Scotland's manager, Steve Clarke, admitted that their 3-1 victory over Greece might have been more flattering than deserved. Despite being outplayed for much of the match at Hampden Park, Scotland managed to secure a crucial win that brings them closer to a World Cup play-off spot. Clarke was pleased with his team's resilience after falling behind.
Greece took the lead in the 62nd minute when Kostas Tsimikas scored after Scotland failed to clear Vangelis Pavlidis' initial shot. However, Scotland quickly responded. Ryan Christie equalised just two minutes later with a composed finish, confirmed after a lengthy VAR review. Lewis Ferguson then put Scotland ahead with ten minutes remaining following a scrappy free-kick situation.
The match concluded
with Lyndon Dykes capitalising on a significant mistake by Greek goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis during stoppage time. This error allowed Dykes to easily score, sealing the win for Scotland. Clarke acknowledged that while the scoreline might not reflect the game's flow, his team did enough to earn the three points.
FULL TIME: Scotland 3-1 Greece. A huge result at Hampden Park See you back here Sunday: https://t.co/BRhAhPtmc4#SCOGRE pic.twitter.com/IvpryYQ4gA Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 9, 2025
Despite the victory, statistics showed Greece's dominance in terms of expected goals (xG), recording 1.7 from 15 shots compared to Scotland's 1.3 from eight attempts. Looking ahead, if Scotland defeats Belarus in their next fixture and Greece fails against Denmark, Clarke's squad will secure a top-two group finish, ensuring at least a play-off place for next summer's finals.
Clarke praised his players' determination but recognised areas needing improvement before Sunday's match at Hampden Park. He noted that while Greece controlled possession early on, they didn't create many clear chances. "Football is a 90-minute game," Clarke stated, emphasising the importance of securing positive results despite challenges.
Injury Concerns and Tactical Adjustments
The team faces some selection issues as both Lewis Ferguson and Ryan Christie are unavailable for upcoming matches. Additionally, Aaron Hickey has sustained a minor injury, prompting Clarke to reconsider his options. He stressed focusing on their own performance and winning their games before assessing the overall group situation.
This victory marks an important step towards achieving their World Cup ambitions, providing momentum as they prepare for future challenges.
