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.
Euro 2024: Scotland 0-0 Switzerland
2 mins
Scotland win the first corner of the match, and it’s greeted by a huge roar from the Tartan Army.
The delivery is cleared by Freuler, before Robertson’s cross is diverted behind moments later.
KICK-OFF! Scotland 0-0 Switzerland
KICK-OFF! And we’re underway in Cologne. Scotland get us started in a vital game in Group A.
Scotland vs Switzerland LIVE
Both sides are lining up, the captains are exchanging the pennants, and we’re less than five minutes from kick-off.
Can Scotland finally launch their Euro 2024 campaign and keep their hopes of making the next round alive?
Or will the Swiss consolidate their position in Group A and put one foot in the last 16?
Head-to-head
Scotland and Switzerland have met 16 times on the international stage, with the first meeting coming as long ago as 1931.
Their first competitive meetings came in a World Cup qualifying campaign in 1957, with Scotland winning both.
The two sides have met at the European Championships once before, with Scotland winning 1-0 at Euro ‘96 thanks to a goal from Ally McCoist!
Overall, Scotland have won eight of the games, with Switzerland winning five and three ending in draws.
Form guide
Switzerland got off to the perfect start with a 3-1 win against Hungary, in what was an accomplished performance overall.
They dominated the first half and went into the break 2-0 up, and despite faltering and conceding once, they went on to wrap the game up in added time.
They had warmed up for the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Austria and a 4-0 win against Estonia, and they’ll hope for more of the same against a struggling Scotland side.
Form guide
Scotland come into the match after a humiliating opening game at Euro 2024, when they were battered 5-1 by hosts Germany.
Ryan Porteous was sent off and Scotland completely capitulated, in perhaps the worst performance of the opening games.
Scotland had warmed up with a win against Gibraltar and a 2-2 draw with Finland in their warm-up games, but they’ll need a massive improvement if they’re to earn their first points at this summer’s tournament.
Scotland enter new phase of Euro 2024 as required change becomes clear
There’s been a great deal of talk around Scotland since the embarrassment of Munich - admirable displays of showing up, taking responsibility, being accountable. There have been meetings, discussions, discussions about meetings; post-match analysis, pre-match analysis, another two press conferences. Five days on from the opening humiliation against hosts Germany and Scotland were starting to struggle finding a new way to say they’d failed to show up on the opening night of Euro 2024. Finally, the captain Andy Robertson announced the time for talking was over. “We need action,” he declared.
As a result of their goal difference taking a battering against Germany, there is jeopardy ahead of facing Switzerland tonight. Steve Clarke’s side require four points from their remaining two games of Group A and will be all but out should they lose in Cologne; at the very least, it would require Scotland to beat Hungary in their final fixture of the group by five or six. It’s as simple as that, while the challenge of lifting the spirits of his players has been one of nuance for Clarke. The Scotland manager has been going around his squad “kicking backsides and giving cuddles” as he assesses what is needed ahead of facing a confident Switzerland team fresh off an impressive win over Hungary.
Read the match preview below.
Scotland enter new phase of Euro 2024 as required change becomes clear
After a dismal opening defeat to Germany, Scotland can’t afford to lose to Switzerland or they will face the worst-possible end to their European Championship campaign
Scotland vs Switzerland team news and confirmed line-ups
Billy Gilmour and Grant Hanley start for Scotland as Steve Clarke makes two changes from the Germany defeat. Switzerland make one change, and it’s not Breel Embolo. Instead, Xherdan Shaqiri starts in place of Kwadwo Duah.
Scotland XI: Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; Ralston, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson; McGinn, McTominay; Adams
Switzerland XI: Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Widmer, Xhaka, Freuler, Aebischer; Ndoye, Shaqiri, Vargas
Scotland vs Switzerland: Latest Euro 2024 build-up
Scotland captain Andy Robertson appeared to hit back at criticism of the Germany defeat by suggesting pundits “couldn’t wait” to talk the team down after qualifying for Euro 2024.
“it is easy to talk about a game of football before or after the game, whatever you want, but it’s not as easy to go out and do it and that’s what we have to focus on. We need action,” he said.
“Obviously there was a lot of talk after the game as well. A lot of people critical and a lot of people probably from the outside couldn’t wait to kind of dip into it.
“That’s fine for them. They get paid to do that and we respect that, but now we have to act, we have to be on the pitch and we have to do a lot better on the pitch and that’s what we are focused on.
“I can set up here for hours and hours and talk about it, but it’s not going to make much difference. We need to be confident that we can perform to our highest level and if we do that then I believe that we can cause any team problems. And we’ve always believed that we’ve shown that in the past, but we need to get back to showing it, that’s for sure.”
Scotland vs Switzerland: Latest Euro 2024 build-up
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke on how he reacted to the Germany defeat after returning to the team’s camp.
“Kick a couple of backsides, give some cuddles, make the players understand why the Germany result happened and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“I’ve spoken to one or two players around the squad whose opinion I value. I had a good chat with a few of them.
“I had a little chat with a lot of them on the training pitch this morning. Tried to put one or two things in their head about things they maybe didn’t do on the pitch.”
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