IT wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t in the slightest bit convincing and, boy, did they leave it late.

But the final outcome was all that mattered to Scotland in their Euro 2020 play-off semi-final at Hampden last night and they managed, after over two hours of almost unbearable tension, to record the win that sent them through at the very death.

The national team won the first penalty shoot-out they had ever been involved in 5-3 after being taken to extra-time for the first time in 59 years and the game finishing 0-0 at the end of 120 excruciating minutes.

John McGinn slotted home the opening spot kick under the outstretched body of Israel keeper Ofir Marciano and when David Marshall saved brilliantly from Eram Zahavi the home side had an immediate advantage.

Callum McGregor, Scott McTominay and Lawrence Shankland all hit the target despite the enormous pressure on their shoulders. However, Nir Bitton, Shon Weissman and Mohammad Abu Fani made no mistake for the visitors either.

So it fell to Kenny McLean, the Norwich City midfielder who had come on for Stephen O’Donnell in the second period of extra-time to step forward, ensure Scotland progressed and keep their hopes of being involved in next summer's rescheduled finals alive. He was equal to the task. Cue wild rejoicing.

A significant improvement will be required if Clarke’s men are to defeat Serbia, who edged out Norway 2-1 after extra-time in Oslo last night, in Belgrade next month and reach their first major tournament since France ’98 some 22 years ago.

However, perhaps they will take confidence from a dramatic triumph that stretched their unbeaten run to six. Their preparations certainly can’t be as chaotic. And they should have some key men available again. Hope, as always, springs eternal.

Scotland could have won it in regulation time. Scott McTominay missed an absolute sitter in the first-half. They could have snatched at it at the very death too. Liam Cooper hit the post with a header just before the final whistle. It looked like it was going to be another agonising failure. Maybe this time luck is on the country’s side.

Manager Steve Clarke lost three potential starters, Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney, to a single positive coronavirus test the day before the match and three others, Oli Burke, Scott McKenna and Liam Palmer, to injury.

He had to draft two Motherwell players, Declan Gallagher and O’Donnell, into his starting line-up. Both men had previous international experience. Still, it was a much weakened team that took to the field.

The losses of Tierney, who had been by far the best performer in the back three against Israel in the Nations League last month, and McKenna, the first choice centre back, had led to speculation that was perhaps Clarke would revert to a four.

But he persevered with both the same formation and with McTominay, the Manchester United midfielder, at centre half. It was a huge gamble given how poorly the system had functioned in their last double header.

The visitors got into the opposition area far too easily in the 22nd minute when Sheran Yeini supplied Hatem Elhamed. The Celtic man turned inside O’Donnell and got an attempt on target. Scotland were fortunate that his club mate McGregor was well positioned to block it.

Robertson and his team mates didn’t enjoy much joy at the other end of the park either. McGinn had a free shot early on after Lyndon Dykes, playing up front alongside Oliver McBurnie, chested a McGregor cross down to him. The Aston Villa midfielder’s effort sailed well over the crossbar.

It was, not surprisingly for a game of such massive importance, a cagey affair with neither Marshall nor his opposite number Marciano tested greatly.

McTominay, though, should really have put his adopted homeland in front five minutes before half-time when McGinn had a long-range shot deflected out for a corner. He was unmarked when he rose and met Robertson’s delivery. But he headed wide with the net beckoning invitingly.

There was little to give the longsuffering members of Tartan Army watching proceedings at home on television encouragement when the teams trudged off the field at the end of the opening 45 minutes.

Israel midfielder Eyal Golasa curled just over eight minutes after the second-half resumed, but Scotland, perhaps stunned into action by that near thing, suddenly lifted themselves and created several scoring chances in the final third in rapid succession.

McGinn supplied McBurnie, McGinn had an opportunity himself, Ryan Jack fed Dykes and there was a decent claim for a penalty when Eytan Tibi appeared to handle. The scoreline remained goalless, but it was promising.

McBurnie, the Sheffield United player, had put in a power of work in support of Dykes, but had been unable to engineer an opening Scotland could capitalise on. He was replaced by Lawrence Shankland in the 72nd minute. Fraser came on for Jack with eight minutes of regulation time remaining.

Gallagher, who acquitted himself superbly defensively in difficult circumstances and helped his country keep a clean, saw his glancing header at a Robertson corner in the 84th minute spin agonisingly wide.

Callum Paterson took over from Dykes after the game went to extra-time, but it was McGregor, whose first-time volley was cleared off the line as Scotland attacked in numbers, who came closest to netting.

Weissmann got the slightest of touches to an Elhamed cross, but missed his intended target. Then Cooper his the woodwork in the final passage of play. In the end, it didn’t matter and the desired result was achieved. Bring on Serbia.