WOW. Did that just happen?

Scotland are now one win away, against most likely a very beatable team, and at Hamden Park to get to one of those major tournaments which are on the telly every two years.

We got there with call-offs, public disinterest and a manager who at times, and Alex McLeish is one of our best, looked under some intense pressure which was not of his own making.

However, this was a fantastic performance for the most part with James Forrest putting in as good a display for the national team since…well, you have to go back a right few years to match what the Celtic man did against Israel.

We need a right-back. That central back pairing two need a bit of work. And a defensive midfielder, a proper sitting player, would come in handy down the way.

And, of course, the last 15 minutes was far too nervy – it is Scotland after all.

That’s for another day. Right now, McLeish’s Scotland made the country proud, it made us believe, and that’s really all we ask for,

James Forrest starts every game because he’s James Forrest

For two years the winger has been one of the best players in the Premiership. Now he’s the best bar none.

Over the past two years, Forrest has welded consistency to what was always an explosive talent for Celtic and has done well for Scotland up until these last two games where he has become a talisman.

Forrest has been man of the match against Bayern Munich. You know, that really big team from Germany. He’s fit, his hamstrings are solid and he scores goals.

There is nobody else we can pick on who has the pace, footballing intelligence and eye for goal as this 27-year-old who is already one of the most decorated players in the history of the Scottish game.

And he was dropped for Stephen O’Donnell. Of Kilmarnock. Let’s make sure, Mr McLeish this never happens again.

At the risk of getting some angry comments, the Celtic players have to start with almost no exception.

Forrest was obviously excellent last night. So, too, Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor has become a wonderful footballer.

These guys play for the best team in the country and are the only ones in the current squad, with the notable exception of Allan McGregor, regularly tested outside their own domestic league.

This is a far better level, and please me believe me here, than someone the bottom of the English Premier League or the Championship. It just is.

Kieran Tierney will come back in when he’s fit and, maybe Leigh Griffiths is he can sort out whatever it he’s going through at the minute.

They are confident, are used to winning and pressure, plus they are full of energy and know one another. When you add in former team-mate Stuart Armstrong to all of this, then it’s a tight group.

And the rest of the player seem to feed off that.

I’m not suggesting for a minute that if some kid gets a few games at Celtic and Big Eck throws him into a massive qualifying game; however, if you get a run of games under Brendan Rodgers, not an easy man to please, then you are probably going to be good enough for Scotland.

And just to be seen to be even, Allan McGregor is a wonderful goalie. Okay.

This pressing the opposition is a rather fine idea

Before Scotland tired, they ganged up on the Israel players whenever they had possession. It stopped them playing from the back. Indeed, for about an hour it prevented the Israelis from playing at all.

The best teams play a high tempo game without the ball, which Scotland did after standing off Beram Kayal for what was admittedly a fine goal.

There are times when Scotland swarmed the opposition and that, along with a certain Mr Forrest, is why they won.

Andy Robertson is becoming a fine captain

He’s not there. Not yet. But our man on Merseyside showed some steel last night.

Israel’s Moanes Dabour collapsed to the turn during first-half when there was nothing wrong with him.

Scotland were about to kick the ball out, the skipper told his team to play on, which they did, and let Dabour know what he thought of him. It was great to see.

This feels good…let’s do all we can to make it better

The only thing missing from last night was a full Hampden and that’s what this team, and their manager, now deserve.

We are one home game away from a place in the European Championships plus there are some, hopefully, decent qualifies as well to look forward to.

So, let’s have some sensible ticket pricing from now, mixed with some hype and we will get 50,000 into that ground for the next proper game.

Someone inside the SFA must go against the grain and have a proper think about where and how tickets are sold and what price.