Switzerland takes another step towards the round of 16 and Scotland resists

There is a reason it is the oldest team in the world, along with England. Scotland always resists. She can see herself sunk, beaten by Germany, but if she has to leave she will do so with pride. The Tartan Army drew 1-1 against Switzerland and leaves group A of Euro 2024 open. The Germans are already classified after their victory against Hungary, but from there nothing is counted. The Helvetians take a step towards the round of 16 with the draw in Cologne and stand with four points, one for the Scots, who will play their options in the last day against the defenestrated Hungary. This is how this quartet looks after an electric match that anyone could have won. Pound for pound perhaps the Swiss prevailed, with more scoring actions. But the Scots pressed fiercely and could have achieved the surprise if that ball to Hanley’s post had deviated a few centimeters.

The clash in the first phase was full of small games. At all times, both teams were aggressive, daring and vertical. With the ball and when they were chasing him. Eager to please the 50,000 souls that gave a unique color to the Cologne stadium. They made it. Scotland came out in a rush, minutes later Switzerland recomposed their logic and took the ball. But suddenly, a corner in their favor became their worst nightmare. The Scots made a hasty transition and McTominay’s final shot hit Schar to throw off Sommer. The blow dazzled the Swiss for a few moments but everything changed again and Murat Yakin’s team recomposed themselves and selfishly took the ball. So much so that the difference in possession skyrocketed. 28 percent for the Scots and 72 percent for the Swiss.

The pressure was so much that it caused a definitive error in the rival. Ralston sent a pass backwards and the most scoundrel of all took advantage of it. Shaqiri, who returned to the starting lineup, hit the ball with his delightful left foot to beat Gunn. Everything indicated that Scotland would shrink. But he remained upright (the ball control statistics were equal) although the majority of dangerous actions were Swiss. Widmer had a shot that went almost high, then Ndoye had it but the Scottish goalkeeper took the ball and then Schar wanted to score in his goal but again Gunn avoided disaster.

After the break, both teams lowered their heart rate, with a few minutes of dull football. Until they couldn’t take it anymore and stretched again. The first to do it was the Swiss Vargas, whose father was Dominican, with a virulent shot. Moments later (minute 58) came one of those actions that should be punishable for failing. Ndoye stood alone on the edge of the area but the ball went past the Scot’s Gunn’s post. Still surprised by the error, a double change was made, one of them forced. Yakin took out the gaseous Shaquiri and Clarke saw how Tierney (a player who this past season has played in LaLiga with the ranks of Real Sociedad) left on a stretcher injured.

Switzerland was becoming a tunnel boring machine. Blow by blow he was sinking Scotland. Vargas continued with the merengue although without scoring success. But what is football. In that single-issue game, the one who had the clearest option was Scotland. A lateral foul was finished off by Hanley to Sommer’s right post. The left wings of both teams emerged. The Scotsman Robertson and the Swiss Ndoye were the mainstays in their area of ​​influence. In the last moments of give and take, the best chance came from the Swiss Amdouni, who failed inexplicably. Scotland never stopped trying but with little luck.