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MARK WOTTE insists a golden generation of tartan talent is just around the corner after watching Scotland's under-17s come from behind to beat Belgium and book a European Championship Finals spot.

The SFA performance director is adamant the reaching a major final for the first time since 2008 is clear evidence of better days ahead for our international sides.

Goals from Aidan Nesbitt, Cameron Ballantyne and Jake Sheppard ensured the Scots qualified from their Elite group with a game to spare and can now look forward to the finals in Malta this May.

But Wotte heaped praise on his players and believes they are carrying the torch for the future of football in this country.

He said: "It's so important for us to be able to show progress although it's just a small step.

"Three years ago we started this strategy and this is a sign of progress and I'm very proud of my players.

"After our under-16's won the Victory Shield we now have our under-17's qualifying for the Euro Finals.

"I said to the players before the game that they can be the first generation that can show the difference.

"We showed the Scottish mentality with a fighting spirit but there was also great skill and technique.

"We want to play better and better as well as having a good team spirit and will to win.

"At half time the boys were down as they had played well in the first half, but I told them it's not always football skills which wins games. We told them to look to score a goal as it could change everything and so it proved.

"The man of the match for me was Aidan Nesbitt, he was fantastic. We were stronger than the Belgians and the work we have done on the set-pieces paid off.

The young Scots were without goal hero from Monday night's win over Bosnia, Tom Lang, due to suspension.

Newcastle United's Kyle Cameron burst from his full back position to give Scotland their first chance in the 15th minute after a quiet start, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Kilmarnock striker Greg Kiltie could have given Scotland the lead midway through the first half when Aidan Nesbitt picked him out with an excellent cross from the right and he nodded over the bar.

But Scotland were carved open when Belgium took a 28th minute lead when Jeff Callebaut clipped a ball over the top of the Scots defence and Club Brugge striker Dylan Damraoui had the simple task of slotting home past Rangers keeper Robby McCrorie.

Scotland should have been level five minutes from half time when Kiltie teed up Nesbit who only had the keeper to beat but saw his effort saved by Quintijn Steelant.

And Nesbit went even closer a minute later when he headed Michael Kelly's corner into the net, but the Bulgarian ref controversially ruled it out after deciding the corner had curled out of play first.

Then Scotland had Dundee United defender Cameron Ballantyne to thank when he made a superb sliding stop on the line to keep out Callebaut's shot, which had McCrorie beaten.

A sense of injustice and the knowledge that the Scots merited more for their first half efforts provided hope Scott Gemmell's side could repair the damage and four minutes after the restart it all started to turn.

The highly impressive Cameron drove out from the back to feed Nesbitt and the Celtic kid slotted a low finish past Steelant to haul Scotland back into the contest.

It was a strike which rocked the Belgians but it wasn't all good news as Killie's Kiltie was stretchered from the field after coming off second best to a thundering challenge from Wout Faes.

In the 52nd minute the recovery was complete. Kelly's corner from the right found Ballantyne who bulleted a header high into the net.

It was no less than Scotland deserved after a display full of purpose and technical talent and a third arrived in the 64th minute as it provided a cushion. Again it was Kelly who delivered the corner which was nodded goalwards by Cameron before sub Jake Sheppard headed it over the line with his first touch of the evening.

The scoreline now reflected the superiority of a Scottish side displaying encouraging signs of an international side equipped both physically and technically able to cope with the demands against the better nations.

Marco Weymans did offer some Belgian resistance with a strike which rattled the bar but now Scotland face Romania on Saturday with qualification secured.