Scotland's hopes of remaining in Nations League A were shattered after a crushing defeat to Greece at Hampden Park in the play-off second leg.
Despite carrying a valuable away win from Piraeus, Steve Clarke's side fell apart at home, succumbing to a 3-0 loss that saw them relegated to League B.
Clarke had warned that the tie was far from over, and his caution proved accurate as Scotland's lackluster display allowed Greece to dominate.
The atmosphere, initially buoyed by a pre-match tribute to Scottish football legend Denis Law, quickly soured when Giannis Konstantelias netted Greece's opener, leveling the tie on aggregate.
Teenager Konstantinos Karetsas, making his first start for Greece after an impactful cameo in the first leg, scored a stunning goal just before half-time to put the visitors ahead.
The 17-year-old, who recently switched allegiance from Belgium, showcased his talent with a curling strike that left the Scottish defense helpless.
Scotland's night went from bad to worse just moments into the second half when Christos Tzolis fired home Greece's third goal, leaving the hosts in disarray.
Clarke attempted to change the game, even bringing on 18-year-old debutant James Wilson, but Scotland were devoid of ideas and unable to mount a comeback.
While Greece celebrated their promotion to the top tier of the Nations League, Scotland must now regroup in League B, reflecting on yet another missed opportunity.
Scotland Falter When It Matters Most
On a night meant to celebrate the legacy of Denis Law, Scotland found themselves yearning for the kind of magic the late striker brought to the game.
The team's promising start fizzled out, with no cutting edge in attack or stability in defense.
Konstantelias’ opener deflated the atmosphere inside Hampden, and from that point on, Scotland struggled to match the intensity Greece displayed.
Ryan Christie, the sole change from the first leg, appeared out of place on the wing, while the usual reliable figures in Clarke's side looked disjointed.
The performance was a stark contrast to the spirited display in Greece that had initially revived hopes of survival.
Instead, it evoked memories of their disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, where inconsistency and missed opportunities plagued their progress.
Greece's Rising Star Shines Bright
Much of Greece's resurgence can be credited to Konstantinos Karetsas, who emerged as the star of the match.
The young playmaker seamlessly orchestrated Greece's attack, linking play with maturity beyond his years. His impressive performances may soon see him leave Genk for a bigger stage.
Greece's disciplined display demonstrated why many believed they deserved promotion to League A after a strong campaign in League B, including a notable victory at Wembley.
Their composure and creativity highlighted the gap between the two sides, underlining Scotland's struggles at this level.
A Sobering Reality for Scotland
Scotland now faces the harsh reality of another spell in Nations League B, their ambitions of competing among Europe's elite once again slipping away.
If they hope to challenge Greece in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, significant improvement will be needed.
For Clarke and his squad, this defeat serves as a painful reminder that, despite their progress, there is still a long way to go to establish themselves as a consistent force on the international stage.
What they said
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "I talked about setting down a marker before the game, Greece have done that tonight.
"Greece were the better team on the night. I'll go away and look at myself to see what I could have done better. Maybe I didn't make enough rotations. Maybe I could have made more to freshen the team up.
"We have to analyse it, park this tournament because we go down to League B, and try to do better."
Scotland midfielder John McGinn: "We started pretty well, had a couple of chances, we just let ourselves down with the first goal we conceded. We've got to reflect now before two friendlies in the summer.
"It's an embarrassing night for us, everyone is flat in the stadium, we let ourselves down."
Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie: "We're not naive enough to know we're going to have it all our way. There's been plenty bumps in the road and this is probably going to be one of them.
"It's about how we react from this and bounce back to hopefully get ourselves in a really good place going into the World Cup qualifiers."