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Rodri slams ‘rubbish’ Scotland tactics as Spain fall to shock defeat: ‘This is not football’

Rodri slams ‘rubbish’ Scotland tactics as Spain fall to shock defeat: ‘This is not football’

Rodri hit out at Scotland’s “rubbish” tactics as Spain fell to a shock defeat at Hampden Park.

Scott McTominay scored twice, his second brace in the space of three days, as Scotland earned their first win over Spain since 1984 to make it six points out of six at the start of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

It was a fractious encounter, with both sets of players showing a willingness to go to ground and Scotland doing everything they could in the second-half to slow things down and tick away the seconds. The Spanish players allowed themselves to become increasingly rattled as the match went on.

There were a number of confrontations throughout the match, with one between Andy Robertson and Pedro Porro resulting in the Tottenham man having his every touch booed by the Tartan Army before he was replaced at half-time.

This was just the third time Spain have been beaten in a qualifying match since 2006, and their first in European qualification for nine years, but they remain strong favourites to top Group A and comfortably book their place in Germany next summer.

However, Rodri was less than impressed with what he perceived to be Scotland’s time-wasting tactics, and the referee’s response to it, as he slammed Steve Clarke’s side after the match.

“It’s the way they play - for me it’s a bit rubbish,” the Manchester City midfielder told Viaplay.

“It’s always wasting time, they provoke you, they always fall. For me, this is not football.

“The referee has to take a part in this but he said nothing. It’s a bit frustrating because we want to win and it’s difficult because they waste time, waste time.

“It is what it is. They have their weapons, we have our weapons, and we will learn for next time.”