Muller makes Scots pay for past mistakes
NOT many teams rattle Germany quite like this. Even fewer do so less than a week after being made to l ook so shabby in defeat by Georgia.
But that, to Gordon Strachan’s frustration, is the lot of Scotland. Had they found more of a consistent level across the two performances, then surely this Euro 2016 qualifying campaign would have a more positive outlook.
Sadly for Strachan, it doesn’t. For that, they cannot blame nights like this, where they twice fought back from Thomas Muller goals and were level with the world champions at half-time.
Alas, Ilkay Gundogan scored early in the second half and it was all rather academic. Even then, the Scots had chances. But in failing to take them, the consequences of defeat are steep.
For Scotland, it means they must target a third- place finish in Group D, which was made all the harder by the Republic of Ireland’s victory over Georgia.
Strachan made three changes to his side, with Andy Robertson, Steven Naismith and Ikechi Anya replaced by Grant Hanley, James McArthur and James Forrest. Crucially, he also seemed to locate a sense of adventure.
The Georgia defeat was an upset of a result and a pathetic, damaging surrender to boot, with Scotland failing to register a single shot on target. In Glasgow, this was altogether different.
Germany controlled possession, as expected. By half-time, they had amassed 78 per cent of fine possession and two ugly goals. What they had not factored in, however, was that the Scots would come steaming back at them after each goal. In the first instance, it was Thomas Muller credited with the 18th-minute strike, though a Russell Martin own goal would perhaps be more appropriate.
Germany waited patiently in the middle, rotating passes before McArthur broke ranks and chased an interception. In a blink, Muller took a pass from Toni Kroos, stepped forward and scuffed a shot against Martin’s left heel. The ball’s course changed from one corner to the other and trickled over the line.
That could have been that. But it wasn’t. Charlie Mulgrew drew a foul from Emre Can with Scotland’s first real attack 10 minutes later and Shaun Maloney dipped his free-kick from the edge of the area marginally in front of Manuel Neuer. The world’s best goalkeeper spilled the kick and the loose ball clattered off Mats Hummels’ belly and in. Sometimes there is no dignity in bad luck.
The night’s third goal — Muller’s 30th for Germany — was only marginally more aesthetic. The visitors walked through large gaps in the home defence before Mario Gotze squared to Can. David Marshall parried Can’s shot into Muller’s path and he headed in off a post. Again, Scotland found a way back; again, Joachim Low might have questions to ask about how his side handle themselves at a set-piece. Gundogan could only half clear a corner and with Neuer unsighted by James Morrison, McArthur side-footed a half-volley into the top corner. How delightfully unexpected.
Sadly for Scotland, it could not last. With 53 minutes played, Germany opened the Scottish defence down the right and Muller pulled back a pass into the path of Gundogan who finished via the inside of the post.
Bastian Schweinsteiger then had a shot well saved before Alan Hutton played a neat one-two with Steven Fletcher, whose lunging shot put the ball into the side netting. It was as close as they would come to a third comeback. They will need something special if their campaign is to be saved.