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Scotland relying on two scenarios to qualify for Euro 2024 knockout stage after Switzerland draw

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5 months ago

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Scotland relying on two scenarios to qualify for Euro 2024 knockout stage after Switzerland draw

Scotland were able to put the misery of their 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Germany behind them to pull off an impressive 1-1 draw against Switzerland and it could prove crucial in their bid to get out of the group stages.

The Scots have never made it through to the knockout stage of a major tournament having come close on a handful of occasions.

It looked as though Scotland would be heading for another group stage exit early on after they were thrashed by Germany in their opening match of the tournament.

Goal difference in tournament football is always crucial and it immediately put Scotland on the backfoot.

Steve Clarke’s side has a chance of qualifying for the next stage

REUTERS

It meant they could not afford to lose Wednesday’s match against Switzerland and a win looked on the cards when Scott McTominay gave them the lead.

The Tartan Army rocked the Cologne Stadium with an eruption of noise when McTominay’s deflected effort found the back of the net on 13 minutes.

But Xherdan Shaqiri broke Scottish hearts midway through the first half after pouncing on an error from Anthony Ralston before tucking away arguably the goal of the tournament so far.

Both sides had great chances to grab a winner in the game with Angus Gunn pulling off two impressive saves to deny Dan Ndoye while Grant Hanley smashed the post with a close-range header.

But neither of them were able to find the decisive goal as they shared a point, leaving Scotland’s hopes hanging in the balance.

Germany are already through after their win over Hungary put them on six points while Switzerland are now odds-on to clinch a knockout stage spot as they sit second in the group on four points.

Scotland currently occupy third with their solitary point with Hungary yet to get off the mark heading into the final group fixtures on Sunday evening.

Overtaking Switzerland to take second spot in the group will take some doing for Steve Clarke’s side.

Scotland could qualify as one of the best third-placed teams

Scotland could qualify as one of the best third-placed teams

REUTERS

Scotland must first defeat Hungary and rely on Germany beating Switzerland with a six-goal swing in their favour to overcome the goal difference.

Not impossible and stranger things have happened in tournament football.

However, Scotland’s best chance of qualifying may be by being one of the best four third-placed teams.

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Scotland ideally needed all three points against Switzerland

Scotland ideally needed all three points against Switzerland

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A win over Hungary would put Scotland on four points and guarantee a third-place finish at worst.

After the European Championship were expanded to 24 teams from the original 16-eam format in 2016, teams that finished third in their group also had a chance of making it through to the knockout stage.

In the previous two tournaments, four points was enough for teams to qualify for the knockout stage.

If Scotland draw with Hungary, they will still secure third in Group A but they’ll be relying on other teams to finish worse than two points due to their inferior goal difference.

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