'McGinn became a leader' - reaction as Scotland come from behind to beat Kazakhstan

1. McGinn (2) & Naismith net in second half after Zainutdinov screams in stunning opener
2. Team unchanged from win in Cyprus
3. Scotland will finish third if they avoid defeat
4. Clarke's side guaranteed play-off semi-final in March
5. Scotland lost in Kazakhstan in the opening game of the section
6. GET INVOLVED #bbcsportscot

Bring on the play-offs

So, that's it for Group I. Another campaign without qualification but there is the safety net of the play-offs to look forward to.

We'll know on Friday who stands in our way for the semi-final and where a final against either Norway or Serbia would be staged.

The dream is still on for Euro 2020 and we're all feeling a bit more buoyant after a good second half showing at Hampden.

Good night.

SNS

Scotland will be at home in the play-off semi-final on 26 March

'Players have done themselves the world of good'

Scotland manager Steve Clarke: "I've spoken a lot about positivity and I'm hoping it spreads to the supporters and the media. The players that have been here for this international break have done themselves the world of good, but we know we have work to do. I said before Cyprus I could see signs of improvement, but until we got results I couldn’t shout about it.

"We'll be home at Hampden in the semi-final play-off and we've shown we can be a good team here. I'm sure the place will be full for it."

'McGinn & Naismith develop good understanding'

Scotland manager Steve Clarke: "John McGinn is in a fantastic run of form and he's started to bring it into his international performances. It's important to remember he is in the early stages of his international career. We've found a good position for John, and him and Steven Naismith have developed a good understanding.

"Naismith is a great example to them all and it was great to see him score. He deserves it for his attitude."

'A great reaction in the second half'

Scotland manager Steve Clarke: The performance was good, it was really good second half against a dangerous opponent. We knew they were good on the counter-attack and they showed that with their goal.

"There was a great reaction in the second half and we played great stuff and created a lot of chances. That's three wins in a row now, so I don’t know about media but we are all feeling good about ourselves."

SNS

Scotland manager Steve Clarke now has a record of four wins and four defeats

Final standings

BBC Sport

Stay up for Sportscene

Sportscene highlights will be on BBC One Scotland at 23:05 GMT.

Go on, it's always worth staying up to see Scotland score three goals.

Presenter Jonathan Sutherland is joined in the studio by former internationals Steven Thompson and Michael Stewart for analysis of the comeback win at Hampden.

A second half to raise hopes...

Willie Miller

Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

If Scotland can put two halves together like the second half performance tonight, they have a chance of qualifying for the Euros via the play-offs

SNS

Scotland have a home semi-final to look forward to in the Euro 2020 play-offs

'We need to do the basics'

Billy Dodds

Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

We need to make sure we do the basics first, we didn't do that in the first half. We need to move the ball quickly and we did that in the second half. Whatever players Steve Clarke has at his disposal, it doesn't matter, that's what should be demanded

McGinn follows in McFadden footsteps

John McGinn becomes the first Scotland player to score in three successive matches since James McFadden back in 2007.

McGinn has six goals in those three outings, taking his total for the campaign to seven. He hadn't scored in the 15 internationals before he knocked in the opener in a 2-1 loss to Russia in September.

No other Scottish player has managed more than one goal in Group I.

'McGinn became a leader'

Tom English

BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

You look at John McGinn in the second half, he became the leader. Scotland need more of that. In the first half no one was doing any of that

SNS

John McGinn scored twice in the win at Hampden

Get involved

Some of your thoughts from Twitterland...

Gibson: Great comeback and McGinn playing exactly where he belongs, our team is showing some promise. Badly needed promise.

Bawzburzt: Not a great performance 1st half, 2nd improved. 3 wins on the trot, many flaws to work out. But well done S Clarke.

Eric Bowman: In the end fantastic result solid second half unchanged team which is great, Naismith goal 10 further addition to hall of fame and our new hero McGinn again on song despite a bang on the head. Chuffed for the gaffer been a tough start to his reign however has won games expected to.

What if we make the finals?

Scotland would be in a group with England, with those sides meeting at Wembley. The Scots' other two games in the section would be at Hampden.

With qualification over and the seedings confirmed, it has also emerged that the group would also contain one of France, Poland, Switzerland and Croatia as second seeds.

One of Portugal, Turkey, Austria, Sweden or Czech Republic would be drawn from the third pot, with Steve Clarke's side fourth seeds.

Quite how defending champions and Nations League champions Portugal are in that third pot is beyond us...

What happens next?

So Scotland will now find out on Friday which of Bulgaria, Hungary, Israel or Romania they will face at Hampden in their Euro 2020 play-off semi-final on 26 March.

Should they win that one-off tie, Steve Clarke's side would face either Norway or Serbia in a one-legged final, with the home team also decided at Friday's Uefa draw in Switzerland.

BBC

Top two win again

Belgium fell behind at home but stormed back to complete Group I with a 100% record.

Belgium 6-1 Cyprus

San Marino 0-5 Russia

Was there 'a verbal flamethrower' from Clarke?

Tom English

BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

I think Steve Clarke gave them a verbal flamethrower as they came out with intent in the second half, but they had two big slices of luck with McGinn's deflected free-kick and Naismith's goal might've not stood. At least the crowd go home feeling a little bit happy and Clarke will be content with three wins in a row

Scotland finish on a winning note

So, Scotland end up with 15 points from 10 games to end up third in Group I.

A negative goal difference from a pool that contains San Marino, Cyprus and Kazakhstan is also disappointing.

It's a 4 or 5 out of 10 effort but three wins in a row to finish will lift spirits for the play-offs in March.

More of that to follow.

Much-improved Scots turn jeers to cheers

Alasdair Lamont

BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

Quite a contrast in the crowd’s reaction at full-time to the one at half-time. The 19,515 hardy souls who braved the November cold were rewarded with a second-half display full of verve, enthusiasm and some good football to boot.

FULL-TIME Scotland 3-1 Kazakhstan

The first half was a shocker, with Scotland sluggish and sloppy and falling behind to a classy finish.

However, it all changed in the second 45 minutes, with John McGinn finding the net twice, either side of a Steven Naismith header.

Scotland finish third in the group.

SNS

Scotland came from behind to win at Hampden

'McGinn's a goal-scoring machine'

Billy Dodds

Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

He's turning into a goal-scoring machine. It's good build-up. Fleck drives on with the ball, Taylor shapes a lovely ball into the box and it's a great finish from McGinn

GOAL Scotland 3-1 Kazakhstan

It's that man again...

John Fleck prods a pass into the path of the over-lapping Greg Taylor and the low cross is swept home by John McGinn at the edge of the six yard box.

That's his last act, with Stuart Armstrong coming on for the four minutes of stoppage time.

BBC Sport