UEFA Nations League matchday five results on Friday:
Group A2
Serbia 1 Germany 3
Netherlands 7 Greece 0
Group B1
Scotland 2 North Macedonia 1
Slovenia 0 Switzerland 0
Group C3
Moldova 2 Kazakhstan 1
Slovakia 2 Faroe Islands 2
Group C4
Luxembourg 0 Estonia 1
Bulgaria 0 Iceland 5
Group D1
Andorra 2 Gibraltar 0
Group D2
Liechtenstein 0 Azerbaijan 1
JOHN MCGINN’S DOUBLE got Sebastien Pocognoli off the mark and off the hook in a 2-1 victory over Group B1 makeweights North Macedonia at Barclays Hampden.
Visiting goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski denied the Scots three times in a goalless first half, and Billy Gilmour missed an open goal from eight yards before fellow midfielder McGinn broke down the North Macedonia rearguard in the 54th minute – only for the limited visitors to level through striker Elmin Rastoder three minutes later.
However, the Aston Villa playmaker scored from the spot in the 73rd minute to give Pocognoli his first home win as Scotland head coach.
Captain Andy Robertson equalled Sir Kenny Dalglish’s 102-cap record and will beat it away to Switzerland on Monday, while by taking his international goal tally to 24, McGinn joined Hughie Gallacher as joint-third on the all-time Scotland list.
Scotland moved on to seven points from five fixtures, one point behind second-placed Slovenia, who drew 0-0 at home to Group B1 winners Switzerland, but the aim of the runners-up place, which brings a promotion play-off spot and a more favourable seeding for the 2028 European Championship qualifiers, is tough.
The Scots play the dominant Swiss in St Gallen while Slovenia will be odds-on to take care of North Macedonia, who, with no points from five games, will finish bottom of the table.
There was a new look to Pocognoli’s defence.
Stoke centre-back Luke Graham made his first Scotland start, while late call-up Ryan Porteous returned alongside him, with Kieran Tierney making up the back three.
Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay was in Pocognoli’s squad and team for the first time following a heart issue, while Torino striker Che Adams also started after missing the last camp.
It was a slow start, and in the 16th minute Dimitrievski turned a shot from McTominay behind for a corner which came to nothing.
Tierney headed a Robertson free-kick over the crossbar before Adams’ deflected header from a McGinn corner forced a terrific reaction save from Dimitrievski at his near post.
Scott McTominay of Scotland bicycle kicks a shot on goal. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
In the 34th minute, McTominay tried to replicate his stunning overhead-kick goal against Denmark in the clinching World Cup qualifier last year, but this time his effort from 12 yards flew high over the bar.
As Scotland pressed with more purpose, Adams played in McTominay, but he drove straight at Dimitrievski, and the danger was cleared. Just before the break, a rare North Macedonia attack ended with captain Enis Bardhi shooting into the side netting.
There was less than a minute played in the second half when Adams cut the ball back, and although McTominay failed to connect, it sped to Gilmour who somehow, with the net empty, lifted his shot over to widespread astonishment.
Graham then headed a Lewis Ferguson corner past the post from inside a packed penalty area, but when the ball broke for McGinn from Adams’ battle with the North Macedonia defence, the former St Mirren and Hibernian midfielder left Dimitrievski no chance with his confident finish.
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However, when Rastoder got in front of McTominay to head in Bardhi’s corner just three minutes later – North Macedonia’s first goal this year – the complexion of the game changed again.
Oli McBurnie replaced Adams and soon set up wing-back Ben Gannon-Doak, who was challenged and dispossessed by Dimitrievski.
Initially, play went on, but Slovakian referee Michal Ocensas was asked by his VAR to check for a possible penalty and eventually pointed to the spot.
McGinn sent the keeper the wrong way, and Pocognoli got his coveted home win at the third attempt.
