Scotland v Switzerland LIVE: Result and final score as Scots keep Euro 2024 dream alive
Scotland 1-1 Switzerland: The Tartan Army bounced back from a chastening opening defeat with a spirited draw that keeps their last-16 hopes alive
Scotland kept alive their hopes of reaching the last 16 at Euro 2024 with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in a gripping Group A game on Wednesday.
Eager to make up for their 5-1 rout by Germany, Scotland were roared on by thousands of fans and made a dream start when Scott McTominay’s on-target 13th-minute shot was turned in by Swiss defender Fabian Schar.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Switzerland, who would have ensured a top-two spot with victory, levelled in spectacular fashion when recalled forward Xherdan Shaqiri curled a brilliant shot into the top corner following a defensive error.
Switzerland twice had goals disallowed after tight offside decisions – one in the first half by Dan Ndoye and late on by substitute Breel Embolo – but Scotland also went close when Grant Hanley headed against the post.
Switzerland are second behind group leaders Germany on four points while Scotland are third with one and must beat Hungary in Stuttgart to advance.
England v Denmark talking points: Midfield dilemmas and Trippier’s big milestone
Attention quickly turns to tomorrow’s matches, and England head into their second game of Euro 2024 knowing victory over Denmark in Frankfurt will seal progression from Group C.
After a tense 1-0 win against Serbia in their tournament opener, Gareth Southgate will be hoping for a more rounded performance across the 90 minutes to secure qualification for the knockout stages.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the major talking points ahead of Thursday’s meeting.
England v Denmark talking points: Midfield dilemmas and Trippier’s big milestone
England can qualify for the knockout stages with a win against Denmark.
Klaus Gjasula goes from zero to hero in dramatic Albania draw with Croatia
Klaus Gjasula struck five minutes into stoppage time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Albania against Croatia in a thriller in Hamburg and keep alive their hopes of reaching the Euro 2024 knockout stages.
The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists looked to have secured a fine comeback win after Andrej Kramaric scored in the 74th minute to cancel out Qazim Laci’s early goal for Albania, then midfielder Gjasula inadvertently turned the ball past his own goalkeeper two minutes later.
But with time almost up, Albania attacked down the left and the ball was crossed to Gjasula who fired left footed into the corner to stun Croatia and set up a tense finale to Group B. After both sides lost their opening matches of the tournament, only final-game victories over Spain and Italy will likely be enough to see either qualify.
Klaus Gjasula goes from zero to hero in dramatic Albania draw with Croatia
Croatia 2-2 Albania: Gjasula’s own goal completed a Croatia turnaround but his 95th-minute strike at the other end snatched a thrilling draw for underdogs Albania
Jamal Musiala comes home to stitch together disjointed Germany in Euro 2024 win over Hungary
Here’s the report from Germany’s win earlier today.
On the platforms at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, signs hung above the German fans merrily bustling their way out of the train station, into the sunshine, and to the scene of their nation’s game with Hungary. “Heimstadt von Jamal Musiala”, read the signs overhead: “Hometown of Jamal Musiala.” Give him the keys to the city. If the 21-year-old was not a hometown hero before this Euro 2024 clash, he will be now.
If Germany needed any reminder that not every fixture would be as easy as Friday’s game against Scotland, that not every occasion would be as carefree as that tournament opener, then here was that reminder. It still came in the form of victory, thankfully for the hosts, but one that presented tests and required some luck. It also required one player to step up and serve as the sinew in a Germany team that appeared disjointed at times on Wednesday.
And that was evident at once. Within 15 seconds, Julian Nagelsmann’s players needed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to bail them out, as the ball broke for Roland Sallai in the Germany box, and a shock opener seemed imminent. Neuer darted off his line and broadened his frame to produce a crucial stop, sparing the hosts the embarrassment endured by Italy last week, when Federico Dimarco gifted Albania a goal after 23 seconds with an errant throw-in.
