Heartbreak: Scotland's Steven Naismith reacts as Spain take charge of the qualifier

True, Scotland were not humiliated in Alicante. Spain routinely destroy better teams than us. But losing the early goal made a Herculean task, in this ground where Hercules play, a mission impossible.

Scotland’s second-half resurgence was heart warming but, as ever, it was too little too late and Levein’s men will know qualification was jeopardised in the earlier games in this group. Much to the joy of the Czechs, of course, who now await their play-off opponents after eventually winning 4-1 in Lithuania.

If Scotland could be said to have world beaters in our midst at all, it’s surely among the ranks of the Tartan Army who provided an incredible pre-match atmosphere inside the stadium, evoking memories for those of a certain vintage of Scotland’s 1982 World Cup sojourn to this same country.

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