Kieron Bowie made his first start of the season for Scotland under-21s in their 2-1 defeat to Spain on Friday. The Hibs striker feels that the performance demonstrated the team’s potential to qualify for their first European Championships in 28 years.
Playing at a misty Tynecastle, Bowie took on a lone striker role against a formidable Spanish side. Despite Scotland’s 2-1 loss, with goals from Dean Huijsen and Mateo Joseph for Spain and Dire Mebude scoring for Scotland, the young Scots showed resilience. They were forced to cede possession for much of the match but managed to hold their own for the first hour until Huijsen’s header put Spain ahead.
Although the match ended without points, Scotland’s under-21 side displayed promise, suggesting that they might end their long absence from the Euros since their last appearance in 1996.
Kieron Bowie acknowledged the challenge of facing Spain, saying, “They’re a top side Spain, aren’t they? We tried to nullify their threats but couldn’t quite manage it in the end. It was 0-0 at half-time and we were in a good place, but their goals were preventable. They have quality, and we knew it was going to be tough. They and Belgium are the top teams in the group. We set up defensively, which worked to an extent, but we had a few lapses in concentration. We almost got a result, but it wasn’t to be.”
Despite the defeat, Spain’s win has put them seven points clear of Scotland, making it difficult for Scotland to top the Euro 2025 qualification section. However, Gemmill’s side remains in a strong position, sitting second in the table level with Belgium. Bowie and his teammates are confident about their chances, with three crucial games remaining in the group. Bowie emphasized their belief in their potential, saying, “All the lads in the dressing room know we have a chance of qualifying. It’s about winning these next three games.”
Bowie, who returned to Scotland in the summer after notable performances with Raith Rovers and a successful loan spell at Northampton Town, was signed by Hibs. Hibs head coach David Gray sees potential in Bowie, stating, “His ultimate aim is to become Scotland’s number 9. Hibs can hopefully give him the platform to achieve that. He’s ambitious and understands the hard work needed to get there. He knows there are no guarantees and is grounded about what it will take.”
Kieron Bowie has made a promising start at Hibs, scoring despite having played only 70 minutes since his arrival. After gaining some much-needed match fitness in Scotland’s under-21 game against Spain, Bowie is focused on increasing his playing time for the under-21s in their upcoming match against Malta.
Bowie commented, “It has been good, but I haven’t started a game yet for Hibs. I’m trying to build my fitness. Getting a start against Spain, even though it was just 55 minutes, is better than coming off the bench. It’s a chance to build my match fitness. I’ll be in a better place having played a few more matches by the end of this week. We beat Malta 2-1 last October, with the goals coming in the last 10 minutes. They won’t make it easy for us, but we had a lot of chances last time, and we should have finished the game earlier. Hopefully, we can approach this game with a different mindset, secure the three points, and I can push for my spot at Hibs.”
Bowie aims to use these games to strengthen his case for a starting role with Hibs in their next fixture against St. Johnstone.
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