Euro 2024: Scotland keep chances of reaching knockout stages alive after 1-1 draw with Switzerland

Sky News
Updated ·2-min read

Scotland have kept their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Euros alive after drawing 1-1 with Switzerland in Cologne.

Steve Clarke's side put in a more positive performance after their 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany on the opening day of the tournament but couldn't secure three points.

The draw leaves Scotland in third place in Group A with a single point - meaning they will need to beat Hungary to stand a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages automatically.

Scott McTominay's deflected strike gave Scotland the lead after 13 minutes at the Cologne Stadium, but celebrations were short-lived after former Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri equalised on the 26-minute mark.

Scotland had to work hard to contain Murat Yakin's side but they did so with intensity and nearly went ahead in the second half when Grant Hanley hit the post.

The Scots were saved from conceding twice by the offside flag but still put on an impressive performance to secure a draw.

Clarke knew he had to get something from the game and he made one enforced change with centre-back Hanley in for the banned Ryan Porteous, while midfielder Billy Gilmour came in for Ryan Christie.

Winning two corners in three minutes provided instant encouragement for the Scots.

Sky Sports' expert Nick Wright called it a "much improved showing overall".

Former Scotland international Kris Boyd said: "A point will do. We're alive and kicking... They've responded tonight, it was more like Scotland. Switzerland are no mugs and Scotland more than matched them.

"Steve Clarke will be relatively happy with that result."

There was bad news for Scotland defender Kieran Tierney in the second half after he left the pitch on a stretcher following a challenge on Dan Ndoye.

Read more:
England can 'play better', Southgate admits
Serbian FA charged after objects thrown at England match

Hosts Germany beat Hungary 2-0 earlier in the day and are top of the group with six points.

Switzerland are second on four points, Scotland are third with one point and Hungary sit in bottom place with zero.

Scotland face Hungary in both sides' final group game on Sunday night.

Only the top two teams in each group automatically go through to the knockout stages.

The sides which finish third in each group will be placed into a league table, with the top four sides progressing to the last 16.

A team's position in the table is based on criteria including points, goal difference and goals scored.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • Gareth Southgate: ‘I am the problem’

    Gareth Southgate has admitted being England’s major problem at the European Championship, plunging his future as manager in doubt beyond the tournament.

  • Georgia 2-0 Portugal: Famous win sends Georgians into Euro 2024 last-16 as England get Slovakia

    Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze score on historic day in Gelsenkirchen

  • Euro 2024: Last-16 fixtures, results, knockout schedule, group standings

    Knockout stages are now set for Euro 2024

  • England: Fans throw cups towards Gareth Southgate as Slovenia stalemate heavily booed

    Three Lions still top Group C at Euro 2024 despite another frustrating performance in Cologne

  • Life begins at 57 for Japanese striker King Kazu. He acknowledges 'I'm at quite an age'

    Kazuyoshi Miura was matter-of-fact about it this week when he joined Japanese club Atletico Suzuka. “I'm at quite an age," he said in a Tokyo news conference. Miura is 57, and the former Japanese international is still playing after most of his contemporaries have been out of the game for decades.

  • Son Heung-min’s father admits hitting academy player with corner flag

    The father of Son Heung-min, the Tottenham Hotspur forward, has admitted to hitting one of his South Korean football academy students with a corner flag after denying allegations of physical and verbal abuse.

  • NBA Draft: Lakers select Tennessee star Dalton Knecht with No. 17 overall pick after surprising slide

    Dalton Knecht, 23, was the oldest player selected in the draft when the Lakers picked him at No. 17.

  • Arsenal confirm summer transfer as newest signing reveals key reason behind move

    The Gunners have bolstered their goalkeeping ranks as they continue to plan for a bright future

  • Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo saved by stewards as fan jumps from stands at Euro 2024

    Cristiano Ronaldo was at the centre of another European Championship security scare after a fan almost landed on him jumping from the stands.

  • 2024 NBA Draft grades: First-round pick-by-pick analysis

    Here are Yahoo Sports' complete first-round draft grades.

  • France to face Belgium in last-16 at Euro 2024 as line-up takes shape

    France and Belgium, the world's second and third best teams respectively in the Fifa rankings, will meet in the last-16 at Euro 2024 next Monday in Dusseldorf after the line-up for the knockout stages was completed on Wednesday night. Georgia, who are competing at the competition for the first time, beat Portugal 2-0 to move into the last-16 where they will face Spain. "I don't have a lot of words so I will try to stay basic and say that I'm so proud of the players because what an image they hav

  • Arsenal handed Victor Osimhen transfer boost as new update delivered

    The Gunners and Chelsea have both been strongly linked with the Nigerian international, who is expected to leave Napoli this summer

