We had to come out fighting and that's what we did ... we have given ourselves a huge chance of making history, says Callum McGregor
There's nothing more to be gained from Scotland torturing themselves further with the ifs and buts of defeat to Germany in the opening game of Euro 2024.
A generational talent, Billy Gilmour might have made a difference in the 5-1 hammering. Drain the glass to the halfway point and, given the chasm between the teams, he might have made no difference at all.
It’s now pointless debating a game that was analysed to death. What’s done is done and a 1-1 draw with Switzerland allows Steve Clarke and his players to move on with a positive mindset. They can now return to their alpine training base in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and breathe a little more easily.
After Cologne the manager joked of sending his players to spend two days recovering in the glacial waters of the local river. The cleansing properties of an improved display against the Swiss can’t be overstated.
Victory over Hungary would now secure a place in the last 16 of the first time ever. History is back on, and it’s time to stop dwelling on what might have been if Gilmour had played against the Germans.
Callum McGregor says the Scotland midfield showed their 'personality' against Switzerland
Scotland scored first in Cologne through a deflected Scott McTominay strike in the first half
Hanley went close for the Scots in the second half with a brave header, which hit the post
‘The players showed brilliant personality after the other day, a difficult day,’ said midfielder Callum McGregor. ‘You have to be together and come out fighting and that is exactly what we did. We arrive into the last game with a big chance.’
The flaws in Scotland’s game are obvious to everyone. After Scott McTominay’s opening goal, Anthony Ralston’s mistake was punished with savage brutality by Xherdan Shaqiri for Switzerland’s equaliser.
After that came a ragged spell when Murat Yakin’s classy team threatened to cut the Scots open. Dan Ndoye forced Angus Gunn into the first of a couple of huge saves. The Bologna striker then had the ball in the net before an offside flag intervened.
Before half-time, Gilmour and McGregor came into their own. They took the ball from nervy defenders, controlled it, kept it and played the simple pass. There was nothing fancy, nothing penetrative in what they did, but it bought Scotland some much needed respite.
When the midfield pair had the ball, Granit Xhaka didn’t. They took the sting out of Switzerland’s strongest spell in the match and helped Scotland to half-time unscathed. Understandably, some had asked why Clarke resisted the temptation to play 23-year-old Gilmour against the Germans. More important now is that he plays against Hungary.
‘Billy was excellent,’ said Celtic skipper McGregor. ‘When he comes in he takes the ball and he gets us playing. I like playing inside him because he will take the ball and will start to connect the game.
‘At this level you need to have the ball, you can’t just defend for 90 minutes. It’s important that when you get it you retain it, you keep the ball and give yourself a breather in the game. We like playing in there together.
‘In European football you have to have the ball. Other teams look after the ball so well and there is big energy, everyone is running, running, running. You need to be calm and you need to have the ball and rest with the ball as well. You can’t just be flat out for 90 minutes chasing it because the teams at this level are too good.
Billy Gilmour was a key performer and combined well with Callum McGregor in the midfield
‘Sometimes you need to breathe with the ball and put a few passes together. That got us to half-time and obviously we came out in the second half refreshed and with a bit more energy and we started to take the game to them. Overall it was a much better performance and I think we can get even better than that as well.
‘Full credit to the players because it was a difficult day last Friday and we have bounced back and given ourselves a chance. We arrive into the last game with confidence that we can go through.’
Where defeat to Germany was always likely, the pessimism which preceded the game against the Swiss reflected the nature of the loss. Had the game finished 2-1 or 3-1 win for the hosts there would have been gripes and moans, but significantly less fall-out.
In real terms, nothing has changed. Clarke always had one eye on four points against Switzerland and Hungary. After some stormy weather, the ship is back on course. ‘When you get a bad result perspective goes out the window a little bit,’ McGregor reflected.
‘When the draw was made you were probably targeting the last two games. It was probably the manner of the defeat the other night which made everyone feel a bit sore and not great.
‘As footballers you have to deal with that. You have to try to put it right.
‘We made the first step of putting it right and we arrive into the game on Sunday now with belief that if we play equally as well, if not better, we give ourselves a right good chance.’
A dead rubber with Hungary was the scenario no one wanted to contemplate. Before a ball was kicked against Switzerland, who look set to reach the second stage of a major finals for the sixth time in a row, every Scot in the RheinEnergieStadion would have happily taken a draw.
‘Absolutely,’ nodded McGregor. ‘I think if you asked anybody, they would. Over the next few days everybody will be buzzing. We just need to stay calm and recover.’
Hungary gave the Germans a significantly harder game than Scotland, albeit they remain without a point from their first two games. Despite having 37 per cent of the possession, they rattled the tournament hosts in the first half and carved out chances. Justifiably angered by a contentious opening goal for Jamal Musiala, they have nothing left to lose and everything left to prove.
‘A physical side, but they can play as well,’ said McGregor. ‘We have to bring the same energy level, same tempo and same aggression as we did against Switzerland for Sunday and we will see where that takes us.’
