Scotland has been relegated to Group B in the UEFA Nations League after a crushing 3-0 defeat to Greece at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
The loss saw Greece overturn Scotland’s 1-0 advantage from the first leg of the play-off, securing a 3-1 aggregate victory and promotion to League A.
The match was dominated by 17-year-old Konstantinos Karetsas, who delivered an outstanding performance and became the youngest player to score a competitive goal for Greece.
Scotland had early opportunities through Scott McTominay, who had been the hero in the first leg, but it was Giannis Konstantelias who broke the deadlock for Greece.
The atmosphere at Hampden turned tense as Karetsas doubled Greece’s lead, putting them ahead on aggregate.
Just seconds into the second half, a costly mistake by Ryan Christie allowed Konstantelias to set up Christos Tzolis, who sealed Greece’s victory with a third goal.
The Nations League structure consists of four leagues—A, B, C, and D—each divided into four groups. League A hosts the strongest teams, while League D includes the lowest-ranked sides.
Scotland had finished third in their League A group, forcing them into a relegation play-off against Greece, who had placed second in League B.
With this result, the two teams now swap places, with Greece moving up to League A and Scotland dropping to League B.
Scotland’s fans voiced their frustration, with boos echoing around the stadium at half-time. Despite hopes of a comeback, the team struggled to regain control in the second half.
Manager Steve Clarke acknowledged the disappointment but remained focused on the future, calling the defeat a setback after what he described as a strong run.
He emphasised the importance of learning from the result and staying committed to the team’s long-term goal of World Cup qualification.
