Euro-2024: Neutralized by Scotland, Switzerland is not yet in 1/8th

Dominant but ineffective, Switzerland was é held in defeat by Scotland 1-1 Wednesday &at Cologne and will have to wait for their confrontation with Germany to join the host country in the 1/8th round of Euro-2024.

Second in group A, with four points, the Nati is nevertheless in a favorable position to access the elimination phases of the German tournament, thanks to a better goal difference than Scotland, also still in the race, to take out chickens for the first time in its history.

Swept 5-1 by Germany in the opening match of the Euro, but supported by a Cologne stadium fully committed to their cause, the Scots showed a completely different side against the Swiss, despite some defensive mistakes.

After a corner taken by Swiss veteran Xherdan Shaqiri (32), it was they who, although dominated, opened the scoring.

Their captain Andrew Robertson brought the ball up from his own half before shifting Callum McGregor into the box. With a back pass, the Celtic midfielder found Scott McTominay in the axis who took over with the flat of his foot. Yann Sommer, the Swiss goalkeeper was on the trajectory, but the ball was blocked by Fabian Schar in his own goal (1-0, 13th).

Established in attack in place of Kwadwo Duah, who scored against Hungary, Shaqiri saved Switzerland from a huge disappointment by taking advantage of an ill-adjusted back pass from Anthony Ralson to send a powerful left-footed shot without control in the top corner of Angus Gunn (1-1, 26th).

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– The Scottish heart –

Scottish striker Che Adams (left) in the fight with Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer, during the Euro-2024 match on Wednesday June 19 in Cologne. © AFP – OZAN KOSE

With this goal, the former Liverpool and Olympique Lyonnais winger, now at Chicago in MLS, becomes the only European player to have scored in each of the last 6 major tournaments (each World Cup and every Euro since 2014).

During the entire end of the first period, his partners pushed to take the advantage, even scoring a goal by Dan Ndoye, refused finally for offside (33rd), but they always came up against Gunn, imperial in his goals.

And if Breel Embolo, who came into play in place of Shaqiri (60th), was denied a second goal, still for offside (82nd), the Switzerland, in the second half, was able to consider itself fortunate not to have conceded any goals after the multiple Scottish attacks.

The Nati thus keeps its destiny in hand and, even in the event of defeat against Germany on Sunday in Frankfurt, it should see the final stages of the Euro- 2024.

Scotland, she clings to her dream. They are only credited with one point and have an unfavorable goal difference, but they will meet Hungary, already eliminated, in their last group match.

If she wins, she will then have 4 points and can legitimately hope to be among the four best third-placed groups invited to the elimination phase.

This would be a first in its history . It would be deserved given the heart she put into Cologne.

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