Scotland joined world champions Spain in treating the Hampden crowd to a football fiesta on Tuesday a match filled with drama, countless chances and five goals.
At the end of it all, the home side were beaten but pride and passion were back, easing the pain of the negative display in Prague against the Czech Republic the previous Friday.
Simply put, the Spaniards are superb and wear their World Cup crown well.
Manager Craig Levein argued that the Scots have never met better opposition and some of their passing was magnificent.
But Scotland played their part in this drama, dragging themselves back from two goals down to level at 2-2, only to fall to a goal that should have been defended better.
David Villa slotted home a penalty for Spain just before half-time after defender Steven Whittaker had stopped a cross with his arm.
It was two on 55 minutes thanks to man-of-the-match Andres Iniesta, but then came the comeback.
Rangers’ Steven Naismith nodded home three minutes later, then an own goal from Gerard Pique had the Tartan Army in dreamland.
However, Spanish sub Fernando Llorente took advantage of slack defending from Stephen McManus to grab the winner 12 minutes from time.Relief as 4-6-0 ditchedFollowing the 4-6-0 formation used in the Czech capital on Friday, there was relief among the supporters when the Scotland line-up was read out and included a striker.
Kenny Miller was that man, with Jamie Mackie of Queens Park Rangers dropping down to the bench to make way for the Rangers man.
The Scots handed a debut to Sunderland right-back Phil Bardsley, with the injured Alan Hutton failing to recover in time.
Missing from the illustrious list of Spanish names because of injury were Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and brilliant Barcelona midfielder Xavi.
There was still a wealth of World Cup winning talent on show, in the shape of the likes of South African final goal scorer Iniesta, Barca frontman Villa and Spain skipper Iker Casillas, the keeper returning to the stadium where he tasted Champions League glory with Real Madrid in 2002.
Seconds before kick-off at a rocking Hampden, Miller and home captain Darren Fletcher received gold medals to mark their 50th caps and entrance into the Hall of Fame.
The Scots were first on the attack in the opening minute but Miller’s low cross was cleared for a corner that came to nothing.
After Iniesta tested the home defence with a couple of dangerous crosses, Miller was then sent away up the right by a James Morrison ball, only to be flagged for offside.
The visitors started to settle, though, and there was an escape for Scotland on 11 minutes when Sergio Ramos was allowed to waltz into their box and along the byline, finally being stopped when about to square in front of goal.Valiant rearguard effortThen, two minutes later, Xabier Alonso sliced the defence open to gift Villa a golden chance only for the striker to shoot over when odds-on to open the scoring.
The opportunities were piling up for Spain now and Villa should have done better than nod the ball straight at keeper Allan McGregor when picked out by a David Silva cross, then Silva was thwarted by the Rangers goalie when shooting seconds later.
The Scots hit back on 18 minutes when Fletcher did brilliantly to race down the left and cut the ball back to Morrison.
The West Bromwich Albion man’s shot wasn’t cleanly hit but was heading in until it struck Joan Capdevila and was cleared.
Iniesta was cutting the Scots to ribbons up the Spanish left and, on 27 minutes, he picked out Ramos in front of goal but the Madrid man’s shot was well over.
Some fancy footwork 10 yards from goal by Villa left him with room to shoot as the half-hour passed but McGregor did well to stand up to him and make the save.
How the Scots weren’t at least a goal down by this stage was anybody’s guess and when Alonso chipped over the defence and found an unmarked Silva it was a relieved home backline that watched the ball eventually roll out for a goalkick.
There was a sense of disbelief on 39 minutes when the magnificent Iniesta made a mistake, miscontrolling a pass in the centre of the park.
He nearly made up for that error straight away, though, firing in a low shot that was booted away by defender Stephen McManus.The reign of SpainIt was asking a lot for the Scots to hold out for half-time and they finally cracked just before the break.
A ball from the left from Capdevila was allowed through to Ramos, standing just to the right of goal, and his shot was goalbound until it struck Whittaker’s raised arm.
It wasn’t a surprise when Swiss referee Massimo Busacca pointed to the spot and booked the Rangers defender.
The clock read 44 minutes when Villa stepped up to score, McGregor guessing right to dive left but just failing to keep out the spot-kick.
Scotland brought on Charlie Adam for Lee McCulloch at the interval and the Dundee-born midfielder started off with a long-range effort that flew over the bar.
On 51 minutes, McGregor was called into action again, saving a low strike from Silva after the Man City player had been found by Capdevila.
McManus had to boot clear after David Weir got in a tangle inside the box with Villa then Villarreal star Santiago Cazorla glanced a header wide when in a great position.
Scotland’s defence was breached again, though, as the match entered its 55th minute.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user Tom Brogan.
Villa worked his way into the box from the left then cut the ball back into Cazorla’s path.
His shot was saved by McGregor but the ball broke back to Iniesta, who slotted home a well-deserved goal.
The Scots were not down and out, however, and hit back with a classy counter of their own three minutes later.
Miller collected possession on the right wing, danced inside then floated over a perfect cross that was met by the head of Naismith and placed perfectly between Casillas and his right hand post.
What a game we had on our hands now.
Could wee Scotland come back at the mighty Spaniards?
The answer was an emphatic yes.Tartan Army’s celebrationsWith 65 minutes gone, a deft flick from Fletcher sent Morrison racing forward into the visitors’ box.
The winger cut the ball back across goal and a leg stuck out by Barcelona defender Gerard Pique sent it flying into Casillas’ net.
Hampden was in uproar, with the wild celebrations of the fans matched by manager Craig Levein and his coaching team in the technical area.
Miller was lucky to escape with a booking after a reckless, studs-raised challenge on Alonso as battle raged, then McGregor was the hero for the hosts when he blocked a close-range shot from unmarked substitute Pablo Hernandez.
The other Spanish sub, Llorente, had better luck on 78 minutes as the world and European champions edged ahead again.
Capdevila fired the ball over from the left but it should have been cut out.
However, with McManus in a poor position to defend the cross, the ball flew over his head and the Athletic Bilbao attacker tapped home.
With time running out for the Scots, Whittaker was sent off after collecting a second caution for a bad challenge on Ramos to go with his earlier handball offence.
In stoppage time, McGregor produced his final fine save of an entertaining evening, diving to keep out a low drive from an unmarked Villa.The Czech Republic won 2-0 in Liechtenstein in Tuesday night’s other match in Group I.