The boos came every time Rodri touched the ball. And he had a lot of touches. Showing as much discipline as the Scotland players, the Tartan Army simply refused to relent throughout the first half.
When the noise echoed out inside Estadio La Cartuja, it temporarily swamped the sound of a passionate home crowd. Rodri’s words had not been forgotten.
Over the last seven months, his sour comments after Spain’s Hampden loss in March became an unlikely emblem of Scotland’s outstanding progress through Group A. They were referenced time and again. The Manchester City midfielder was cast as the pantomime villain of a show in which living happily ever after had begun to look inevitable for Steve Clarke’s men.
Come full-time in Seville, however, Rodri was the one left smiling. If anything could have made this loss even more painful – after 72 minutes of heroic defiance by Scotland against all manner of odds – it was found in their decrier thwarting any chance of a comeback.
His moment arrived seven minutes from the end. A long throw-in bounced through an uncertain Spanish defence and landed in front of substitute Stuart Armstrong. The Tartan Army rose to greet an equaliser as Armstrong connected, only for Rodri to produce a superb block that diverted the ball over the bar.
Rodri had slammed Scotland’s style of play as ‘rubbish’ in Spain’s 2-0 loss back in March
Scotland fans booed Rodri’s every touch in Seville to show his words had not been forgotten
Steve Clarke’s side ultimately suffered a 2-0 defeat following Ryan Porteous’s own goal
In that moment, the last chance of grasping qualification in Andalusia evaporated. Three minutes later, an unlucky own goal from Ryan Porteous sealed Scotland’s first loss of the campaign and ensured the wait for a ticket to Germany would be extended.
It might only last until Sunday night, when Norway must beat Spain to remain in contention. Even so, this loss still stung. Largely because of how close Scotland had come to the necessary point.
Ultimately, guts did not deliver glory. Cruelty came with Scott McTominay’s disallowed second half goal. While it was apparently ruled out for a fractional offside against Jack Hendry, that doesn’t explain why the referee was initially summoned to the pitchside monitor. In truth, it was just one of many blows Clarke’s men had to contend with.
Already denied the services of a star performer in Kieran Tierney, Scotland suffered the injury loss of captain Andy Robertson yet stood firm for so long against one of the planet’s most powerful football nations.
But then came Morata’s bewitching bit of movement. Taking a couple of steps back before then running on Jack Hendry’s blindside, he connected with a Jesus Navas cross to plant the ball into the net.
A romantic to his core, Morata has the image of his wife’s face tattooed on his arm. Here, he was cast in the role of a heartbreaker. Whether in club football or with the national side, it’s a feeling Scottish fans have experienced more than once in Seville over recent decades.
Every touch of the ball felt precious for Clarke’s team during the opening period. It lasted 49 minutes in total yet felt closer to a light year as Spain enjoyed an almost total dominance of possession and set about trying to break the defensive resilience of their visitors.
They didn’t succeed. Instead, the organisation instilled by Clarke was exhibited in the white wall assembled to frustrate them at every possible turn.
Scotland were harshly denied an opener when Scott McTominay’s free kick was disalllowed
The goal was ruled out for offside despite the referee being sent to view the pitchside monitor
Alvaro Morata scored Spain’s first goal to swing the match into their favour in the second half
True, there was also a necessary slice of fortune. Or two. Had Ferran Torres not missed a snip after being played in by Morata after just 66 seconds the half would have taken on a very different complexion.
As it was, Spanish frustration grew as Scottish hearts and lungs swelled with the immense efforts of keeping the hosts at bay.
Luis de la Fuente’s side could easily slip into a front five when Mikel Merino and Gavi made advanced runs from midfield. With full-backs Dani Carjaval and Alejandro Balde also pressing high, Clarke’s team needed absolute alertness second after second.
Somehow, Merino’s shot stayed out when it hit the inside of the post, missed a rebound off Angus Gunn as it spun across goal and went behind. The laws of physics bended to benefit Scotland there, but the real rewards came from the individual defensive excellence that created a defiant whole.
The tracking run and perfect block tackle made by Aaron Hickey on Mikel Oyarzabal was a prime example. The Brentford full back stuck to his man like glue – even switching sides with Robertson when Spain’s wingers swapped over.
Hickey’s diligence was matched by the muscle of Porteous. The one change from victory over Spain at Hampden came with the injury absence of Tierney. In came Scott McKenna.
As much as Clarke’s selection fascinated, the real story lay in the side picked by De la Fuente. The Spain coach firmly denies he underestimated Scotland last time around but his use of the further reaches of his squad certainly felt like it.
Here, it was different. Only three Spanish players who started in March did so again. Most of the fit and available big guns were deployed to create a far stronger unit than the one which failed in Glasgow.
Spain’s improvement in the interim period was underlined by winning the Nations League before 13 goals were smashed in against Georgia and Cyprus on their return to Euro qualification action. La Furia Roja has restored its roar.
Andy Robertson’s shoulder injury in the first half served as a major blow to Scotland in Seville
Scotland’s defeat has delayed their likely qualification for next summer’s Euros in Germany
Victory continued Spain’s recent improvement and moved the hosts closer to qualification
Robertson’s 42nd-minute shoulder injury prompted the introduction of Nathan Patterson and a more permanent move to the left for Hickey.
While that change was forced by misfortune, a double half-time switch by De la Fuente spoke of his displeasure at only one shot on target being fashioned. Fran Garcia and Bryan Zaragoza were asked to come with some different answers.
Eventually, Spain found what they needed. The momentum shift after McTominay’s disallowed goal and the fatigue felt in the Scottish ranks finally took its toll.
This time, Rodri wasn’t the one wasn’t the one left with a grimace.
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