In their second group game at Euro 2024 Scotland faced Switzerland in Cologne tonight. With tens of thousands of Scottish fans in support, both teams managed to create a multitude of chances. Both sides scored once, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Scotland started the game much braver than in their opener against Germany last week. The Tartan Army fans could jump off their seats in the opening quarter of the game. In the 13th minute Scott Mctominay found himself at the end of a sharp Scottish counter. McGregor laid the ball back from inside the box, which allowed the incoming Manchester United midfielder to smash the ball in the top left corner of the net: 1-0.
The second Scottish goal at Euro 2024 wasn’t met without reply. In the 26th minute Ralston made a clumsy backward pass, the ball ended up in front of the incoming Shaqiri. The Swiss attacking midfielder didn’t hesitate made the most of the gift, and rocketed the ball into the top left corner from the edge of the box. The goalkeeper had no chance: 1-1.
Switzerland upped the pressure and got close to adding another in the second quarter of the game. At the end of a Swiss corner the ball scrimmaged into the Scottish net. But the referee noticed a hand ball in the built up. Goal disallowed.
Both sides created danger in each other’s box, without creating more clear cut chances. The defences of both teams held up. The sides went into the dressing room with a 1-1 draw.
The second half of the game
Scotland left the dressing room positively. Bright spark Andrew Robertson took on his opponent on the left side several times, without making the Swiss goalie work. On the other end of the pitch Switzerland got a long range shot at goal. It was an easy save for Angus Gunn. Not much later Switzerland managed to create a more dangerous chance. A high ball over the Scottish defence landed in front of Ndoye. Gunn made himself big and came out of his goal, he pulled off a big save at the Swiss attacker’s goalbound strike.
In the 66th minute Scotland were a whisker away from a goal. A free kick found a Scottish head in the Swiss box, but to the disappointment of the Tartan Army the left post saved Switzerland from getting behind.
The final quarter of the game saw Scotland maintain pressure on the ball. A shot from McTominay from inside the box got blocked by the Swiss defence, the following rebound got dealt with by the Swiss as well. On the other end of the pitch Ndoye got another chance at goal, but the ball flew high and wide of the Scottish goal. A few minutes later Swiss substitute Embolo left the Scottish defence behind and lifted the ball over the Scottish goalkeeper and into the net. To the relief of the Scottish fans it was offside. No goal.
In the last minute of normal time Switzerland had a life size chance at grabbing the winner, but the Swiss attacker failed to get the close range header into the net. On the other end Scotland got a dangerous cross into box, Akanji managed to keep the ball away from the many Scottish feet in the Swiss box. The game ended without a winner.
Steve Clark’s men will play their final game in group A against Hungary on Sunday. Only a win at Stuttgart’s MHPArena will give Scotland hope for the knock out stages. Germany currently lead group A with 6 points, while Switzerland and Scotland follow with 4 points and 1 point. Fourth placed Hungary has no points and will need a win on Sunday to have any chance at progressing.
The performance was much better.