A BRILLIANT solo goal from Celtic winger Mikey Johnston wasn’t enough to send Scotland to their first ever Toulon Tournament Final after England’s second half comeback crushed Scot Gemmill’s side.

The Scots were leading at the break in Aubagne and looked set to avenge last year’s semi-final defeat to the Three Lions.

But they were pinned back after the break and a brace by Arsenal ace Arsenal ace Eddie Nketiah and a goal from Everton striker Callum Connolly ended the young Scots’ dreams. 

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And Scotland will now have to prepare for a third and fourth place play-off against Turkey on Saturday instead.

Gemmill admitted he was disappointed at their sluggish display after the break although insists there are plenty of positives Scotland can take from the tournament.

He said: “The players know the second half wasn’t good enough. The first half was, but the second wasn’t. It’s as simple as that. 

“Young players can be inconsistent at this level because they are still learning to play, especially against a very good side like England. You have to credit England for their reaction after the break.

“But for us, we didn’t do enough. We knew we would have to contain them for the whole game. We were excellent in the first half. 

“It’s very difficult to do that and I felt we were very, very close to 
executing our game plan. It’s fine margins and when you play against a very top team you get punished.

“We had several chances in the first half and we played so well but were only 1-0 up. 

“In the second half we have to accept we have come up short. To concede three goals in the second half is extremely disappointing. 

“Last year we came up very short. This year there is a lot to be positive about because of the first half performance. 

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“We really pushed England. There’s a lot to be proud about. To top a Group featuring France and teams from Africa and Asia it’s a fantastic 
achievement to top the Group and it’s not over yet because we will be going all out to beat Turkey.”

Scotland were the better side in the first half and they came close to the opener when a clipped pass from Billy Gilmour over the top saw captain Oliver Burke collect and turn on the jets down the right flank and motor past Chelsea defender Jake Clarke-Salter before bursting through and cracking an angled shot against the post.

And it was the Scots who drew first blood with yet another stunning goal – which has been a feature of the Toulon Tournament.

There seemed little danger when Johnston collected Iain Wilson’s pass on the left wing. 

But the Parkhead talent deftly slalomed his way in and out of two English defenders which propelled him into the box, where he still had Everton Jonjoe Kenny’s in front of him. 

He beat him for pace before whipping in a brilliant shot, which proved too much for former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock loan keeper Freddie Woodman as it fizzed past him into the net.

It was a brilliant strike and was up there with Burke’s sensational 70 yard run for his goal against South Korea on Saturday. 

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But England were just too strong for the Scots after the break, although 
they didn’t help themselves by sitting far too deep and Connolly levelled before Nketiah put England into the lead with a goal that matched Johnston’s for quality. The Gunners striker killed the contest late on with an excellent strike.

Everton striker Fraser Hornby twice went close in the dying moments of the game for Scotland, but Gemmill’s side had ran their race and England fully deserved their win.

SCOTLAND (4-2-3-1): McCrorie; Ralston, Kerr, Porteous, Taylor; Wilson (Burt 41), Gilmour; Burke (Middleton 77), Campbell (Watt 77), Johnston; Hornby.

Subs not used Doohan, Harvie, Wright, St Clair, Wighton, Hamilton.

England (3-5-2): Woodman; Kenny, Fry (Tomori 74), Clarke-Salter; Dasilva, Connolly, Cook, Vieira (Choudhury 69), Dowell: Armstrong (Abraham 79), Nketiah.

Subs not used Ramsdale, Peters-Walker, Davies, Konsa, Pearce, Nmecha.

Ref M Nava (Mex)