Greece vs Scotland
UEFA Nations League Playoff
Thursday, 20th March 2025
Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis, Piraeus  

Scorers

Greece 0

Scotland 1 (Scott Mctominay 33’)

Team News

Steve Clarke made two changes to the side that started November’s 2-1 win against Poland with the returning Lewis Ferguson and Ché Adams coming in to replace the injured Lyndon Dykes and Ben Doak.

Skipper, Andy Robertson, won his 81st cap, taking him out into third place outright in the list of most-capped Scotland Men's players. Other landmarks included Grant Hanley's 60th cap, and an 80th outing in goals for Craig Gordon. 

Lennon Miller and James Wilson earned their first senior call ups earlier this week, with Wilson having the potential to be the youngest ever senior Scotland international should he make an appearance over the next two matches.

George Hirst was called into the squad as a late inclusion following international clearance, with the Ipswich Town striker starting on the bench in Piraeus.

As It Happened

Greece got proceedings underway buoyed by the crowd in Piraeus, though the Scots settled into the game quickly, enjoying some good spells of possession without really threatening the hosts’ backline in the opening 15 minutes.

Scotland looked to have control of the match, though the first chance fell to the Greeks on 21 minutes when Ioannidis looked to curl one into the far corner from just inside the penalty area, before Anthony Ralston managed to produce a vital block to stop the ball heading goalward.

Minutes later and Ché Adams was released on the right wing by Billy Gilmour. The Torino striker looked to find the onrushing McTominay in the middle though his cross was well cut out by Konstantinos Mavropanos of West Ham.

From the resultant corner, a stramash in the penalty area ensued as the ball fell to Scott McTominay who looked to sweep home on the stretch though his effort fell wide of target.

Scotland were awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute courtesy of a Lazaros Rota foul on Scott McTominay. Following a VAR check, McTominay stepped up and slotted home, sending goalkeeper Tzolakis the wrong way to give Scotland the lead.

 

Greece’s response to going behind was strong. First, they had a penalty claim waved away by the referee, before Konstantelias fired into the side netting from 20 yards out moments later.

Ioannidis squandered a big chance to level the tie in the 38th minute when he was picked out on the penalty spot by Konstantelias, but the Panathinaikos forward headed well over the top of Craig Gordon’s goal.

As the first half entered its dying embers, Scotland almost added to their lead on multiple occasions. Firstly, Billy Gilmour had a shout for a penalty waved away by the referee and VAR before Tzolakis passed straight to Gilmour from the goal kick. He then laid it off to Che Adams, but the Torino striker could only fire straight into the gloves of the Greece goalkeeper.  

Kostas Tsimikas’ off-target freekick proved to be the last of the action in the opening 45, as Scotland headed into the interval with the lead thanks to Scott McTominay’s penalty.

Greece came out the traps flying at the beginning of the second half, with substitute Karetsas giving them a real lift. A Tsimikas corner was met by the head of Koulierakis at the near post though his effort spiralled just wide of Gordon’s goal on 52 minutes.

The hosts continued to press for the equaliser in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Karetsas and Tzolis both fired curling shots narrowly wide before Mavropanos headed off target from yet another Tsimikas corner.

After soaking up the early second-half pressure, Scotland began to regain a foothold in the match. John McGinn tried his luck from range on 64 minutes following nice linkup with McTominay, though the Aston Villa man’s shot flew just over the crossbar.

The hosts then struck the post moments later as Karetsas swung in a great cross to the back post towards Tzolis who should have equalised. Just seconds later and Tzolis squandered yet another great chance to equalise. The winger was picked out in the penalty area from a cutback, before John Souttar recovered well to deflect his shot wide of target.

Steve Clarke made two substitutes ahead of the last 15 minutes, with Kieran Tierney making a welcome return to Scotland action after that injury at Euro 2024, as he replaced Kenny McLean. George Hirst was also handed his Scotland debut following his late inclusion this week as he took the place of Che Adams.

 

Greece appeared to of been handed a lifeline in the 84th minute as they were awarded a penalty of their own following Grant Hanley’s challenge on substitute Fountas. However, following a VAR check, the challenge was deemed to have been made outside the box and the penalty decision was changed to a free kick, with Pelkas striking the wall with his resultant effort.

As the game reached its final moments, Steve Clarke handed right-back Max Johnston his Scotland debut as he replaced Billy Gilmour in stoppage time.

 

Despite having to navigate a wave of second half pressure from the hosts, Scotland showed incredible resilience to hold on and clinch victory, and in doing so, take a one goal advantage back to Hampden Park ahead of the 2nd leg of the UEFA Nations League Playoff on Sunday evening.

Teams

Scotland: Gordon, Ralston (Porteous 89’), Souttar, Hanley, Robertson, Gilmour (Johnston 90+4’), McLean (Tierney 76’), McGinn, McTominay, Ferguson, Adams (Hirst 75’)

Unused Substitutes: Kelly, Slicker, Conway, Wilson, Hendry, McKenna, Nisbet,

Greece: Tzolakis, Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas, Siopis, Mantalos (Pelkas 71’), Masouras (Karetsas 45’), Konstantelias (Pavlidis 71’), Tzolis (Zafeiris 71’), Ioannidis (Fountas 81’)

Unused Substitutes: Vlachodimos, Mandas, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Mouzakitis, Chatzidiakos,, Giannoulis