Scotland’s Euro 2024 Party Isn’t Over After Switzerland Draw 2-2
You can’t go anywhere in Cologne these days without seeing Scotland fans. They’ve occupied the city, draped in their vast tartan tapestry and singing their heart out to anyone who’ll listen.
✅ 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬’𝗦 𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦:
🇭🇷 Croatia 2-2 Albania 🇦🇱
🇩🇪 Germany 2-0 Hungary 🇭🇺
🏴 Scotland 1-1 Switzerland 🇨🇭#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/fmtuUyIQde— Match Spoots (@matchspoots) June 19, 2024
Groups of them visited Alter Markt, the cathedral of this vast city, for prayers and a chance to sing along to their favourite songs.
Despite their rabbit-in-headlamps performance in Friday’s 5-1 drubbing by Germany, Scotland knew that they had to be fearless in this Group A clash with Switzerland.
They started well, and took an early lead when Scott McTominay’s on-target 13th-minute shot was turned in by the unfortunate Fabian Schar.
They were pushed back, though, and Switzerland equalised when a blind back pass from Anthony Ralston allowed Xherdan Shaqir to relive his Bayern Munich glory days with a first-time screamer that gave Angus Gunn no chance.
Scotland were much improved in the second half, with the return of Billy Gilmour a significant factor as he gave John McGinn and Che Adams a platform to join attacks and Andy Robertson a channel to bomb down the left.
And while they weren’t quite able to find a winner, the point keeps alive Scottish hopes of making the knockouts of a major men’s tournament for the first time, and gives Steve Clarke’s side a fighting chance in their final game against Hungary on Sunday.
As they traipsed from the stadium to the city centre, they were clapped by their brilliant support, still breathing in and out like they’ve been holding their breath for the past two days.