Scotland are nonetheless alive at Euro 2024 after Wednesday evening’s 1-1 draw in opposition to Switzerland, understanding that victory of their third group recreation in opposition to Hungary ought to be sufficient to make the knockout stage as one of many competitors’s best-ranked third place groups.
It is instantly value stating that 4 factors has by no means not been sufficient to flee the group stage within the eight-year historical past of the 24-team European Championship format.
No Scottish nationwide group – male or feminine – has ever gone past the group stage of a European Championship or World Cup in 13 earlier makes an attempt stretching again 70 years. However with essentially the most beneficial of their fixtures now to return, the ability to vary that’s virtually actually their very own.
Scottish followers have been on the lookout for a response following the humiliation of a calamitous 5-1 defeat by the hands of Germany on the opening evening of the match final Friday, with all-action performances from the much-improved Andrew Robertson and Scott McTominay main the cost.
Each have been concerned as Scotland went forward 13 minutes in. The transfer began for Steve Clarke’s aspect defending a nook, however the ability and imaginative and prescient of Brighton’s Billy Gilmour to well take the ball down and play it into the trail of Robertson to set the fast counter in movement
The skipper drove and drove into Swiss territory, shedding to Callum McGregor, whose cutback was swept goalward by McTominay. It was properly struck along with his weaker left foot however straight at goalkeeper Yann Sommer, just for a wild swing of Fabian Schar’s leg to take it past the Inter stopper.
Proper then, Scotland may style the knockout stage, however they have been shortly introduced crashing again to earth by a shocking strike from Xherdan Shaqiri. The ex-Stoke and Liverpool attacker has been plying his commerce for Chicago Hearth in MLS since 2022 however confirmed no indicators of getting misplaced his wow issue. In actuality, it was a poor mistake from Scotland right-back Anthony Ralston, enjoying a unfastened ball throughout purpose into Shaqiri’s path. It positively wasn’t a gimme, although, 20 yards from purpose and in entrance of the road of the close to put up. But he struck it first time along with his left foot, curving the ball simply contained in the upright.
As each side looked for a winner, Robertson’s in-swinging free-kick halfway via the second half was inches away from restoring Scotland’s lead as Grant Hanley’s header got here again off the put up. Breel Embolo later had the ball within the web for Switzerland, just for an offside flag to rule it out.
It completed all sq. and Scotland’s nonetheless haven’t gained a recreation at a significant match since Euro ’96 when Ally McCoist’s solitary purpose at Villa Park was sufficient to beat, mockingly, Switzerland.
Victory in opposition to a to this point point-less Hungary on the weekend is the ask now. A draw will not be sufficient, however there was a lot on show in opposition to a Swiss aspect principally assured of a knockout place for the sixth main match in a row – a document amongst present groups inside Europe that’s bettered solely by France – to recommend they’ll get the job finished when Sunday comes.