Jamal Musiala comes home to stitch together disjointed Germany in Euro 2024 win
Germany 2-0 Hungary: Musiala was once again the hosts’ star as they qualified for the knockout stages
FULL-TIME: Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
Billy Gilmour also briefly spoke to BBC One. He told them that Scotland “gave everything out there”.
“We knew we had to bounce back after the last performance and it puts us in a good place.
“We’re a good team. We know our strengths. Tonight was more like a Scotland performance.
“Getting after the ball, passionate - everything was there.”
FULL-TIME: Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
Here’s how Group A looks after the second round of games.
1 (Q) - Germany - 6 points, GD +6
2 - Switzerland - 4 points, GD +2
3 - Scotland - 1 point, GD -4
4 - Hungary - 0 points, GD -4
Next games
Scotland’s final game of the group stage comes against Hungary on Sunday, 23 June at 8pm BST in Stuttgart.
For Switzerland, their last game takes them to Frankfurt to face hosts Germany, with kick-off at the same time – 8pm BST.
Billy Gilmour brings the calm to keep Scotland’s Euro 2024 dreams alive
The party goes on, just, as Scotland restore some pride and give themselves a real chance of reaching the knockout stages of Euro 2024thanks to this battling draw against Switzerland. After the no-show of Munich, Scotland turned up in Cologne when their campaign was on the line. A defeat would have seen Steve Clarke’s side all but eliminated but now, with a precious point in hand and heads lifted that bit higher, Scotland know a victory over Hungary on Sunday is all they need to reach a historic last-16 tie.
It may have been more had Grant Hanley’s towering header creeped inside the post, but in the closing stages of a tense night in a frenzied atmosphere in Cologne, Scotland and Switzerland may have informally settled on a draw. The result confirms Switzerland’s place in the knockout stages for the sixth major international tournament in a row, with Xherdan Shaqiri himself matching that feat following another sublime wondergoal on the big stage. It cancelled out Scott McTominay’s opener, deflected in off Fabian Schar.
Scotland certainly didn’t let anyone down this time, or show the same “fear” that contributed to the woeful 5-1 defeat to Germany.
Billy Gilmour brings the calm to keep Scotland’s Euro 2024 dreams alive
Scotland 1-1 Switzerland: Xherdan Shaqiri’s stunning strike cancelled out Scott McTominay’s deflected opener as Steve Clarke’s side preserved their hopes of reaching the knockout stages
FULL-TIME: Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
Andy Robertson spoke to BBC after the match, and he said that that performance was “much more like us”.
“Aggressive, on the front foot, couldn’t get off to a better start.
“We make a mistake but make no mistake about it, Tony Ralston was unbelievable after that mistake. Second half, he was different class.
“We had our chances but so did they. We were a lot more happy with that performance. We’ll take the draw and we’ve taken it into the last game and that’s all we can ask.
“We need to go again Sunday because that’s a massive game for us now. We can take a lot of positives from tonight but we can also tweak a little thing and improve even more and that’s a good thing.
“We need to get to bed now and recover. Come Sunday we’ll bee good to go with the backing that we’ve got.”
Scotland vs Switzerland player ratings: Xherdan Shaqiri produces stunner as Angus Gunn keeps Scots alive
Scotland earned a potentially valuable point against Switzerland as the two sides shared a 1-1 draw in their second Group C fixture.
Steve Clarke had promised that his side would produce a reaction to their opening thrashing against Germany at Euro 2024, and Scotland took the lead after Fabian Schar skewed Scott McTominay’s goalbound effort past Yann Sommer.
But Switzerland hit back before half time in superb style, Xherdan Shaqiriarcing a quite brilliant finish into the top corner after an error from Scotland in possession.
It proved to be enough for them to secure a draw and leave them well on track for the knockout rounds, while Scotland will have to beat Hungaryto have hope of joining them in the last-16.
Here’s how the players rated in Cologne:
Scotland vs Switzerland player ratings: Xherdan Shaqiri produces stunner
Scotland 1-1 Switzerland: Shaqiri’s strike from distance cancelled out Scott McTominay’s opener in Cologne
FULL-TIME: Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments