Scotland’s aspirations of making it to a major tournament’s knockout rounds for the first time in their history remain alive following a spirited 1-1 draw with Switzerland in Group A.
The team led by Steve Clarke was far better than the one that lost 5-1 to Germany, the hosts of Euro 2024, on Friday. They took the lead right away when Scott McTominay scored a goal off a deflection off Fabian Schar, capping a quick counterattack.
The goal sent the Tartan Army into fits of delirium inside Cologne Stadium, but veteran Xherdan Shaqiri quickly levelled the score with a stunning first-time effort from the edge of the box after he pounced on a wayward pass from Anthony Ralston.
In the second half, the two teams continued to trade blows. Angus Gunn, who was superb in the first half when he denied Dan Ndoye a one-on-one opportunity, again denied the Swiss forward before Grant Hanley headed a tremendous Scotland opportunity against the post from Andrew Robertson’s free-kick.
Scotland came within a whisker of winning all three points and their first major tournament victory since defeating the same opponent at Euro 1996, but they also displayed impressive defensive resiliency, surviving a late scare from substitute Zeki Amdouni’s careless header wide.
Scotland is now one point from two Group A games due to the draw, three points behind the second-place Swiss, who, along with Germany, are all but qualified. Most importantly, though, it means that Scotland might advance as one of the top four third-place finishers if they defeat Hungary in their final match on Sunday.
The only negative aspect of the game was the injury to defender Kieran Tierney, who went down holding his hamstring and needed to be stretchered out in the second half. Clarke said after the game that Tierney will undoubtedly miss the match against Hungary.
Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn said: “Everything in the game, from the start, was 10 times better than the other night.
“The lads managed to keep it going for 90 minutes. Some of them were flagging by the end but it was much more like us.
“We wanted to bring that [the intensity] back into the game today. We did that and you see the lift it gave the players and the fans. That was the boost we needed at the start of the game.
“Personally I was hurting after the game on Friday night as I didn’t think I had done myself justice. I think a lot of the boys felt like that as well. That was the motivation, to come out and show what we’re all about.
“We wanted to go into the last game with something to play for. We go to the last game knowing what we have to do and hopefully we can get a big result.”
Captain Andrew Robertson said: “Much more like us, aggressive on the front foot and got off to a much better start.
“We make a mistake but Tony Ralston was unbelievable after that mistake. Not many people could come back from that, but second half he was different class.
“We have our chances, but it was an open game. That was far more like us and we’re a lot more happy with that performance. We’ll take the draw and there’s all to play for in the last game. That’s all we can ask for.”
The teams that finish third in their respective groups are ranked in order of the following criteria, starting with:
1) Points
2) Goal difference
3) Goals scored
4) Wins
5) Lower disciplinary points total
6) European Qualifiers overall ranking
7) If hosts Germany are involved in the comparison, drawing of lots
The tournament then moves to a straight knockout format, with one-legged ties – including extra-time and penalties if necessary – until two sides reach the final on July 14 in Berlin.
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