SCOTLAND Under-17s goalkeeper Robby McCrorie is already displaying the kind of attribute essential in any football custodian - the ability to bounce back from disappointment.

The teenage Rangers player was responsible for two errors which led to the young Scots' defeat to Portugal in their European Championship finals group opener.

But the 16-year-old quickly regathered himself, producing a string of fine saves to keep Germany and Switzerland at bay.

His heroics provided a platform for Scot Gemmill's team to book their last-four meeting against the Dutch tonight in Malta.

Perhaps that is why both Manchester clubs have been credited with an interest in the player, one of the youngest in the group.

"I think I am right in saying that Robby can play next year as well," said Gemmill. "He has played up an age group for the last few years so it is nothing new to him.

"You don't get rated the way he is rated unless you put in the performances."

There have been plenty of other things to admire about this Scottish team, like their adherence to the technical tenets of Mark Wotte's performance system, but a stubborn refusal to concede is as important as anything.

That resoluteness will be required tonight. Holland emerged from the group stage with a 100% record, scoring 10 goals in the process, with a 2-0 win halting England's eight-match winning run in this competition.

But this Scotland side do not shirk many challenges. Captain Jack Breslin of Celtic and centre-half Zak Jules of Reading, complement each other at the back, with Newcastle left-back Kyle Cameron another huge defensive force.

Celtic's Aidan Nesbitt and Reading's Jake Sheppard blend graft with technique in the middle, while excellent work is done up front by Aberdeen's Scott Wright, Dundee's Craig Wighton, Rangers' Ryan Hardie and Celtic's Calvin Miller.

Encouragingly, Gemmill feels some of the younger age groups are even better.

Gemmill, of course, is following in the footsteps of his father Archie, who led a Scotland Under-19 group to a continental runners-up spot back in 2007. He said: "I see it as an opportunity and I'm delighted to have been given that chance and I'm determined to maximise it."