Germany's Brajan Gruda, right, celebrates with Maximilian Mittelstadt after scoring. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Elsewhere, Germany cruised to a 3-1 win against Serbia in Belgrade in the Nations League on Friday, setting up a crunch clash with the Netherlands in Berlin on Monday.
In teeming rain in an almost empty stadium, the Germans forced Serbia’s Srdan Babic into an early own goal, with Florian Wirtz and Brajan Gruda also scoring.
Babic made up for his blunder with a second-half consolation strike, while Serbia finished with nine men after substitutes Vanja Dragojevic and Andrija Zivkovic were sent off late on.
The Netherlands’ 7-0 annihilation of Greece in Amsterdam means the Germans will likely need to win on Monday to reach the quarter-finals, unless Serbia beat the Greeks away from home.
Germany have now won twice, drawn twice and lost once in five games under coach Jurgen Klopp.
Germany's head coach Jurgen Klopp leaves the field. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Serbia are guaranteed to finish bottom of the group after a fifth loss in a row.
With Serbia’s fans banned by Uefa due to racist and discriminatory behaviour earlier in the competition, the teams took to the field with the cavernous Rajko Mitic Stadium almost empty.
Just 5,000 schoolchildren — and 200 travelling Germany fans — were allowed to attend.
Germany shrugged off the wet and wild conditions in the Serbian capital by taking the lead after just two minutes.
Kai Havertz, starting up front ahead of the recalled Niclas Fuellkrug, headed a corner centrally which took a deflection off Babic and trickled over the line.
Havertz was again instrumental when Germany added a second on 14 minutes.
The Arsenal forward broke through the Serbian defence and while his close-range shot was well saved, the ball fell to his one-time Bayer Leverkusen teammate Wirtz, who guided it over the line.
Gruda notched Germany’s third just after the break with a spectacular solo effort. The debutant collected the ball near halfway and marched upfield before skimming a low shot into the corner.
Babic pulled one back for Serbia just before the hour mark, the defender perfectly placed to tap in when Marc-André ter Stegen palmed a Nemanja Gudelj shot directly at his feet.
Dragojevic received a straight red for a crunching tackle on Joshua Kimmich after VAR review with 14 minutes to play.
The hosts then lost Zivkovic just before the finish when his yellow was upgraded to red for dissent.
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Aston Villa's John McGinn stars as Scotland edge North Macedonia
UEFA Nations League matchday five results on Friday:
Group A2
Group B1
Group C3
Group C4
Group D1
Group D2
JOHN MCGINN’S DOUBLE got Sebastien Pocognoli off the mark and off the hook in a 2-1 victory over Group B1 makeweights North Macedonia at Barclays Hampden.
Visiting goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski denied the Scots three times in a goalless first half, and Billy Gilmour missed an open goal from eight yards before fellow midfielder McGinn broke down the North Macedonia rearguard in the 54th minute – only for the limited visitors to level through striker Elmin Rastoder three minutes later.
However, the Aston Villa playmaker scored from the spot in the 73rd minute to give Pocognoli his first home win as Scotland head coach.
Captain Andy Robertson equalled Sir Kenny Dalglish’s 102-cap record and will beat it away to Switzerland on Monday, while by taking his international goal tally to 24, McGinn joined Hughie Gallacher as joint-third on the all-time Scotland list.
Scotland moved on to seven points from five fixtures, one point behind second-placed Slovenia, who drew 0-0 at home to Group B1 winners Switzerland, but the aim of the runners-up place, which brings a promotion play-off spot and a more favourable seeding for the 2028 European Championship qualifiers, is tough.
The Scots play the dominant Swiss in St Gallen while Slovenia will be odds-on to take care of North Macedonia, who, with no points from five games, will finish bottom of the table.
There was a new look to Pocognoli’s defence.
Stoke centre-back Luke Graham made his first Scotland start, while late call-up Ryan Porteous returned alongside him, with Kieran Tierney making up the back three.
Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay was in Pocognoli’s squad and team for the first time following a heart issue, while Torino striker Che Adams also started after missing the last camp.
It was a slow start, and in the 16th minute Dimitrievski turned a shot from McTominay behind for a corner which came to nothing.
Tierney headed a Robertson free-kick over the crossbar before Adams’ deflected header from a McGinn corner forced a terrific reaction save from Dimitrievski at his near post.
In the 34th minute, McTominay tried to replicate his stunning overhead-kick goal against Denmark in the clinching World Cup qualifier last year, but this time his effort from 12 yards flew high over the bar.
As Scotland pressed with more purpose, Adams played in McTominay, but he drove straight at Dimitrievski, and the danger was cleared. Just before the break, a rare North Macedonia attack ended with captain Enis Bardhi shooting into the side netting.
There was less than a minute played in the second half when Adams cut the ball back, and although McTominay failed to connect, it sped to Gilmour who somehow, with the net empty, lifted his shot over to widespread astonishment.
Graham then headed a Lewis Ferguson corner past the post from inside a packed penalty area, but when the ball broke for McGinn from Adams’ battle with the North Macedonia defence, the former St Mirren and Hibernian midfielder left Dimitrievski no chance with his confident finish.
However, when Rastoder got in front of McTominay to head in Bardhi’s corner just three minutes later – North Macedonia’s first goal this year – the complexion of the game changed again.
Oli McBurnie replaced Adams and soon set up wing-back Ben Gannon-Doak, who was challenged and dispossessed by Dimitrievski.
Initially, play went on, but Slovakian referee Michal Ocensas was asked by his VAR to check for a possible penalty and eventually pointed to the spot.
McGinn sent the keeper the wrong way, and Pocognoli got his coveted home win at the third attempt.
Elsewhere, Germany cruised to a 3-1 win against Serbia in Belgrade in the Nations League on Friday, setting up a crunch clash with the Netherlands in Berlin on Monday.
In teeming rain in an almost empty stadium, the Germans forced Serbia’s Srdan Babic into an early own goal, with Florian Wirtz and Brajan Gruda also scoring.
Babic made up for his blunder with a second-half consolation strike, while Serbia finished with nine men after substitutes Vanja Dragojevic and Andrija Zivkovic were sent off late on.
The Netherlands’ 7-0 annihilation of Greece in Amsterdam means the Germans will likely need to win on Monday to reach the quarter-finals, unless Serbia beat the Greeks away from home.
Germany have now won twice, drawn twice and lost once in five games under coach Jurgen Klopp.
Serbia are guaranteed to finish bottom of the group after a fifth loss in a row.
With Serbia’s fans banned by Uefa due to racist and discriminatory behaviour earlier in the competition, the teams took to the field with the cavernous Rajko Mitic Stadium almost empty.
Just 5,000 schoolchildren — and 200 travelling Germany fans — were allowed to attend.
Germany shrugged off the wet and wild conditions in the Serbian capital by taking the lead after just two minutes.
Kai Havertz, starting up front ahead of the recalled Niclas Fuellkrug, headed a corner centrally which took a deflection off Babic and trickled over the line.
Havertz was again instrumental when Germany added a second on 14 minutes.
The Arsenal forward broke through the Serbian defence and while his close-range shot was well saved, the ball fell to his one-time Bayer Leverkusen teammate Wirtz, who guided it over the line.
Gruda notched Germany’s third just after the break with a spectacular solo effort. The debutant collected the ball near halfway and marched upfield before skimming a low shot into the corner.
Babic pulled one back for Serbia just before the hour mark, the defender perfectly placed to tap in when Marc-André ter Stegen palmed a Nemanja Gudelj shot directly at his feet.
Dragojevic received a straight red for a crunching tackle on Joshua Kimmich after VAR review with 14 minutes to play.
The hosts then lost Zivkovic just before the finish when his yellow was upgraded to red for dissent.
Additional reporting by AFP
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