Ally McCoist has branded the fact that North Macedonia's starting lineup contained more Scottish-based players than Scotland's as 'damning,' but he believes the seismic shift is not necessarily all bad for the national team.
The Scotland XI that lined up in Skopje was the most international-looking in the nation's history, with the 15 players used on the night plying their domestic trade across seven countries – none of them Scotland. The only SPFL-based stars were left on the bench.
McCoist's 'damning' verdict
Speaking on Monday's talkSPORT breakfast show, McCoist pointed to the irony that opponents started with Rangers striker Bojan Miovski up front. He said: "Here's a stat for you... There were more players in the North Macedonia starting lineup who play in Scotland than there were in the Scotland team."
"That's damning when I think about it, and I'll tell you why. See if the 11 Scotland players were playing for Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Man City? I'd be happy. But they're not."
The Rangers hero contrasted this with his own era, noting: "The vast majority of Scotland teams I played in, there was a great nucleus of Rangers and Celtic players, and at that time, guys from Aberdeen and Dundee United."
Financial gap drives exodus
McCoist used John McGinn as the perfect example of why the trend is happening. McGinn, who scored in the win alongside Sassuolo's Kieron Bowie, left Hibs for Aston Villa after Celtic baulked at the Easter Road club's £3m asking price.
McCoist said: "John McGinn is the perfect example (of why it's happening). He left Hibs – and I'm still staggered to this day that Celtic didn't sign him – but I'd guess he's earning three or four times the money at Aston Villa than he would at Celtic. And good luck to him."
"From that point of view, the financial gap has never been greater between the two countries."
Silver lining for the national team
Similar tales abound in the Scotland camp. Ben Gannon-Doak left Celtic for Liverpool after the Hoops couldn't compete with terms on offer south of the border, while Billy Gilmour swapped Rangers for Chelsea before making his Ibrox debut.
The lack of Scots-based players in the Scotland team is largely because the nation's top players are outgrowing the domestic game, particularly its finances. Governing bodies are trying to combat this with proposed rules introducing mandatory game-time for Scottish players under 21, which may help in the long term.
In the meantime, Scotland's best players are thriving outside Scotland – and while that is not a glowing assessment of the SPFL's global standing, it is not necessarily a bad thing for the future of the national team.
