Ex-Rangers defender David Bates was in action for Scotland on Tuesday night.
Scotland were back in action again on Tuesday night, having thrashed Albania 4-0 away from on Saturday, and returned to Hampden Park for the final game of their UEFA Nations League campaign.
Alex McLeish’s side went into the game as strong favourites but fell behind early on as ex-Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal smashed home a long-range effort to put Israel level, and they continued to look dangerous on the break.
However, Celtic winger James Forrest enjoyed a remarkable game, bagging a hat-trick to put Scotland 3-1 up, building on the two goals he scored against Albania at the weekend.
Eran Zahavi’s 75th minute goal set up a tense finale, and Tomer Hemed looked to have rescued a draw for Israel with a late header, only for Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor to somehow claw the ball away with a stunning save.
Scotland managed to hang on, finishing top of their group and securing a provisional play-off place for Euro 2020, and the game also saw David Bates make his second appearance for Scotland having made his debut against Albania.
Bates has benefited from leaving Rangers for Hamburg over the summer, and the 22-year-old could now push for more playing time under McLeish having shown his potential at Ibrox and in Germany.
Rangers fans took to Twitter to discuss his performance, and were left somewhat split, with some slamming him as a ‘disaster’ and praising the club for letting him go, ‘dodging a bullet’ by not keeping him at the club.
Others rued his exit, believing that he should still be at the club and ahead of Joe Worrall in the pecking order, with his rise to starting for Scotland leaving some to miss the ‘Ginger Ramos’.
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