Scotland demonstrated their defensive resilience in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Greece in the first leg of their Nations League A play-off. Head coach Steve Clarke praised his team for showing "a different side" to their game as they withstood significant pressure in Piraeus.
Scott McTominay's first-half penalty proved decisive, but it was Scotland's defensive display after the break that secured the win. The visitors had to weather a storm of 24 shots from the hosts, with center-back pair Grant Hanley and John Souttar putting in colossal performances.
"We knew they would come at us second half," Clarke explained. "We didn't quite manage to regain our rhythm so we had to show a different side to our game."
The Scottish defense was particularly impressive considering some players don't feature regularly for their clubs. "Two of the defenders don't play regularly at their clubs - Anthony Ralston and Grant Hanley. They go in there and do a great job," Clarke noted.
Ralston made a crucial intervention, putting off Greece forward Christos Tzolis and deflecting his effort onto the post. The Celtic defender won all eight of his duels despite his limited playing time at club level. Together with Hanley and Souttar, the trio made an impressive 32 clearances as Scotland repelled wave after wave of Greek attacks.
Lewis Ferguson, making his first Scotland appearance in almost a year following knee surgery, highlighted the "dirty side" of their performance. "We knew we were going to have to weather the storm," the Bologna captain said. "We could have been calmer on the ball, but you need to show that side of the game if you're going to get results away from home - the dirty side, the running, tackling, blocking, heading."
In the first half, Scotland could have extended their lead with several good chances. Billy Gilmour missed the target, while Che Adams squandered two opportunities - shooting straight at goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis and later firing across the face of goal.
The statistics tell a compelling story of Scotland's defensive resolve. Greece's 24 shots marked their highest total in a single match in the 2024-25 Nations League. Not since 2007, in a victory against France, have Scotland faced more shots (27) and kept a clean sheet.
Former Scotland defender Willie Miller was impressed with the rearguard action: "It was incredible how dominant Greece were in the second half and how well Scotland defended. Souttar and Hanley at the heart of defense were immense - they were giants out there. Anything crossed in was a magnet for Hanley's head."
Despite their first-leg advantage, Clarke remains cautious ahead of Sunday's return leg at Hampden, which will be broadcast live on the BBC. "This game is not dead yet. No way," he warned, as Scotland aim to preserve their top-tier status in the Nations League.
Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin sees the result as evidence of the team's evolution under Clarke's management: "The Greeks really turned it up in the second half, but Steve Clarke has taught Scotland different ways to win. Hanley and Souttar gave nothing away at the back and the Scotland fans are enjoying themselves."
With their resolute defending and tactical discipline, Scotland have put themselves in a strong position to maintain their place among Europe's elite nations. Sunday's second leg at Hampden now represents an opportunity to complete the job in front of their home supporters.
