Spain's David Silva shatters Scotland's Euro 2012 play-off dreams

Euro 2012 qualifiers
Spain 3

Silva 6,
Silva 44,
Villa 54

Scotland 1

Goodwillie (pen) 66

Ewan Murray at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, Alicante
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 11 October 2011 21.48 BST

Scotland had too much at stake to appreciate Spain's latest dismantling of all before them. A routine home win here, coupled with a similar canter for the Czech Republic in Lithuania, ended Scottish hopes of a Euro 2012 play‑off place. Scotland's absence from a major tournament will stretch to 16 years.

A double by the outstanding David Silva before the break wounded Craig Levein's team on this occasion. The irreparable damage to the Scotland campaign, nonetheless, was dished out earlier.

Scotland claimed a single point from a possible six in matches against the Czechs, their main rival for second spot in Group I. Four from six against a poor Lithuania team proved equally sapping.

Not even a surprise win for Lithuania in Prague in the midst of the qualifying process could alter Scotland's fate. The progress Levein is adamant he has overseen has not been proven by material reward.

It was always likely to cost Scotland that matters came down to an all-or-nothing battle with the imperious, best team in the world. And so it proved.

"The harsh reality is that Spain were better than us," said Levein. "The [Scotland] team has improved enormously in the last year. We will use what we have learned from these eight [qualifying] games for the World Cup qualifiers. We have missed out this time. That just makes us doubly determined to make sure we don't miss out next time."

Vicente del Bosque, the Spain manager, explained he had left Fernando Torres and Iker Casillas out of his team "to give other players an opportunity".

Spain represented an ominous enough prospect for the Scots without the world champions being afforded an early goal.

The visitors were pulled apart in a move which culminated in Jordi Alba placing a cut-back at the feet of Silva. Gary Caldwell was unable to reach the forward, with the Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor also likely to be unhappy with the way the ball found its way underneath him and into the net. Within six minutes, the notion that Spain might be taking the visit of Scotland lightly had been dismissed. Del Bosque's men wanted to maintain a perfect qualifying record.

And yet Scotland should have offered an instant riposte. A Barry Bannan cross presented Steven Naismith with a glorious opportunity to plant a diving header past Victor Valdés, but the Rangers player failed to connect.

It already seemed as though Scotland were seeking positive news from Kaunas. Quite the opposite arrived, the Czechs claiming two early goals to leave Scotland needing snookers.

As Naismith was played in again, this time by Darren Fletcher, the visiting contingent appealed in vain for a penalty. In reality, Gerard Piqué's challenge seemed perfectly legal with Naismith's poor first touch more worthy of attention.

Fletcher was the next player to try his luck, 11 minutes before the break. The midfielder shot over, however, after Naismith head-flicked Phil Bardsley's pass into his path.

Those opportunities, it is almost needless to say, belied Spain's control of possession and general menace when they had it. David Villa highlighted that threat with a fierce shot from 20 yards which was deflected just wide. Moments later, McGregor produced an excellent save to deny Santiago Cazorla. Actual damage was to follow for the Scots before half-time. Silva played a one-two with Pedro before supplying a cool, low finish for which McGregor was helpless.

Any lingering Scottish hope was extinguished shortly after the break. Silva turned provider this time, Villa the grateful recipient before passing the ball beyond McGregor.

There followed, at least, some minor cheer for the vast ranks of Scotland fans. A foul by Valdés on Craig Mackail-Smith overshadowed a rare start for the goalkeeper when on international duty. David Goodwillie, taking his first touch after coming on as a substitute, score the resultant penalty.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer