Scotland player ratings vs Greece: Hearts star justifies selection with excellent 8/10 display as Scots saved by the Bell-arus

Scotland’s World Cup fate remains in their own hands after a 3-2 defeat against already-eliminated Greece in Athens coupled with Denmark’s failure to beat Belarus kept their automatic qualification alive.

After 63 minutes, Steve Clarke’s side looked consigned to a place in the dreaded play-offs. A wretched performance saw them trail the hosts 3-0 while the Danes led Belarus in Copenhagen.

Goals from Tasos Bakasetas, Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis had the Greeks in total control, but late drama ensued when Belarus levelled and then went into the most unlikeliest of leads within three minutes at the Parken Stadion.

As the near improbable news reached the Tartan Army in Pireaus, nerves started to jangle before Ben Gannon-Doak cut the deficit with his first senior international goal and Ryan Christie headed the Scots back to within one. Denmark then hauled themselves level before Greece had Bakasetas sent off to leave Scotland’s hopes hanging in the balance.

An equaliser didn’t materialise, meaning the nations’ fate relied on the 103rd-ranked Belarusians holding on to clinch a point. They did so after seven minutes of injury time to record their first point and bail Clarke’ men out in the most dramatic fashion.

Following an intensive five-day warm weather training camp in nearby Turkey to help get acclimatised to the conditions, the Scots arrived in Athens clear in the mindset of what was required.

On paper, the task was simple. Guarantee at least a point to set up a Group C winner-takes-all showdown with Denmark at a sold-out Hampden Park on Tuesday night. Easier said than done against a dangerous opponent, who had proved more than a match for Scotland judging by three previous head-to-heads this year.

Having faced an alarming 37 shots in two games on home soil against the Greeks and Belarus last month, head coach Clarke must’ve been cautious of his team being exposed again when it came to selecting his starting eleven.

Without the injured Billy Gilmour and Angus Gunn, he opted to go with experienced heads and made SIX changes to the side that started the nervy win over Belarus last time out. Veteran Hearts keeper Craig Gordon was handed the gloves for what was his first competitive outing in six months.

Aaron Hickey, John Souttar and Hibs star Grant Hanley were drafted into defence with Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson back from suspension. Returning Jambos frontman Lawrence Shankland was named on the bench.

Greece - undoubtedly feeling a sense of bitter disappointment at finding themselves out of contention to qualify with two matches remaining - couldn’t afford to take the visitors lightly.

The Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium was only two thirds full ahead of kick-off with plenty of empty seats scattered around the venue, perhaps summing up the mood of the home nation at present. They were drowned out by the noisy 3,000-strong Tartan Army supporters who had made the trip in expectation rather than hope.

Despite claiming maximum points during the October camp, the general consensus among the squad was that standards had been allowed to slip. This was the perfect time to respond in a positive manner.

Their fate may have already been sealed but Clarke and his players still knew the attacking threat Greece posed. They had to beware of Ivan Jovanovic’s men bearing any grudges with regards to how their campaign had panned out.

And the warning signs were there from the first whistle. Scotland sat deep and allowed the hosts to dictate possession with Gordon clutching onto a few early crosses into his box.

The Greeks looked like a team with a point to prove after missing out on another major tournament and they seized the early initiative by opening the scoring after just seven minutes.

A defensive blunder from Souttar saw the Rangers centre-back misjudge the flight of the ball and allow Vangelis Pavlidis to force Gordon into a excellent save. However, the ball spilled out to Tasos Bakasetas who drilled the rebound low into the bottom right-hand corner to compound a miserable start for men in dark blue.

A shuddering setback and one that Clarke’s side struggled to recover from. There were few signs that Scotland had learned anything from their past two performances.

Gordon was called into action again, making another superb stop at his near post to thwart teenage sensation Konstantinos Karetsas before the youngster sent his follow-up effort wide of the target.

Given what was at stake, Scotland hadn’t caused the Greeks anywhere near enough problems. They looked extremely vulnerable at the back and were being cut open at will.

Panagiotis Retsos was next to threaten, rising highest to meet a corner at the front post but again Gordon was equal to it. It was another huge let-off and made for grim viewing.

Benfica talisman Pavlidis then almost turned home into an empty net on the stretch as Clarke’s side continues to give up opportunities.

In truth, spooked Scotland could easily have found themselves four or five down at the interval as they tried to weather the storm. Something had to change. Half-time couldn’t come quick enough.

Those who had travelled to the Greek capital watched on in trepidation, fearing the worst. Greece should’ve been out of sight, but importantly they weren’t.

Scotland were still in the contest and out of nowhere, Scott McTominay thundered a first-time shot off the crossbar with his weaker left foot from the edge of the box after a near flick from Che Adams. Would that finally spark the visitors into life?

Suddenly there was hope in the dying embers of the first half. Aaron Hickey’s teasing delivery to the back post found Adams who timed his run to perfection, but the Torino striker could only plant his header wide of the post from a tight angle.

It was a glorious chance and one that Adams will feel he should’ve done better with.

Moments later, Ben Gannon-Doak found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but spurned his big chance to level the match after delaying his shot and allowing Odysseas Vlachodimos to close him down in the nick of time. A head in hands moment.

Three golden chances had gone begging. But, at long last, some cause for encouragement after being pulled apart for most of the opening 45 minutes.

Half-time brought a chance for Clarke’s side to regroup. No changes were forthcoming as play resumed.

It felt as though the tide was gradually starting to turn as Scotland began to push men forward in search of a much-needed equaliser. It almost arrived after 53 minutes when Ryan Christie picked up a loose ball and drive forward into space before opting to squad the ball to Adams, whose goal-bound effort was expertly blocked.

Then came an almighty sucker punch. Andrews Tetteh, who replaced the injured Pavlidis late in the first half, was afforded acres of room down the left flank on the counter. His low delivery reached Karetsas, who had escaped the clutches of Andy Robertson before sweeping high into the net to leave Gordon with no chance.

A devastating blow. Gordon saved another effort, this time from Tetteh minutes later. The resulting corner was headed off the post by Konstantinos Koulierakis.

This was starting to get ugly for those of a Scottish persuasion. Christos Tzolis added a quickfire third after 63 minutes with a powerful strike that flashed past the outstretched Gordon.

News then filtered through that Belarus had equalised against Denmark. That was quickly followed by a Scotland goal. John McGinn’s low ball across the box found Gannon-Doak who raced in at the back post to rifle home his first goal for his country.

To ramp up the drama even further, the Tartan Army were urging their team on after learning that Belarus had taken the lead against the Danes to completely change the complexion of Group C.

This wasn’t in the script at all. Neither was what was about to unfold in Athens. A terrific Robertson pick out found Ryan Christie who nodded home unmarked to reduce the arrears even further.

It was game on again. Scotland were firmly in the ascendency now and Vlachodimos produced an outrageous save to thwart McTominay’s effort after looking certain to score from a Gannon-Doak cross.

With Denmark now back on level terms against Belarus, Clarke went for broke. Hearts frontman Shankland and Lyndon Dykes were introduced with ten minutes left to play.

There was another late twist in the tale when Greece scorer Bakasetas was shown a second yellow card for his involvement in a heavy collision with Lewis Ferguson.

Could Scotland now find a late leveller against 10 men? George Hirst replaced Gannon-Doak and it looked as though the Ipswich Town was going to be presented with a simple tap-in within seconds of entering the fray, but Vlachodimos got the faintest of touches on McGinn’s by-line cross to clear the danger.

As the full-time whistle sounded, victory proved scant consolation for Greece as they managed to extract some revenge on Clarke’s side.

Attention quickly turned to the result in Copenhagen - a dramatic 2-2 draw that now sets up a grandstand finish with the table-topping Danes making the trip to Glasgow on Tuesday sitting one point ahead.

To quote Fergie, “Football, bloody hell”

Here’s how the Edinburgh Evening News rated the players: