The Tartan Army still have hope, but it's win or go home against Hungary

The Tartan Army still have hope, but it’s win or go home against Hungary

Jun 20, 2024

Not a win but still something to celebrate for the Tartan Army.

With a point to prove, a point was gained off Switzerland. Along with pride and the revival of the dream.

Securing a 1-1 draw could still help Scotland progress in the Euros.

This was the reaction manager Steve Clarke demanded after being humiliated 5-1 by Germany in their Group A opener.

And never did the fans give up on their players – remembering those memorable qualifying wins over Spain and Norway.

“This is the way we’ve been playing as a team over the last three or four years,” he said. “It’s why we’re here at a major tournament.

“So we knew what we had to do. The players knew what they had to do and I thought it was a good team, team performance against a good opponent.”

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There will be a concern that after Scott McTominay’s 13th minute opener, a defensive lapse allowed Xherdan Shaqiri to equalise for the Swiss with a thunderous strike.

But there was always goalkeeper Angus Gunn to rely on – bailing them out with saves to preserve the point.

Scotland could find it tough finishing in Group A’s two automatic qualification places. But beating Hungary in Stuttgart on Sunday could put them among the four best third-placed finishers from the six groups.

“They’re going to feel a lot better in the next game,” Clarke said. “On the back of that game, the performance is what we are.

“This is how we play, this is how we work. And we’ll show that as well the aggression and the fight and the dirty side of the game.”

Winning in Cologne last night was always going to be a tall order given the Swiss had only lost two of their previous 14 group matches in tournaments.

And this is a country that has appeared at every major tournament since the 2014 World Cup – with Shaqiri scoring in all of them.

McTominay, who has won trophies with Manchester United, had never netted in an international tournament before last night.

The Scots haven’t even made it to a men’s World Cup since 1998 and Euro 2020 only marked their return to the continental competition since 1996.

But history is weighing against Scotland who have never secured qualification from a group into a tournament knockout phase.

Clarke said: “It’s just about doing better all the time … to what we’re good at, working hard.”

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