Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell and the Scotland Men’s National Team cruised to a 6-0 home win over San Marino on Sunday at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Collecting his 14th career cap at the senior international level, Russell entered as a 70th-minute substitute to help Scotland put the finishing touches on a routine victory in Group I of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying. Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn bagged a first-half hat-trick before Lawrence Shankland, Stuart Findlay and Stuart Armstrong struck in the late stages, vaulting Scotland to fourth place in the group.
Eleven points behind second-place Russia with two qualifying matches remaining, Scotland are mathematically eliminated from advancing to UEFA Euro 2020 as a top-two finisher in Group I. However, Russell and the Scots will have an opportunity to punch their ticket to next summer’s tournament when they compete in the UEFA Euro 2020 playoffs next March. Scotland sealed a spot in the playoffs via their first-place finish in Group 1 of the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League C, which also resulted in promotion to League B for the 2020-21 tournament.
Russell, who was an unused substitute in Scotland’s 4-0 loss at Russia on Thursday, has earned 10 of his 14 caps since joining Sporting Kansas City ahead of the 2018 MLS season.
A native of Glasgow, Russell made club history this year as the second player in Sporting Kansas City history to record at least nine goals and nine assists in consecutive regular seasons. Named the team's Offensive Player of the Year, Russell amassed nine goals and 11 assists in all competitions after recording 12 goals and 13 assists in 2018.
Scotland will conclude their Group I qualifying campaign next month, visiting Cyprus on Nov. 16 before hosting Kazakhstan on Nov. 19.
