This is the moment a Switzerland fan was hit flush in the face by a flying ball in last night’s Euros game – but it’s the priceless reaction of the Scotland supporter that has got people talking.
More than 42,000 supporters rocked up to the Cologne Stadium in western Germany to watch Steve Clarke’s men earn a precious 1-1 draw with the Swiss.
The two teams battled it out in a hard-fought contest, but one unfortunate fan ended up on the receiving end of a wayward shot that sent his glasses flying.
As Switzerland pushed for a winner in the 77th minute, winger Dan Ndoye cut inside and hit a powerful drive that went high over the crossbar and into the crowd behind the goal.
A slow action replay shows fans raising their arms and turning their heads to deflect the ball away, inadvertently crunching it into the face of a baseball cap wearing Switzerland fan behind.
A slow action replay during the Scotland v Switzerland game last night shows fans raising their arms and turning their heads to deflect the ball away after Dan Ndoye’s wayward shot
But it inadvertently goes crunching it into the face of a baseball cap wearing Switzerland fan behind
But it is the reaction of the shaven-headed Scotland fan in front that has left viewers amused. As others cower away to avoid being struck by the ball, he stands there unflinching with his arms crossed over his chest without a care in the world
The sheer force of the ball pushes his head backwards and sends his red cap and glasses into the air.
It left BBC1 co-commentator Steve Bower to remark ‘that poor gentleman’s glasses went flying as a result’.
But it is the reaction of the shaven-headed Scotland fan in front that has left viewers amused.
As others cower away to avoid being struck by the ball, he stands there unflinching with his arms crossed over his chest without a care in the world.
He then slowly moves his head to the side, his lips pursed, to look around after the fan behind feels the full force of the shot.
One viewer posted the clip on X/Twitter which has been viewed more than 270,000 times to quip: ‘Scottish guy in front doesn’t budge lol.’
Another suggested he might have downed a few too many steins of lager as they joked: ‘He’s that drunk he never seen it hahaha.’
Others were more concerned about the Switzerland fan’s welfare as they said they ‘hope the swiss bloke is doing well though’.
Kilt-wearing supporters were in full voice once again in Cologne as Scotland got their first points of Euro 2024 – five days after they lost their opening game in a 5-1 mauling to hosts Germany in Munich.
Scotland, who must beat Hungary in their final game on Sunday to have any hope of advancing, came straight out the blocks and made their early pressure count after just 13 minutes as Scott McTominay ‘s deflected strike put Steve Clarke’s side 1-0 up.
The Tartan Army erupted at the Cologne Stadium and across fan zones in the city – where around 60,000 fans travelled to from Munich for the crunch clash. Those unable to make the trip to Germany packed out fan zones and pubs back home.
Scott McTominay celebrates after scoring the first goal via a deflection
Kilt-wearing Scotland fans bring the atmosphere at the Cologne Stadium against Switzerland
Scotland’s hopes of advancing will go down to the final game after they failed to win
Scotland fans celebrate at the Glasgow Fan Zone after Scotland go 1-0 up in Germany
Kilt-wearing fans embrace one another after Scotland went ahead in the first half
Scotland fans bring the noise in Cologne
But the celebrations were short-lived as former Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri silenced the Scots by levelling the score with a stunning curling strike into the top left corner after 26 minutes.
With just one point on the board from two games, reaching the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time in their history looks like an uphill task now for Scotland.
Given their poor goal difference, it is virtually impossible for Scotland to overtake second-place Switzerland, who have four points and play Germany next.
The Scotland dream is still alive, however, as the team that finishes third with the most points will qualify as the best third-placed side. No team has failed to progress as one of the best third-placed teams with four points, which Scotland would have if they beat Hungary.
