Scott McTomminay took advantage of a deflection to open the scoring, while Xherdan Shaqiri equalized with a great goal
Winner and classified Germany an hour earlier, Swiss still maintains its advantage in second position in group A of Euro 2024, thanks to a great goal from Xherdan Shaqiri with which he answered the first blow of Scotlandwhich maintains classification options, pending the last day and the number of points that the four best third parties will require.
There is only one problem for Switzerland, the favorite to qualify. Although it depends on itself and has everything very close, it faces in the last match against Germany, fearsome, winner of its first two matches, within the euphoria for which it flies in ‘its’ Euro Cup. Add three more points than Scotlandbut the British team, and their fatal goal difference, face Hungary.
Weighted down by the defeat of Germany on the first day, Scotland was reborn in this Wednesday’s clash, quickly ahead. His counterattack was dizzying. From an attack of Swisswith a cross into the area, an unstoppable departure from the team arose from Steve Clarke, led by Andy Robertson, who crossed almost the entire field, giving it to Mcgregor, who saw McTominay.
The Manchester United midfielder, revealed as an unstoppable scorer already in the qualifying phase, finished off as he arrived at the area. The shot from him was nothing out of the ordinary, probably into the hands of Yann Sommer, had Schär not intervened decisively. His bad clearance ended up putting the ball into his goal. Minute 13.
The frustration of Swissthe impulse of Scotland, who, however, repeated his defensive nonsense, imprecise so many times when he decided to go out with the ball played that any moment is a concession to his opponent, as happened a quarter of an hour later, when he made a fatal error that Shaqiri converted in a great goal. So easy.
Ralston’s transfer back was a gift that Shaqiri accepted, attentive, timely, with the conviction of the left foot that he hooked at first; a parable that he lodged in the squad, but that had been caused by a delivery inappropriate at this level by the Scottish right winger. She wasn’t the only one. Neither on his side nor on the other, although the others without consequences.
The match was open, more apparent for Swiss, who had a few chances. It is a team that when it runs, with spaces forward, on the counterattack, can hurt any opponent. Gunn’s stretch was the only thing that stood in the way of such a play, in which Vargas connected with Ndoye to aim for the goal. He didn’t make it.
Yes later, on the verge of half-time, but the VAR detected the illegal position of the Swiss striker. A relief for Scotland, who didn’t find out anything about that play. When he went offside, he lacked calculations and vigilance, because Ndoye was alone, just a few centimeters ahead, undetectable for Steve Clarke’s team, which reacted in the second half.
Above all, with Hanley’s header against the post, with which he once again felt capable of winning the match, in which he suddenly lost Kieran Tierney. In a defensive play the Real Sociedad defender was injured. He seemed muscular, but the way in which he left the field, immobilized on the stretcher, with worried expressions, conveys gravity. Also the hug with which his coach, Steve Clarke, encouraged him on the way to the locker room.
