Nations League: Reaction as Scotland clinch Euro 2020 play-off place & Nations League promotion

1. Scotland clinch Euro 2020 play-off place
2. Winning group also means they are promoted to Nations League League B
3. McGregor denied Hemed with instinctive late stop after Zahavi set up tense finish
4. Forrest hat trick had Scots in control after Kayal opener
5. GET INVOLVED #bbcsportscot

Good night

That's all folks. Off you pop to watch Sportscene. You won't be disappointed.

Scotland won promotion, guaranteed a place among the third seeds for the Euro 2020 draw and banked a play-off semi-final place (at home against Finland, most likely) if we fail to get through our qualifying group.

Not a bad night's work.

SNS

'There is more to come'

A final word or two from a delighted Alex McLeish.

"I've got to put it in perspective. I took a hit in the Israel game. I was down but I’m always very conscientious and want to see how I can do it better. Criticism is fine because it makes you want to do better, even if it is sometimes over the top. But we’ve been resilient, worked really hard, and done a lot of preparation and it’s paid off.

"There’s more to come. They’ve got evidence of that now in the last two games. We showed how we can really play tonight and that maybe took Israel by surprise. They kept cool heads and managed the game well and didn’t get involved in anything.

"You don’t get a chance to rest on your laurels and you have to keep improving."

'We were written off and we came through it'

A wee bit more from Scotland boss Alex McLeish...

"We were written off and we came through it. That gives us a great sense of satisfaction.

"We were quite comfortable. There were two long-range strikes, which is quite unusual.

"It feels perfect to me. The goal was to win and we did that. We’ll look at the video and look to improve but the lads played to a high level of quality and intensity.

"We had a great team effort and brilliant spirit in the dressing room, with every one of them bursting to play for their country.

"We encouraged James to get inside more after the Portugal game and he’s in phenomenal form. Allan’s save was what you would call world class given the moment of the game.

"Fletch came back in and led the line really well. I'm so pleased with his contribution and his leadership."

Sportscene well worth a watch

Remember, you will be able to watch highlights of the game on BBC One Scotland at 22:45.

Presenter Jonathan Sutherland and pundits Steven Thompson and Michael Stewart have plenty to chew over after a thrilling night at Hampden.

Stick with a winning team?

After those back-to-back wins, do the likes of Kieran Tierney and John McGinn stroll back into the starting line up or do the guys with the jerseys keep them?

The next game won't be until March when European Championship qualifying begins, so a lot can happen between now and then.

One thing is for sure, James Forrest is nailed on to stay in the team, along with fellow winger Ryan Fraser. Those two were real shining lights but there were plenty of others too.

McLeish 'absolutely proud'

Scotland manager Alex McLeish on Sky Sports: "We played some great football for an hour. We managed the game, I thought, particularly well.

"I've got to be absolutely proud of the guys - the way they played tonight, the way we played in Albania. There was a lot of great play out there.

"Special mention for James Forrest. Coming into the box as he did was just amazing. There was a lot of good build-up play as well.

"Allan McGregor's been in fantastic form. That was a phenomenal save. He deserves the highest credit for that.

"I've only played four competition games. Three we've won, one we've lost. I took a hit after the Israel loss in October and I didn't feel great for 24 hours then I was back working again trying to put it right."

SNS

Here's how the final table looks

BBC

'Defensively there is work to be done'

Kris Boyd

Former Scotland striker on BBC Radio Scotland

I don't think Israel were great defensively but they did cause Scotland problems with their intricate passes around the box. Credit to Scotland, attacking-wise they were really good, defensively there is work to be done.

'A kind of golden ticket' for Scotland

Willie Miller

Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

Uefa know we've been tortured for 20 years and now they are doing everything to help us get to a major tournament! Let's hope Scotland can do it the normal way but this is a kind of golden ticket if they don't manage it.

Easy choice for man-of-the-match

No surprise to see James Forrest leading the way in our player-rater. The Celtic winger is averaging a giddy 8.83 at the moment, with voting due to close shortly.

Ryan Christie is running him closest...

Use the player rater here.

Scots showed character - Forrest

Scotland hat-trick hero James Forrest on Sky Sports: "It's a great night.

"It showed a lot of character that we kept going and we managed to get the goals.

"You need to be contributing either goals or assists and I'm delighted with the last couple of games to be doing that."

SNS

When is the Euro 2020 draw?

The draw for Euro 2020 will take place in Dublin on 2 December.

The group matches start in late March and finish next November.

There are 10 groups, with the top two from each earning their passage straight into the finals.

Four more will qualifying via the Nations League play-off spots.

The tournament will be spread across 13 different countries, with Hampden Park one of the venues, but we're maybe getting ahead of ourselves for now...

Getty Images

Seeding sorted for Euro qualifying

Another consequence of tonight's result is Scotland nailing down a place among the third seeds for the Euro 2020 draw.

Add that to the list of reasons to be cheerful.

Oh, and the group winners at this level pocket about £1m in prize money, which will come in handy. New blazers might be needed for a major tournament...

Promotion party

The Nations League will be back with us for 2020-21, before World Cup qualifying gets started, and table-toppers Scotland will move up to League B.

With the likes of Germany and Croatia getting relegated from the A category, the next campaign promises to be a whole lot tougher.

I'm not sure what will be at stake next time round and I'm not sure Uefa know either but we're all loving this Nations League lark now.

Play-off permutations

BBC

So, we've won the group. Now what? Well, quite a lot. The key achievement is securing a provisional play-off place for Euro 2020.

If Scotland do not finish in the top two of their qualifying group, there is now a safety net.

Scotland have now secured a one-off Nations League play-off semi-final against Finland at Hampden in March 2020, with the winners potentially facing either Norway or Serbia in the final.

A ballot or toss of a coin before the League C semis are played will decide who's at home for the final.

McGregor saves the day

I'm just picking my jaw up off the floor after that late save from Allan McGregor.

Tomer Hemed must have thought he'd scored the equaliser when he managed to stretch and get his volley on target.

But McGregor got a hand to it and somehow had the power to push it over the top.

SNS

FULL-TIME Scotland 3-2 Israel

James Forrest is the Scotland hero, firing in a hat-trick to propel Alex McLeish's side to the top of Nations League C, Group 1.

All three goals were fantastic finishes.

It was far from plain sailing though, with Israel scoring first and grabbing a second late on. Then came that incredible stop from Allan McGregor.

Great drama at Hampden Park.

SNS

Free kick to Israel. The goalkeeper is coming up for it... Matt Phillips manages to launch it clear, much to the delight of the home fans.

Did you ever think the Nations League could get this exciting when Scotland were drawn in a group with Israel and Albania?

'McGregor has done it again'

Willie Miller

Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

Magnificent save. That was Israel's chance, it looked like it was going to end up in the back of the net, Allan McGregor has done it again.