Football
Tierney’s Euro 2024 may be over as Clarke gives update on Scotland defender
Kieran Tierney has been ruled out of Scotland’s final Euro 2024 group game after being stretchered off during their draw against Switzerland.
The defender was writhing in pain after awkwardly tumbling to the ground on Wednesday night just before the hour mark in Cologne.
He was subsequently taken off on a stretcher and was later seen walking with a bandage round his right ankle.
However, his tournament may now be over despite Scotland having one more group match, where they face Hungary on Sunday.
On Tierney, Scotland boss Steve Clarke said: “He’s definitely out [of the Hungary match].
“It looks pretty bad, but Kieran won’t make the next game.
“You have to feel for him. He’s a top player for us, and someone else has got to step up.”
Scotland need to beat Hungary on Sunday to stand a realistic chance of reaching the knockout stage of Euro 2024.
A win would’ve been a huge boost for them, however, fans will be encouraged by the marked improvement from their opening defeat to Germany, which saw them get humbled 5-1.
It was Clarke’s men who made the brighter start and they went ahead on 13 minutes when Scott McTominay’s left-footed strike deflected into the Swiss net off Fabian Schar.
But they were pegged back on 26 minutes when Anthony Ralston’s stray pass was intercepted by Xherdan Shaqiri, who unleashed a stunning strike into the top left-hand corner beyond Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn to ensure the spoils were shared.
The result leaves Scotland third in Group A. If they’re to get a guaranteed spot in the last 16 then they must beat Hungary on Sunday and hope Germany beat Switzerland with a six-goal swing in the process also required.
The far more likely route to the last 16 is through being in the top four of the six third-placed teams across the six groups but failure to beat Hungary will make that unlikely.
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