Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Thankfully for Scotland, they were both on Thursday night.

How referee Tobias Stieler deemed it fit to award Scott McTominay a penalty on the half-hour mark is still something of a mystery. 

The fact VAR were happy with it too makes it all the more bizarre. Yet, it went Scotland’s way, and McTominay — or McTomadona to those of a Napoli persuasion — duly dispatched.

But if the Scots are to complete the job, Steve Clarke should consider going for the jugular from the get-go. None of this, just-protect-what-we-have nonsense.

The Greeks are a decent side, make no mistake. You don’t go to Wembley and pull off a result without having something about you. But Scotland don’t need to give them too much respect, especially on their own patch.

Andy Robertson celebrates with goalscorer Scott McTominay after taking the lead in Greece

It was a backs-to-the-wall job for much of the second half midweek but the Scots stood firm

Manager Steve Clarke must decide whether to stick or twist in Sunday’s second-leg decider

If the Scots can nick an early goal, the tie should be as good as over. That has to be the aim. Kill the thing stone dead.

It would certainly help with the anxiety anyway.

The second 45 midweek in Piraeus was torture. Yes, there were plenty of positives to take. Not least the performances of Anthony Ralston and Grant Hanley, whose inclusion prompted a collective pre-match nationwide groan. Both were terrific.

John Souttar — so impressive for Rangers in last week’s Old Firm win over Celtic — didn’t put a foot wrong either.

But they (should) be afforded an easier time of it in the reverse.

It’s not as if Scotland don’t have the players to do it, either, as evidenced by Thursday’s excellent first-half showing. At the break, everyone inside the Stadio Georgios Karaiskákis knew the hosts were fortunate to still be in contention.

Luckily, Clarke’s men didn’t pay for profligacy in front of goal. Not yet at least.

Tomorrow would be as good a day as any for Che Adams to find his shooting boots. His decision to swap Southampton for Torino last summer raised a few eyebrows, but he is flourishing in Serie A.

Che Adams would love to get back on the goal trail for Scotland at Hampden tomorrow

Eight goals for a team who’ve spent the entire campaign hovering around mid-table isn’t bad going at all. To put it in perspective, some of the league’s biggest names, including Paulo Dybala and Rafael Leao, have six — the same number McTominay has plundered as it turns out.

But he’s yet to really do it on the international stage. Six goals in 36 appearances — many of which were off the bench — isn’t bad on the face of it, but other than notching one in a fine win over Denmark during qualification for the last World Cup, there hasn’t been much to shout about.

Should the impossible occur and Scotland somehow find themselves in a position of relative comfort going into the closing stages, it would be nice to see either Lennon Miller or James Wilson get a run out.

The fallout from Miller’s comments about wanting to become the best player in the country has been utterly ridiculous. Even his dad’s chipped in.

Miller’s mentality should be that of everyone either in or out of the current squad, otherwise what are they doing there? The national team could do with a few more like him.

RONALDO REUNION ON THE CARDS?

NOT long after the dust has settled tomorrow, regardless of the result, attention will turn to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

This week’s opponents are one of three sides standing in Scotland’s way to the promised land — they’ll be back in Glasgow for the first of another double header in October — with Belarus also confirmed in Group C.

Cristiano Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure during Portugal’s visit to Glasgow in October

The loser of tomorrow’s clash between Portugal and Denmark in Lisbon will complete the set.

And unless Cristiano Ronaldo and Co can overturn a 1-0 deficit, it will be they who the Scots will see once again this autumn.

The Portuguese captain threw something of a hissy fit following a goalless draw at Hampden back in October. Even by his standards, it was something to behold.

After experiencing miserable summer at the Euros followed by three Nations League defeats on the bounce, witnessing the 40-year-old’s toddler-like tantrum up close was just the pick-me-up the country needed to lift our spirits.

And after he stormed down the tunnel without so much as a goodbye last time around, it would be nice to get the chance to say a proper thank you wouldn’t it?