Deja vu for Scotland as the shortage of attacking risk prices them
The Tartan Military believed once more and cried once more as one other marketing campaign ended on the group stage.
It was the identical story at Euro 2020: hope after a draw with England was dashed in solely their third recreation and flew away.
The tournaments going down after so lengthy is to be counseled, however Andy Robertson needed them to go away Germany with no regrets. There’ll most likely be a number of of them.
Grant Hanley headed the publish late within the draw with Switzerland after which got here so near a late aim in opposition to the Hungarians. What may have been.
The offensive risk was small. Two objectives have been scored on this event, solely considered one of them by a Scotland participant.
Accidents performed a job earlier than the event and in camp. however after such a convincing qualifying marketing campaign, the followers who introduced such pleasure to the event most likely deserve a bit extra.
Alison Conroy
Is Clarke proper to guide Scotland?
Questions will now be requested about Steve Clarke and whether or not he’s the person to guide Scotland into one other qualifying marketing campaign.
He introduced again the nation’s pleasure by profitable back-to-back Euros, however the wins resulted in simply one of many final 12.
He set Scotland up in a really defensive mode, understanding they could not lose, however that meant the likes of Scott McTominay, who was high scorer within the qualifiers, had been virtually nameless.
Additionally, does his loyalty typically work in opposition to him? Laurence Shankland was the Scottish Premier League’s high scorer final season however began all three video games on the bench as he opted to stay with Che Adams regardless of his poor return of balls of late.
Alison Conroy
In Germany, they had been reminded how tough the glory of Euro-2024 will likely be
Germany got a well timed reminder that glory at Euro 2024 won’t come simple, however Niklas Fulkrug scored what may show to be the defining second of their event.
After victories over Scotland and Hungary, the hosts battled to interrupt down a resilient Switzerland, the knockout stage specialists with this sixth successive group stage success.
Manuel Akanji and Granit Xhaka led by instance in absorbing Germany’s assaults, whereas Brill Embala and Dan Ndoye had been a relentless risk on the counter-attack. It was a near-perfect efficiency to seal high spot in Group A.
That was till substitute Fulkrug stepped up in stoppage time to fireside a textbook header into the highest left nook to offer Germany what needs to be a better route into the knockout levels.
A second-place end would most probably see Italy advance to the spherical of 16. As an alternative, it needs to be Denmark, Slovenia or Serbia, except England are relegated from Group C on Tuesday.
David Richardson
The artful Switzerland will show a tricky knockout matchup
Switzerland have proved a tricky nut to crack for Germany – and England will take word because the Swiss could possibly be potential quarter-final opponents.
If the Three Lions win Group C after which undergo their final 16 recreation, they might effectively face Switzerland within the quarters, who will face the second-placed staff in Group B, which will likely be Italy, Croatia and Albania .
Murat Yakin’s staff confirmed defensive dedication, good group and hazard on the counter-attack in opposition to Germany.
They’ve a wealth of expertise and captain Granit Xhaka as soon as once more impressed to win the event’s second participant of the match award.
Manchester Metropolis full-back Manuel Okanji was excellent and key to holding Germany at bay till Niklas Fulkrug scored a heartbreaking equalizer within the 92nd minute.
Nonetheless, Switzerland received the consequence they wanted to progress out of the group stage for a 3rd successive Euros and they’re going to now be robust opponents for whoever they face within the knockout levels.
Declan Ollie