header slipped past.

There was little to be encouraged about as the Scots chased the darting shadows of a side that had demolished Turkey in their opener. A ray of hope arrived in the 15th minute when Robert Snodgrass cut along the byeline to slide a pass along the face of goal which Steven Fletcher was inches away from converting.

However, three minutes later the clouds gathered for the young Scots as Spain grabbed the opener.

Jan Mata drilled in a shot from 20 yards which Hibs keeper Andrew McNeil could only parry into the path of Bueno who slammed the ball home from close range.

It was a demoralising opening as damage limitation became Scotland's primary goal.

The increasing alarm surrounding McNeil's penalty area gave way to panic in the 27th minute as Gemmill's side fell further behind.

Roberto Cannella was the provider when he floated a deep cross from the left that found the head of Pique at the back post and he gave McNeil no chance.

Scotland attempted to rally and a Snodgrass free-kick in the 33rd minute allowed Celtic's Scott Cuthbert to rise and power a header just over.

It was a rare moment of respite.The gulf in class made for painful viewing as the MGKS Stadium was transformed into a tartan torture chamber.

Only a brilliant McNeil stop in the 40th minute from a Mata shot prevented a third strike by Spain and the Scots were desperate to beat a retreat to the safety of the dressing room.

Spanish players such as Capel and Jeffren would be a sensation in the SPL because they delivered a performance of technique, style and speed that our current crop couldn't match.

And just when you thought it couldn't get worse, it did. Five minutes after the restart Elliot limped off with a recurrence of a hamstring injury that could see the young Hearts striker missing the start of the season.

The agony continued three minutes later as Pique hit his second and Spain's third by heading in a Capel corner from the right.

It would have been four in the 58th minute had McNeil not brilliantly blocked a stinging shot by Capel that looked certain to find the top corner.

The young Scots couldn't make any impression on their opponents' goal as inevitably the exhaustion began to take its toll.

With 15 minutes remaining, McGlinchey played a one-two with Fletcher and as he raced clear on goal only a magnificent sliding tackle blocked his progress.

Goal No.4 for Spain came in the 86th minute when Mario waltzed through the Scots defence to strike a low shot into the far corner.

There were few glimmers of light on an evening that leaves Gemmill's kids needing a win and help from elsewhere when they meet the Turks on Sunday.

SCOTLAND - McNeil, Cave-Brown, Wallace, Grant (Cameron,66) Kenneth, Cuthbert, Ferry, Elliot (McGlinchey, 51), Fletcher, Snodgrass, Reynolds (Conroy, 54). Subs not used: Dorrans, Gilmour, Adam, Fox.

SPAIN - Adan, Barragan, Valiente, Pique (Crespo, 57), Mario, Garcia, Capel(Granero,78) Canella, Jeffren, Mata, Bueno. Subs not used: Calvo, Cesar, Bernabe, Pedraza, Elustondo.

Taken from the Daily Record