‘What is the plan?’: Spanish sports pages FUME at Scotland ‘shipwreck

Spanish newspapers laid into the national team after their dismal 2-0 defeat to Scotland at Hampden Park that handed the home side their first victory over the visitors since 1984. 

A raucous Tartan Army in full voice saw their side net the historic win to get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign off to a pitch-perfect start following Saturday’s 3-0 win over Cyprus.  

Scotland were sent shooting to the top of Group A after an anonymous Spanish side were unable to find a response in either half to Scott McTominay’s brace. 

Manchester City’s Rodri, who donned the armband for the match, was bitter in defeat, calling Scotland’s performance ‘rubbish’ and blaming timewasting, gamesmanship and a negligent referee for the Spanish defeat. 

But rather than find excuses for their side, the national press wasted no time in unpicking the mistakes made by an ‘inconsistent’ team and a coach whose eight changes had no ‘result’. 

WHAT’S THE PLAN? Marca offered a brutal assessment of Spain’s performance after their loss

A much-changed Spanish side failed to hand Scotland a rejoinder for either goal

A much-changed Spanish side failed to hand Scotland a rejoinder for either goal

McTominay scored at the start of each half to hand Scotland the history-making victory

McTominay scored at the start of each half to hand Scotland the history-making victory

Newspaper Marca was the first to ask questions of manager Luis de la Fuente, its headline shouting: ‘What is the plan?’

Shedding light on the embarrassment of the defeat, the front page read: ‘Scotland paints the face of a Spain that did not work along any line.

‘A vulgar and inconsistent team pays for its mistakes with a painful defeat after two goals from McTominay.’

The front page included a pointed quote from De la Fuente: ‘I have told the players that this is the way.’

The head coach, who has been in charge of La Roja since former manager Luis Enrique’s exit following a lacklustre World Cup exit against Morocco in the round of 16, made eight changes to the team that beat Norway 3-0 on Saturday. 

The team fielded was lacking the boldface names expected in a Spanish starting XI, with De La Fuente handing full debuts to 29-year-old defender David Garcia, and former Newcastle player Joselu. 

With the defeat, he became the first Spain manager to lose his first match on the road since Vicente Miere in 1991.  

as offered a similarly damning post-mortem, their headline reading: ‘Shipwreck in Glasgow’. 

‘Spain falls in Scotland after an acceptable first half and a horrible second.

‘No result from the eight changes of De la Fuente.’

SHIPWRECK IN GLASGOW: as highlighted a 'horrible' second half for the visitors

SHIPWRECK IN GLASGOW: as highlighted a ‘horrible’ second half for the visitors

SHIPWRECK: Sport's review was similarly damning and had little praise for Scotland too

SHIPWRECK: Sport’s review was similarly damning and had little praise for Scotland too

The team conceded within the first eight minutes of the match after Manchester United man McTominay justified his inclusion in the starting line-up with a continuation of his rich international goalscoring form. 

With his third goal in three days and 38 minutes played, the Newcastle target captalised on a moment of Spanish weakness to keep Scotland on the front foot. 

He scored again just after the break, and the visitors were unable to claw back momentum. 

Sport’s headline was along the same lines, simply: ‘Shipwreck’.

It drew attention to the lack of young Barcelona talent in the starting line-up, such as Gavi – who De la Fuente chose to rest – and the injured Pedri, and hinted that the loss should prove more than sobering for Spain due to a lack of Scottish quality. 

‘La Roja, without any blaugrana in the eleven, falls without appeal against Scotland with poor vision.

‘De la Fuente made eight changes, and the team broke in defence, and only Joselu created danger in attack.’

Debutant David Gracia had a night to forget, in part blaming the length of the grass

Debutant David Gracia had a night to forget, in part blaming the length of the grass 

Former Newcastle man Joselu failed to trouble Angus Gunn, in only his second international appearance for Scotland

Former Newcastle man Joselu failed to trouble Angus Gunn, in only his second international appearance for Scotland

Luis De la Fuente took a gamble against Steve Clarke's side that failed to pay off

Luis De la Fuente took a gamble against Steve Clarke’s side that failed to pay off

The former Magpie, who moved to back to LaLiga after failing to make an impact at Newcastle, struck the crossbar in the first half but failed to hand goalkeeper Angus Gunn – on his second cap – any major scares. 

As per Marca, the head coach took the loss to heart but believed that there were positives that could be built on, saying after the match: ‘It was a painful defeat. 

‘Analysing the game, I thought we did things well, and I thought we did enough to get a result. I will stick with those positive things, but we have to improve a lot.’

‘I’m delighted with the attitude of the players. We tried everything but it didn’t work.’

‘Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go to get back [to our best]. We have sown, and surely the future will ensure better experiences.’

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