Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates his goal to make it 1-1 with Remo Freuler and Michel Aebischer
Image: Keystone
Scott McTominay scored with a big assist from Fabian Schär to put the Scots 1-0 up
Image: Keystone
Xherdan Shaqiri sets up for the goal-bound shot
Image: Keystone
Murat Yakin's thank you to Xherdan Shaqiri on his substitution
Image: Keystone
National coach Murat Yakin greeted the many Swiss fans in Cologne before the match
Image: Keystone
The fans' message to the Swiss players was clear
Image: Keystone
But the Scots put up a good fight: both in the stands and on the pitch
Image: Keystone
Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates his goal to make it 1-1 with Remo Freuler and Michel Aebischer
Image: Keystone
Scott McTominay scored with a big assist from Fabian Schär to put the Scots 1-0 up
Image: Keystone
Xherdan Shaqiri sets up for the goal-bound shot
Image: Keystone
Murat Yakin's thank you to Xherdan Shaqiri on his substitution
Image: Keystone
National coach Murat Yakin greeted the many Swiss fans in Cologne before the match
Image: Keystone
The fans' message to the Swiss players was clear
Image: Keystone
But the Scots put up a good fight: both in the stands and on the pitch
Image: Keystone
No win, but a point that brings Switzerland even closer to the round of 16: coach Murat Yakin's team drew 1-1 with Scotland.
19.06.2024, 22:54
19.06.2024, 23:51
SDA
The one point puts Switzerland in a good starting position ahead of the final round: although the Scots could still draw level on points, their 5-1 defeat against Germany leaves them with a big mortgage. Switzerland, meanwhile, go into their final group game with a goal difference of plus 2. And even if everything goes wrong there, Switzerland still have a good chance of qualifying as one of the four best third-placed teams in the group with four points.
The fact that qualification was not secured on Wednesday evening was due to the self-sacrificing fight of the Scots, but also in part to the negligence of the Swiss. They showed the willingness to run that Yakin demanded and also played with heart. In terms of concentration, however, they allowed themselves a few lapses, which resulted in some hair-raising misplaced passes.
Shaqiri shines with a beautiful shot
Yakin had again taken a risk with his line-up - and again the player who received his trust rewarded him. After not playing a minute against Hungary, Xherdan Shaqiri was allowed to start against Scotland. Kwadwo Duah, one of the goalscorers in the first group game, was relegated to the substitutes' bench.
As a result, Switzerland played without a real striker. Instead, they had Shaqiri on the pitch, a player who is particularly reliable at finals: In the 26th minute, the 32-year-old capitalized on a bad pass from the Scots and flicked it into the corner of the goal. It was a typical Shaqiri shot, technically perfect and with the necessary eye for the goalkeeper's positioning.
The Basel player thus confirmed what his family had predicted before his departure. Namely that he would "certainly do something special again at this European Championship". Shaqiri has scored at least one goal at every World Cup and European Championship since 2014.
Almost-own goal puts Switzerland behind
Shaqiri's goal came at a psychologically important time for Switzerland, who had fallen behind 13 minutes earlier after a counter-attack. Because the players were hesitant to rush back after a corner kick, the Scots gained an advantage and knew how to exploit it. Fabian Schär tried to clear Scott McTominay's shot in front of Yann Sommer, but failed to hit the ball properly and beat his own goalkeeper.
Shaqiri's quick response quickly gave the Swiss some relief. And Dan Ndoye almost doubled the lead shortly afterwards. First his shot was blocked by the Scottish goalkeeper, then the ball landed in the net, but Ndoye was just offside.
Ndoye fails several times
After the break, it was Ndoye again who had the golden opportunity after just under an hour, but he missed when alone in front of the goalkeeper. Shaqiri had not appeared for some time at this point and was therefore replaced by Breel Embolo, meaning that the Swiss were still playing the last half hour with a "trained" striker. Embolo seemed to copy his goal to make it 3-1 against Hungary shortly before the end - with the difference that this time he also started from an offside position.
But the Scots also had several good chances to score the winner in a wild final phase. Grant Hanley came closest, but his header hit the post. It was to remain 1:1.
Switzerland will face hosts Germany in Frankfurt on Sunday (21:00) to conclude the group stage. At the same time, Scotland and Hungary will meet in Stuttgart.
Telegram and table:
Scotland - Switzerland 1:1 (1:1)
Cologne. - 43,000 spectators. - Referee Kruzliak (SVK). - Goals: 13. Schär (own goal) 1:0. 26. Shaqiri 1:1.
Scotland: Gunn; Ralston, Hendry, Hanley, Tierney (61. McKenna), Robertson; McTominay, Gilmour (79. McLean), McGregor, McGinn (90. Christie); Adams (90. Shankland).
Switzerland: Sommer; Schär, Akanji, Rodriguez; Widmer (86. Stergiou), Freuler (75. Sierro), Xhaka, Aebischer; Shaqiri (60. Embolo); Ndoye (86. Amdouni), Vargas (75. Rieder).
Comments: Switzerland without Zakaria and Zuber (both injured). Scotland without Porteous (suspended). Cautions: 31st Rodriguez. 51st McTominay. 68th McKenna. 71st McGinn. 86th Sierro.
1. Germany 2/6 (7:1). 2. Switzerland 2/4 (4:2). 3. Scotland 2/1 (2:6). 4. Hungary 2/0 (1:5).
