Switzerland vs Scotland

Cologne’s RheinEnergieStadion forms the backdrop for a lopsided Euro 2024 Group A showdown between overachieving Switzerland and underperforming Scotland.

Scotland might have wished they failed to reach back-to-back European Championships for the second time in the nation’s history as tournament hosts Germany thrashed them 5-1 in Group A’s curtain-raising fixture. Despite Kieran Tierney’s belief in Scotland’s chances of reaching the Euros knockout stages for the first time, the Tartan Army must win a game at this tournament for the first time in the 21st century (D1, L3). That could prove easier said than done, considering Steve Clarke’s men have only won once in their last ten internationals (D3, L6), courtesy of a 2-0 friendly triumph against minnows Gibraltar. Prone to late lapses in concentration, Clarke’s troops have conceded seven goals beyond the 70-minute mark across their last six outings.

In contrast to Scotland’s catastrophe on Matchday 1, Switzerland demolished Hungary 3-1 to extend their stellar run to just one defeat across their last 15 internationals (W7, D7). Continuing in a similar vein in this fixture would probably seal the Swiss’ progression into the knockout stages for the third Euros on the trot. Bidding to better an impressive run to the quarter-finals in the 2020 edition, Murat Yakin’s men can take further confidence from losing just one of their last five encounters against Scotland (W2, D2). But that only loss came in their most recent duel at the Euros, with the Tartan Army running out 1-0 winners in 1996, suggesting they can’t let complacency creep in.