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Scotland produced a terrific performance to beat 10-man Albania 4-0, while Portugal qualified for the Nations League finals with a 0-0 draw in Italy

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Sat 17 Nov 2018 17.16 ESTFirst published on Sat 17 Nov 2018 13.45 EST
Scotland’s players celebrate James Forrest’s second goal and their fourth against Albania.
Scotland’s players celebrate James Forrest’s second goal and their fourth against Albania. Photograph: Malton Dibra/EPA
Scotland’s players celebrate James Forrest’s second goal and their fourth against Albania. Photograph: Malton Dibra/EPA

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Eck speaks: “I’m delighted. I had a good feeling before the game, and I thought that if they brought their level we would get a positive result. We wanted to try being as aggressive as we could, to get balls forward rather than side passes. It was an exceptionally professional performance from our lads - it’s hard to single one player out. We know what we have to do [on Tuesday], but this result gives us a decent fillip.”

Roberto Mancini has got this game nailed:

In football, scoring goals is an important detail.

We dominated Portugal and then had a drop in tempo after 70 minutes, which is only to be expected, as we can’t play in their half for 90 minutes. It’s a step forward compared to the Poland game, as Portugal are clearly superior to Poland and we controlled the game throughout.

We tried to play for a result and also give valuable experience to the younger players.

Doesn’t sound overly fussed, does he?

As for Italy, they all deserve a thrashing with a wet slipper. In the first half they played but didn’t convert the chances they created, but after the break they showed all the application of a bean bag, and ultimately got exactly what they deserved. Portugal have another game, against Poland on Tuesday, but they don’t need it as they will finish top of the group, meaning they’re not only through to the finals next summer but they will have home advantage there too.

Well then. What a terrific display that was from Scotland. They always looked in control, of course helped by the fact Albania played with ten men for nearly 70 minutes, but they were well on top before that too. The goals were top notch, particularly the first and the fourth from Ryan Fraser and James Forrest respectively, and they now have the chance to win their group by beating Israel at Hampden Park on Tuesday. Albania will finish bottom, although it remains to be seen whether they are relegated - depends on how rubbish some of the other teams are.

Oh, Italy. Another significant chance for them, as Pellegrini is free from a corner in the area. He has to backpedal slightly and use his neck muscles from the header, but he should still have made Patricio work more than simply putting up his hands to catch the thing.

“Just to let you know Ianis Hagi has just made his national debut for Romania,” writes Pablo Miguez. “Yes, Gheorghe’ s son.”

Mercy.

Here’s a bit of something for Italy. Insigne tries to curl a shot in from 25-odd yards, running into space made when Mario Rui and Chiesa collided - and by ‘collided’, I mean he elbowed his opponent in the mush then threw himself to the floor, claiming the foulest of mischief.

Another roll of the dice from Mancini, as he brings Lorenzo Pellegrini on for Verratti. Which seems a bit odd. But Italy do need someone to do something: they’ve been dreadfully limp for at least 20 minutes now.

Scotland miss a sitter! Specifically, McTominay, after Christie dummies a pass giving the Manchester United man a shot from ten yards out, but he spoons it as the ball clips the bar on its way to the running track. Happily for them, it won’t make the slightest bit of difference.

Portugal go close again! William Carvalho shoots low and with some power, it skips up before it reaches the hitherto basically redundant Gigi Donnarumma, but he dives superbly down to his left to save.

Peter Oh writes: “Do any other parents out there find the Nations League format about as hard to keep track of as the connection among all of the superhero movies that have been released in recent years? For example, is today’s episode Justice League of Nations, or Avengers: Infinity Nations League?! I have no idea!”

Italy’s big plan is set into motion: the implausibly named Kevin Lasagna comes on for Immobile. Bonucci got booked a few minutes ago, for what I confess I don’t know. Hope that helps.

Portugal go close! Neves pings a stupendous long ball out to the right for Cancelo, who cuts back to Joao Mario in the area but he dithers slightly, and hoofs the shot over the bar.

Scotland are so far ahead Alex McLeish has decided they can do without a specialist centre-forward: Matt Phillips comes on for Fletcher.

GOAL! Albania 0-4 Scotland (Forrest 67)

We’re into rout territory now, and in the words of Shakin’ Stevens, that was lovely stuff. Fraser cuts the ball back to Forrest he dinks it over the outstretched leg of a defender with his right foot, then wallops a volley with his left into the net.

It’s been pretty quiet in Italy v Portugal. That superiority in possession has turned into sterile domination for Roberto Mancini’s men, and they’ve haven’t been able to create a decent chance in a while, never mind score a goal. The Italian brains trust on the bench have been involved in a lengthy conflab to find a solution to the inertia.

Roberto Mancini shows his players how to master the football. Photograph: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters
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Scotland have the ball in the net, as some neat passing after a short corner gets the ball to Forrest, who stabs towards the six yard box where David Bates turns it into the bottom corner, but the Hamburg defender was offside. Meanwhile, Scott McTominay comes on, replacing Armstrong.

A brief stramash: McKenna goes up for a header with Rey ‘Nicki’ Manaj, whose Anaconda definitely don’t want the Scotland man to basically land on him. McKenna then weirdly rolls over his opponent, leading to Manaj giving him a little elbow to the back of the head. McKenna goes into the book, but Manaj doesn’t, which is just as well for him as he’s already been booked. Shrewdly, Manaj is promptly substituted, in favour of Bekim Banaj.

A rare attack for Albania, as Azuni gets down the right of the box, flicks a cross to the back stick where Grezda tries a shot, but he drags it comfortably wide.

A bit a of a scuffle in Milan as Bruma expresses his no-uncertain-terms unhappiness with a challenge by Jorginho, and with good reason. The Chelsea midfielder (possibly unintentionally) put his studs down the winger’s ankle, and received the appropriate booking.

GOAL! Albania 0-3 Scotland (Forrest 55)

If it wasn’t it before, it’s it now. James Forrest bags his first international goal, set through on goal with a lovely through ball from (I think) Christie, he lifts the ball over the keeper, who gets a palm to it but not enough of one to prevent it bouncing into the corner.

James Forrest tucks home Scotland’s third of the night. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA
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Verratti has probably been Italy’s best player against Portugal, and he emphasises the point by spanking a brilliant pass to Insigne in the area, but the striker’s control doesn’t match the midfielder’s vision and another chance slips away.

It’s worth remembering that this is a patchwork Scotland side: nine players withdrew from the squad Alex McLeish initially picked, including Kieran Tierney, John McGinn, Leigh Griffiths and Tom Cairney. That’s forgetting Matt Ritchie, who withdrew his name from consideration, and James McArthur, who retired from international duty in October. Thus, a performance this strong against a side only ten places below them in the Fifa rankings is properly impressive.

In Milan, Italy have most certainly been on top: they’ve had a whopping 73% of possession, according to WhoScored, ten shots to Portugal’s two and have generally dominated hugely. And yet, no goals. Unless they’re more decisive after the break, they’ll continue to be frustrated.

That could hardly have gone better for Scotland. They’ve had the occasional shonky moment at the back, but have looked threatening going forwards - particularly from Fraser and Forrest out wide - and have their two goals. Plus, they’re playing against ten men. It will take some effort to muff it up from here, but if anyone can...

Penalty to Scotland!

Scotland have a free-kick, a hair to the left of centre, Stuart Armstrong sizes it up and strikes it straight into the wall. But what’s this?!? The referee spots a hand, and that seems extremely harsh. Still, up steps Steven Fletcher...

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