SPAIN 3 - SCOTLAND 1 | GROUP I EURO 2012 QUALIFIER RESULT

SPAIN equalled the historical 14 straight wins of Holland & France in official matches by defeating SCOTLAND 3 - 1 in the Group I Euro 2012 qualifier. Spain finishes top of the Group & goes straight into next years Poland-Ukraine Euro Championships, while Scotland misses out as the Czech Republic won their game to grab the 2º place in the Group & thus continue with a chance to qualify.

I was personally disappointed with Scotland as I thought beforehand that with the 2º place in the Group up for grabs - & nothing to lose - they would have shown more initiative & offensive attitude. Instead they came out defending from the start & that against today's Spain is almost "Football suicide". But to be fair the Scots showed glimpses of their traditional "brave attitude" in the second half to which one cannot be too harsh.

David Silva

Spain had two players win their first full International "cap" tonight, Victor Valdes under the goal posts & Jordi Alba, with the latter putting in a great game from the start. It was Alba who found DAVID SILVA in the 5th min that put Spain ahead. The Spanish dominance of the ball was almost complete with Xavi Hernandez pulling ( passing ) all the strings. The Scottish goalkeeper McGregor was kept busy making saves until DAVID SILVA found his second - & Spain's - in the 43rd min.

David Villa

The second half started as the first finished with Spain showing all the initiative & the third goal came via DAVID VILLA in the 53rd min. Here Spanish Coach Del Bosque made some changes ( Xavi  & Silvia for Thiago & Llorente) & they relaxed somewhat as Scotland showed some grit. Spain began creating unusual defensive mistakes & paid when a penalty was called when Valdes "floored" a Scottish player in the area. GOODWILLIE took the ball & scored from the spot in the 64th min. This lifted the Scottish spirits & Spain suffered the following 10 - 15 mins before reatking the initiative & nearly scoring again via Cazorla who missed.

End result as expected beforehand, with Spain winning,  & Scotland unfortunately out of next years Euro Championship.

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SPANISH FOOTBALL FLASHBACK | BIGGEST HISTORICAL LOCAL DEFEAT

SPAIN plays SCOTLAND tonight in their last Group I qualifying Euro 2012 match. The home team are the current World Champions, have already assured top spot  & are looking to equal Holland & France in their 14th straight wins official games record. One may think beforehand that even though Scotland is playing for the second place ( against the Czech Rep)  in the Group that Spain are the "hot favourites".

That may well be correct for tonight, but SCOTLAND has a record over SPAIN which was created back in 1963. Spain´s biggest historical home defeat was 2 - 6 against Scotland lead by the great Denis Law. 

Spain 1963

The Spanish Football National Team 1963:
Standing: Vicente, Mingorance, Reija, Koldo Aguirre, Rivilla & Glaría.
Bottom:  Amancio, Adelardo, Veloso, Guillot & Lapetra


So there is a call from the past for Scotland. Independent to whether the visitors can win or not tonight, we will be assured a top match. 

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SCOTLAND 2 SPAIN 3 | RESULT GROUP I EURO 2012 QUALIFYING MATCH

SPAIN defeated SCOTLAND 2- 3 in tonight's Group I clash in "Hampden Park" Glasgow to take them straight to the top of their Group ladder. The World Champions were the outstanding & dominating side until the match complicated itself for Spain in the mid 2º half with a meritorious Scottish attempt at comeback & near victory. 

DAVID VILLA shots at goal

The first half was a Scottish wall that had one plan; to keep out the Spanish attacks & see if they can counter-attack when given the chance. The Spanish dominance gave fruit in the 43rd min when Spain was awarded a penalty which DAVID VILLA transformed to equal Raul as Spain´s all-time goal scorer with 44 goals as a Spanish International


The 2º half started as it finished,  & Spain found its 2º goal in the 55th min when INIESTA put the ball into the back of the net after some "fancy" midfield playing . It looked like clear sailing for the Spanish Football Team when they were surprised with a counter-attack in the 58th min which NAISMITH scored for Scotland.

Scottish player NAISMITH scores passes Iker Casillas

The Scots gained in confidence & kept on attacking when in a piece of "bad luck" for Spain, defender PIQUE put in an own goal to allow Scotland to equalize in the 67th min. This was the most complicated moment for Spain & Coach Vicente de Bosque reacted with two substitutes, Pablo Hernandez & Fernando Llorente, with the latter turning later be the key of the victory for Spain. 

Iniesta & Villa celebrate the goal against Scotland

Then In the worst moment for Spain around the 79th min,  & with just a few minutes on the field, FERNANDO LLORENTE slammed the winner from a wing pass - & the 3ºrd for Spain - to become the hero of the night with the victory goal.  There was a few minor scares latter which Spain managed to keep safe until the final whistle, but Spain secured the 3º group points.

In conclusion, a great match - especially the 2º half - with a brave performance from Scotland that nearly paid off. However, Spain showed why they are the current World Champions with their patience & dominance of the ball, that allowed an inform Striker like Fernando Llorente to show why many consider him the "next best thing".  Tweet

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EURO 2012 GROUP I QUALIFIER | POSSIBLE SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM STARTING 11 LINE-UP AGAINST SCOTLAND

The SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM plays SCOTLAND tonight in their EURO 2012 Group I qualifier at "Hampden Park" in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Coach Vicente Del Bosque has recovered defender Sergio Ramos after an ankle knock against Lithuania & midfielder Xabi Alonso who suffred the flu. With the inclusion of Xabi Alonso someone has to give way from the "starting 11 that started against Lithuania.

Spanish media following the SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM have speculated with a possible STARTING 11 LINE UP AGAINST SCOTLAND. Below is the predicted team:

SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM PHOTO 2010

Casillas; Ramos, Pique, Puyol, Capdevila; Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta; Cazorla, Silva & Villa.
*This line-up could change before the Scotland match

The "sacrificed" player would be Fernando Llorente as David Villa takes the Nº9 spot in the attack. David Villa will also be attempting to score a goal to equalize Raul as the Spanish Team all-time historical goal scorer.

Surf into Spanish Football Sports Blog around 23.30 (Sp time) for all the details, summary, images & scorers.

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