Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell started and played 70 minutes on Monday as the Scotland Men’s National Team claimed a comprehensive 2-0 home victory over Albania in its 2018-19 UEFA Nations League opener at rainy Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Russell (No. 11 pictured above) collected his seventh career cap and his second start as a senior international, joining fellow forward Steven Naismith in a 3-5-2 formation deployed by Scotland head coach Alex McLeish. The hosts went ahead in the 47th minute on an own goal from Albanian defender Berat Djimsiti before Naismith sealed the win with a 68th-minute header off a partially cleared corner kick.
The lone Scotland player to compete outside of Great Britain at the club level, Russell has made three appearances and two starts for Scotland since joining Sporting KC in January. His first four caps were spread across 2014 and 2015, but the 28-year-old’s brilliant form under Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes has drawn the attention of McLeish, who awarded Russell a start in Monday’s pivotal UEFA Nations League clash.
Scotland enjoyed a decisive upper hand throughout the night, outshooting Albania 25-6, and Russell came close to bagging his first international goal in the 17th minute. His first open look went begging before another strike seconds later was blocked amidst traffic in the penalty area. Russell exited in the 70th minute and was replaced by striker Leigh Griffiths, who helped the Scots see out a comfortable win.
Monday’s result gives Scotland an early lead atop Group 1 of UEFA Nations League C. Albania sits second and Israel third, with the three sides scheduled to play a home-and-away double-round-robin between now and November. The first-place finisher will earn promotion to League B in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League, while the last-place team faces possible relegation to League D.
The UEFA Nations League will be held every two years and features all 55 European national teams divided into four divisions and split into four groups, with most games to be played this fall.
Russell, who also logged 22 minutes in Scotland’s 4-0 friendly defeat to world No. 2-ranked Belgium on Friday, will now return to Sporting KC ahead of the club’s road test against the San Jose Earthquakes this Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 9:30 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest Plus and FOX Sports GO.
