World media reacts as Scotland sent spiralling by Greece history kid while Karetsas cries 'let's go you b*******'
Konstantinos Karetsas is the new hero of Hellas as x rated celebration shout cemented the teenager's 'Greekness' after snubbing Belgium
Just when things were starting to look positive again, Scotland turn in a shocker.
After banishing the winless run than spanned another miserable Euros, optimism was returning ahead of a World Cup qualifying campaign that looked like it could finally see a 28 year wait ended and send Steve Clarke off into the sunset having achieved his ultimate goal.
Last Thursday's 1-0 win in Athens was hard fought, but all the good work was undone in 47 torrid minutes that saw Greece 3-0 up and threatening to make it worse before Hampden emptied and relegation from the top tier of the Nations League was confirmed.
It was a brutal reality check and while there will still be hope that we can do enough to book a spot in North America next summer, there's now a fear that Scotland could limp towards what will likely be the end of Clarke's reign in mid 2026 and that we'll be watching while the rest of the World heads to Canada, the USA and Mexico.
That's exactly what will happen if there is not a significant upgrade in performance from Sunday. We face Greece twice during World Cup qualification and they will be rubbing their hands at the prospect after easily dismantling a disjointed home side at Hampden.
Record Sport looks at how media from around the world reacted to Scotland well and truly being put in their place.
Sportime (Greece)
Konstantinos Karetsas didn't have to touch the ball a second time . He was given a loukoumidion with his left foot, he shot, scored and started running towards the Greeks. On this dreamy journey he kissed the national emblem and shouted "let's go, you b*******!"
Father Vaios and mother Irene had Greece in the back of their minds. Because, they would make the decision anyway. It always counts what the player wants, no matter how young he is, but at such a young age, the parents decide. The question, then, was who would bring the Greek National Team to the forefront of the minds of these two parents.
The rest is history. From the age of 15, when he seemed most likely to play for the Belgian national team, he became the youngest scorer in the history of the Greek national team. He celebrated the goal by kissing the national emblem, in front of the stands and saying: "Let's go, you b*******!" How much more Greek...
Ta Nea (Greece)
The country's most talented squad promoted Greece to League A of the Nations League, overturning the score of the first match against Scotland - Incredible show Karetsa, Konstantelia, Tzolis, "Cerberus" Tzolakis.
Greece is in the elite! Our National Team won a great double in Glasgow, against Scotland, overturning the 1-0 first-leg deficit and advancing to League A of the Nations League. Great match from Giannis Konstantelias, with a goal and two assists, while Karetsas and Tzolis put the… icing on the cake of qualification, scoring a goal each.
In fact, the 17-year-old Genk ace became the youngest scorer in the history of the National Team, surpassing Sotiris Ninis who had scored in a friendly against Cyprus, at the age of 18 years, one month and 16 days. An incredible performance from the defense as well, with Tzolakis shouting when needed and Mavropanos-Koulierakis being "boss" in the air.
Elefetheros Typos (Greece)
The Greek National Team proved its worth by defeating Scotland 3-0 at Hampden Park in a Nations League Play-off match. With this victory, it overturned the defeat at G. Karaiskakis (1-0) and deservedly secured its promotion to League A of the Nations League.
The "kids" of the national team made the Greeks proud, with Konstantelias opening the scoring in the 20th minute with a cool right-footed shot, Karetsa becoming the youngest scorer of the national team and the Nations League in the 42nd minute at the age of just 17 years, 4 months and 4 days, and Tzolis tripling the goals of the "blue and white" team in the 46th minute, while immediately before Konstantelias had stolen the ball and given him the assist.
Neos Kosmos (Australia)
Ivan Jovanovic’s decision to trust in his young talents paid dividends as they earned an impressive win in Glasgow against Scotland to secure their place in League A of the UEFA Nations League for the next cycle.
The “Ethniki” downed the Scots 0-3 away in the second leg of their Nations League play-off on Monday morning (AEDT), winning the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
The “blue-whites” put their faith predominantly in its youth with only three players from the starting lineup being older than 23, and it reaped benefits immediately with them sneaking ahead in the tie after the first half.
The Guardian (UK)
Steve Clarke can do without any more occasions akin to this. Relegation to the second tier of the Nations League is no disaster for Scotland. Indeed, it may be their natural habitat. It is just that the calamitous circumstances in which Clarke’s men crashed out of League A were alarming for anybody with an affiliation to Scotland.
Greece outfought, outthought and outplayed their hosts at Hampden Park. The tie was effectively over while the corporate classes were still shuffling back to their seats at the start of the second half. Greece did not add to that third goal; it never looked as if they would need to.
Resentment towards Clarke, unavoidable after Scotland flopped at Euro 2024, had dissipated after a recent upturn in fortunes. Greece sent Clarke and Scotland spiralling several steps backwards. Ivan Jovanovic and his Greek players will be licking their lips at facing Scotland again on World Cup qualifying business.