COLOGNE, Germany – The party in Scotland is not over. They were challenged not to be afraid against Switzerland, and their bruised and exhausted bodies were proof of that as they applauded their brilliant support, having stretched every muscle to draw 1-1 on Wednesday. That point keeps Scotland's hopes of reaching the last 16 of a major men's tournament for the first time alive.
Steve Clarke's side still need to get a result against Hungary in the final round of group matches, but this was a bit of a metamorphosis from the rabbit performance against Germany on Friday to this brave performance in Cologne.
“Tonight was about getting back to what we're good at: working hard,” Clarke said after the game.
Clarke is a man of few words. His pre-match press conference lasted eight minutes. You didn't need a comma for most of his answers. But the message was abruptly clear: Talk costs nothing, it's time for players to deliver. Scotland knew that if they lost on Wednesday in Cologne, their hopes of participating in Euro 2024 would be over. But because of their remarkable support – some estimate that up to 200,000 people traveled to be in Germany for their first match on Friday – their oft-sung refrain still rings true: “No Scotland, no match.” Well, they still have a say in this European meeting and the fans won't be going home anytime soon.
Since Germany scored the final point in their 5-1 defeat, Scotland fans on trains, trams and in city squares have been debating what changes they would make. They sang their John McGinn songs on a loop, but the brief throat-clearing intervals were based on self-critical predictions or imagined tactical adjustments. However, they did so knowing full well that Clarke is not one to play around with things. Despite all the talk of Lawrence Shankland replacing Ché Adams, a change from three defenders to four defenders, or a change at right back with James Forrest or Ross McCrorie starting, in the end Clarke made a change not forced. With Ryan Porteous sidelined due to suspension, Grant Hanley started, while the only tactical change saw Billy Gilmour get the nod in midfield in place of Ryan Christie.
Clarke's tactics paid off. At times they still look shaky in defence, with a panicked game prevailing, but this was a performance in which their best players stood up to be counted. Gilmour's inclusion brought poise to the midfield, and his diminutive stature meant he hit elbows left, right and centre, but he still controlled things. Andrew Robertson was ruthless down the left, while Kieran Tierney pushed his limits to the point his hamstring gave way. He will miss his team's final group stage match against Hungary.
What this draw gives Scotland is life, at least until Sunday, when they face Hungary. Since that 5-1 defeat against Germany, the players have talked about the importance of putting in a performance that lives up to their incredible support, and the consensus on Wednesday night was that they did just that.
“We knew we had to bounce back after the last performance and that puts us in a good place,” Gilmour said after the game. “We are a good team. We know our strengths. Tonight was more of a Scotland performance. Going after the ball [and] passionate, everything was there.”
Scottish fans flocked to Cologne before the tournament began. Even without tickets for their first match, they were here to be a common thread in the vast tartan tapestry that covered Germany, taking advantage of any opportunity to see their team in a major competition. Amid tears and beers in the Corkonian pub on Thursday, they swapped stories of loved ones no longer alive who always told their children and grandchildren about the magic of seeing Scotland on the biggest stage. It helped explain their takeover of Munich and how in any city you visit in Germany since the start of this competition, there are hordes of Scottish fans. Opposition fans greet those wearing kilts by singing their song “No Scotland, No Party.”
In Cologne on Tuesday, the main square, Alter Markt, was packed with Scottish fans. The rain was biblical, but still they sang to the sodden skies: “When you hear the noise of the tartan army boys, we'll be coming down the road.” Bewildered locals walked through the pouring rain, huddled under umbrellas, filming these thousands of Scots dancing in the downpour.
Groups of followers visited Cologne's grand cathedral earlier in the week and offered their own prayers. It was a rare place of tranquility, but outside the huge building, fans gathered on the stairs and foyers, with the Scottish flag flying over that German square. The songs and the sound of bagpipes were inescapable, and on Wednesday, the morning of the match, the Scottish fans could not move. The police closed the Alter Markt, the place was full of fans from Scotland and Switzerland. Some Swiss fans waiting for the tram even had their own red and white kilts made especially for this match. And all the while, local stores emptied of thousands of beers, bars ran out of liquor, and stories were exchanged, old friendships rekindled, and chance encounters treasured.
But they still talked about the game against Germany: what went wrong, what they would have to correct. A man staying at my hotel ended the pre-game festivities around 8 pm on Tuesday.
“These young people don't know how to pace themselves,” he said. “They'll probably hit us anyway.”
They arrived with hope and precarious expectation, but rarely will there be a sound like the noise that greeted Scotland's opener after 13 minutes. He was well created with Gilmour, Callum McGregor and McGinn involved in the build-up to Scott McTominay's shot, which caught Fabian Schär and went over Yann Sommer's head. Own goal or McTominay goal? For those in blue, it was definitely theirs. In the end, it was confirmed to be McTominay's.
Switzerland, who were impressive in their 3-1 victory over Hungary, responded 13 minutes later. Scottish indecision in defense led to Anthony Ralston losing a pass into the path of Xherdan Shaqiri, who didn't break stride before slotting a beautiful first-time shot past Angus Gunn. The Scotland we saw against Germany might have weakened at this point, but they regrouped.
What followed was a see-saw match. Switzerland had a great chance to take the lead before the break thanks to Dan Ndoye, but Gunn managed to deflect. They also had a goal disallowed for a slight offside just two minutes later, with Ndoye being the scorer and scorer of the goal. He had another chance in the 58th minute, but he cleared, in the same move that Tierney's hamstring gave way, and shot wide. Scotland almost took the lead soon after when Hanley's header found the Swiss post from five yards. Switzerland thought they had scored a late goal, but Breel Embolo's fine shot was ruled out for another offside. The Swiss celebrations stopped mid-swig of beer, leaving Gunn to clear his own penalty area of plastic cups.
In the end, the Swiss players were happier, celebrating with that red wall at one end of the stadium, with one foot in the round of 16. At the other end, those in blue applauded their team and exhaled. You can see why they sing that song about McGinn over and over again. He just never stops.
For tonight at least, Scotland is still in the equation. They need another brave performance against Hungary if they are to keep the party alive, but Swiss coach Murat Yakin was impressed.
“If we compare the two teams, Scotland caused us more problems, especially in the first half,” he said. “It was difficult for us to create the game. It was a tough and very close game between Scotland and Hungary.”
As fans walked away from this stadium and back toward the city center, those songs were sung again into the night sky. The army of Scottish fans still has not lost hope.
“That's how we've been playing as a team for the last three or four years,” Clarke said. “We knew what we had to do, it was a good team performance against a good opponent and we are still alive in the tournament.”
