What the Scotland pundits said as Ally McCoist declares England outclassed Steve Clarke's side in 'rude awakening'

England took the bragging rights at Hampden Park and it was something of a 'rude awakening' for Scotland.

Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham hit the Scots for a double sucker-punch in the first half as Steve Clarke's men were never really at the races before Man United man Harry Maguire turned the ball in to his own net to half the deficit at Hampden. Real Madrid superstar Bellingham set up Harry Kane to put the icing on the cake but the likes of Ally McCoist and Graeme Souness echoed the same idea that the Scots are a gulf apart from their adversaries.

The latter reckons there was little to no fight from Clarke's Euro 2024 crusaders who won't go in to the next stage of our pursuit of Germany with the same confidence, from his point of view. Yet across the board there was a general consensus the Scots weren't at it and here is the best of the reaction from Hampden.

"I am delighted with the improvement under Steve Clarke. But this has been a different level tonight. It's a rude awakening to the levels they have to reach. They will go away and lick their wounds but this has just been a step too far."

“Take nothing away from England. They dominated…there was always another gear for England. I think it was a sobering night for Scotland because Scotland, when you look at it, have been on a magnificent run, but when push comes to shove, there is an enormous gap between where England are and where Scotland are right now.

"England right now look a fabulous team who I think have to be looking to win a trophy now, they really do...it sticks hard in my throat to say it but they are the real deal England...Scotland have had a proper punch on the nose."

"It was easy for England to get in in the first half. Man-for-man Scotland were