  • Bronny James to Link Up With Dad at Lakers After Draft Night Shocker

    The Los Angeles Lakers burned a second-round pick to draft LeBron James’ son, Bronny, on Thursday evening—a shock move that makes the duo the first father and son to play at the same time in the NBA. Bronny, just 19, was selected at No. 55 overall. That’s significantly higher than most had the starlet going into this week’s draft in Brooklyn, with his limited basketball résumé holding him back in the eyes of most teams. Still, undoubtedly because of his dad’s stardom, Bronny has found himself on

  • Why Finns are deadly serious about hobby horsing

    A buzz of excitement crackled through the hushed arena as the rider gripped the reins of her stuffed steed.Welcome to the strangely exacting world of hobby horsing, the Finnish sport guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Immaculately-coiffed equestrians leap athletically over fences just like in horse jumping, going as fast as they can against the clock straddling their stick steeds.Things are more stately in the dressage, with riders trotting their stick horses with intricately decorated stuffed heads before the discerning eyes of the judges.Some 260 riders from 22 countries -- most women and girls aged between 10 and 20 -- turned up to compete at the 11th annual Finnish championship held in the town of Seinajoki.But despite its vast international reach, from the Arctic to Argentina, hobby horsing is a sport that dares not speak its name.- 'Insane' athleticism -Despite its soaring popularity, it is not officially recognised as a proper sport in its birthplace."We have faced so much bullying and judgement," rider Nara Arlin, 24, told AFP."We know what everyone in the hobby horsing has been through... I think that is the main thing that pulls us together."First invented in Finland more than a decade ago, hobby horsing has taken off at a gallop across the globe. "It is growing every year," said Julia Mikkonen, the chair of the Finnish hobby horse association.This year's championship was "the biggest we have had so far", she added.Beyond the whimsy, great strength and skill is required to jump the obstacles while holding the hobby horse. Some top competitors could give elite hurdlers or gymnasts a run for their money."If you jump over obstacles your hip mobility has to be absolutely insane," said Mikkonen, 20, with some fences up to 110 centimetres (3.6 feet) tall. - 10,000 enthusiasts -"Of course we are all dreaming of having a world championship one day," said Mikkonen, who estimates there are around 10,000 hobby horsers globally."I am still a bit breathless but I am happy with my performance", said 19-year-old Jojo Hanninen as she sat down after her dressage event. To succeed in the sport you have to channel your inner centaur, she said."In hobby horsing, my legs are the horse... I am both horse and human," she said. Hanninen's hobby horse is a grey called Toope, with glittery reins and pink ribbons adorning its white mane.- Welcoming community -Competitors go to great lengths with their horses -- which are also exhibited and judged -- modelling and sewing the heads and adorning them with decorations.  "Hobby horses are art," said Arlin, who makes her own.With the cheers of the crowd still ringing in her ears after an impressive show jumping round, she hailed the sport as "the best hobby ever"."You are doing so many things with your hands, brain and the whole body."Like many of her peers, Arlin found hobby horsing through play as a child. "But the older I became, it became more serious," said the rider, who trains by riding real horses, working out in the gym and doing pole dancing.Rainbow flags in the arena reflected the tolerant values underpinning the community.   "Horses are mostly seen as a girls' sport, but that is not correct. Anyone can come no matter what gender," Mikkonen said.   Every enthusiast AFP spoke to praised the welcoming community that kept them devoted to hobby horsing despite the scornful attitudes all encountered at some point."We have each other's backs," said Arlin. ank/po/fg/smw

  • The son also rises: what if Bronny James is the safest pick in the NBA draft?

    The 19-year-old has been derided as a nepo-baller. But growing up around one of the greatest players of all time could help him build a long career as a role player

  • Washington Wizards take French 7-footer Alex Sarr with the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft

    Alex Sarr will obviously face some pressure as the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft. “We're not going to put a specific timeline on the rebuild here,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said. The Wizards drafted Sarr with the second pick Wednesday night, using their highest selection in 14 years to add some much-needed size to a team that won only 15 games last season.

  • Historic NBA draft for France, which joins US as only country with 3 players within top 10 picks

    The NBA may have to rethink the timing of its annual draft. Paris is six hours ahead of New York, so French basketball fans eager to see history had to stay up into the wee hours of Thursday morning to see France join the United States as the only countries with three players drafted in the top 10 picks of an NBA draft.

  • Bukayo Saka to left-back? Ian Wright reveals how England could fit Cole Palmer into starting XI

    The under-pressure Gareth Southgate has some huge lineup decisions to make for last-16 showdown this weekend

  • Man Utd in talks with Eredivisie coach to become Erik ten Hag’s assistant

    René Hake, the head coach of Go Ahead Eagles, and Ruud van Nistelrooy are both now in talks to join Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff at Manchester United.

  • Ohtani contemplating the Home Run Derby amid record-breaking RBI streak with the Dodgers

    Shohei Ohtani is rolling along for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the moment. When it comes to the Home Run Derby, well, stay tuned. Ohtani hit a leadoff drive against the Chicago White Sox for the second straight night on Wednesday, extending his RBI streak to a franchise-record 10 games.