Norwich City captain Kenny McLean watched from the bench as Scotland suffered a 3-2 defeat against Greece, a setback that significantly hampers their World Cup qualification campaign. Under the management of Steve Clarke, Scotland's aspirations took a hit, particularly as former Norwich teammate Christos Tzolis delivered a standout performance, scoring a stunning long-range goal.
Tzolis, who previously played alongside McLean at Carrow Road, unleashed a remarkable 30-yard strike in the 63rd minute, extending Greece's lead to 3-0. Despite the defensive efforts of Grant Hanley, who captained Scotland in McLean's absence, the team struggled to contain the Greek attack throughout the match. A late resurgence saw Scotland pull back goals from Ben Doak and Ryan Christie, alongside the sending off of Greece's Anastasios Bakasetas, but the Scots could not complete the comeback.
Following this defeat, Scotland now trails Denmark by a single point, with a crucial Group C encounter looming on Tuesday. For Clarke's side, a victory over the Danes is essential to keep their hopes of automatic qualification for next summer’s World Cup alive.
In other international news, two Norwich City under-21 players were active in matches at the under-19 level earlier in the day. Zach Baumann played a pivotal role in Ukraine's 3-0 win over Montenegro, coming off the bench in the 62nd minute to contribute to the team's success. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Luis Lines was part of the Wales squad that triumphed over the USA in a tense penalty shootout.
Oscar Schwartau also made an appearance in an international fixture, playing the second half for Denmark's under-21 team during their 1-1 draw with the American youth side. Schwartau entered the match at half-time as Denmark made several changes. Additionally, Julius Berthel Askou Harvey, son of former Norwich defender Jens Berthel Askou, joined the action in the 60th minute.
Despite a commendable individual effort, Ruairi McConville was unable to secure a victory for Northern Ireland, as they fell 1-0 to Slovakia in Kosice. McConville was recognised for his performance, earning the player of the match accolade, yet the result significantly hampers Northern Ireland's World Cup ambitions.
Currently, no Norwich players are set to compete in international fixtures today. However, McConville may have another opportunity to showcase his skills when Northern Ireland hosts Luxembourg at Windsor Park tomorrow.