Scortland's U17 Euro Championship qualifying hopes are hanging by a thread after being thumped 4-0 by a German aspect that appears able to going the complete distance in Israel this summer season.
Regardless of a spirited efficiency on the Falkirk Stadium, Brian McLaughlin’s aspect had been picked off by the spectacular guests to go away them with only one level from two Group 3 video games.
Nothing greater than victory of their closing match in opposition to Georgia on Tuesday will now suffice if the younger Scots are to have any hopes of reaching the finals. However even which may not be sufficient after this heavy defeat.
The pre-match focus was on Celtic and Rangers kids Ben Doak and Rory Wilson each of whom are on the the radar of Premier League golf equipment south of the border.
The duo had been additionally pivotal to the stirring second half fightback that produced a gap day draw in opposition to Czech Republic - with Wilson nabbing each objectives from Doak assists - final Wednesday.
Doak - the short ft, powerhouse winger - bought a style of the highest crew with substitute appearances in opposition to Rangers and Dundee United earlier this yr and is on Liverpool ’s radar.
And on this proof it was simple to see why because the 16-year-old’s surging runs into the field continued to be the Scots’ finest weapon in attempting to breach the German defence.
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Sadly this time his invention couldn’t muster a purpose.
Doak’s driving run after simply 5 minutes ended with a shot flashing simply broad of the far publish.
However the Germans served discover of their menace when Samuele Di Benedetto pressured a flying save from Jacob Pazikas from 25 yards.
With Stuttgart playmaker - and German skipper - Laurin Ulrich pulling the strings the Jung Mannschaft had been a pleasure to look at.
However the Scots had been defending stoutly when required and regarded harmful on the break with Doak the right out ball when required.
The Celtic teen mixed with Aberdeen’s Dylan Lobban to put one other on a plate for Wilson and the striker’s angled shot from 16 yards was properly saved by Dennis Seimen.
However the Scots fell behind proper on the half hour mark after being caught by a fast counter assault on the left and Hoffenheim ahead Tom Bischof fired low previous Pazikas from 12 yards.
Pazikas needed to look sharp to thwart Vitalie Becker after one other flowing transfer down the German left as McLaughlin’s kids started to lose their grip on the sport.
But proper on half-time Wilson got here inside a whisker of levelling after Lennon Miller - son of former Aberdeen and Falkirk ace Lee - picked out the hitman with an ideal cross just for the striker’s header to be blocked for a nook.
However inside 20 seconds of the restart the Germans had doubled their lead when Ulrich discovered area on the left and his completely weighted cross was flicked dwelling by the pinnacle of Dzenan Pejcinovic.
There was a mountain to climb for the younger Scots. However they’d confronted the identical deficit in opposition to Czech Republic earlier than combating again for a draw within the opener.
It wasn’t to be on this event although. It bought worse after 57 minutes when sub Liam Harvey’s slack ball in midfield allowed Germany to interrupt and Bischof fired dwelling from the sting of the field for his second of the afternoon.
McLaughlin eliminated Doak and Wilson with 25 minutes remaining with Tuesday’s all-or-nothing conflict with Georgia in thoughts.
However Scotland had been trying leg weary as the sport wore on with Arijon Ibrahimovic and Ulrich each near extending the lead additional.
The fourth purpose did arrive within the 76th minute and once more it got here down the Scots’ proper as Lars Raebiger’s cross discovered Ibrahimovic on the again publish to web the fourth.
Pazikas produced one other good cease to disclaim Bigo Atom’s highly effective blast and one other to show Wanner’s effort broad earlier than Ibrahimovic cracked an angled effort off the publish.
But it surely was very a lot injury limitation by that time as Marc Meister’s aspect confirmed their qualification.
SCOTLAND: Jacob Pazikas, Jack Kingdon, Louis Jackson, Charlie Mcarthur, Magnus Mackenzie (Cameron Bruce, 46), Bailey Rice, Dylan Reid, Lennon Miller (Liam Harvey, 46), Ben Doak (Adam Emslie, 66), Rory Wilson (Ethan Laidlaw, 66), Dylan Lobban.
NOT USED: Rory Mahady, Greig Allen, Alfie Bavidge, Cameron Cooper.