Swiss Surprised By Scottish Swagger

Scotland 1 – 1 Switzerland

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Match Report

When the full-time whistle rang out, Scotland had restored some pride following their hammering in the opening game and given themselves a platform to escape a major tournament group stage for the first time in their history.

Within minutes of kick-off, this side had a different feel. Pressing higher up the pitch and no longer leaving Che Adams isolated, they had taken more shots in five minutes than the entire game against Germany.

The additional men higher up the pitch did not look as though they were chasing shadows but orchestrating an organised press against a defence more than capable of playing out in the face of danger.

That pressure and commitment paid off in the 13th minute as they capitalised on the number of Swiss players sent forward to attack a corner. At breakaway speed, Billy Gilmour’s quick thinking sent the Tartan Army racing into Switzerland’s box.

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Within seconds, Callum McGregor cut the ball back into Scott McTominay, who was slightly fortunate to have Fabian Schar deflect the shot past his keeper.

A 1-0 lead seemed to remind the fans that Scotland could play and were in Germany for a reason, but Switzerland was too and continued to target Scotland’s main weakness, the centre-backs’ comfort, or lack of, on the ball.

Due to their intensity, the Rossocrociati earned themselves multiple corners but lacked the aerial threat to take advantage of the opportunities.

The pace of the game accelerated with each passing minute, putting Scotland at a disadvantage, but a clash of heads between Ralston and Schar allowed the Scots to take a breather and slow the tempo.

A lack of ball-playing ability in defence was again exposed in the 26th minute as Ralston’s sideways pass into the middle of the park to nobody was picked up by Xherdan Shaqiri outside the box.

Angus Gunn was without a chance. A thundering shot with his first touch saw the ball brush the inside of the post in the top right-hand corner to level the score.

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To their credit, Steve Clarke’s men never let their heads drop as they continued to look to regain the lead. Rather than hoofing the ball up the park, Gilmour’s presence in his first start of the tournament allowed them to progress the ball and start controlled attacks.

For its part, Switzerland continued to threaten, and only Gunn’s outstretched arm prevented things from turning sour, as he denied Dan Ndoye just after the half-hour mark.

Murat Yakin’s side had another chance to take the lead as Ndoye brushed Kieran Tierney off but failed to hit the target despite being one-on-one with the keeper and showing the kind of finishing that has left him goalless for his country thus far. Their inability to test Gunn would become a recurring theme on the night, but there was bad news for Scotland as Tierney indicated he needed to come off following his duel.

The rest of the night failed to build on the goals of the first half as both sides looked as though a point each was not necessarily the worst outcome. Neither truly dominates but experiences momentum swings, changing every so often.

Both sides had chances, but none as close as when Grant Hanley met Andy Robertson’s free-kick with a header but could only manage to hit the post.

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Ndoye and the Swiss attackers continued to frustrate as they spurned opportunities, and it was only following Breel Embolo’s introduction in the 60th minute that they looked like taking the point away from Scotland. The striker threatened the high line with his pace but was too often caught offside, having a goal chalked off in the 82nd minute as he failed to time his run properly.

When the final whistle blew, neither of the men in their respective technical areas seemed upset with the outcome. Following Hungary’s second tournament loss, both will have left Cologne Stadium knowing that progression to the next round is very much in their own hands.

Key Takeaways for Scotland

Trio miles better

Largely absent or at fault for goals in the Germany game, McTominay, McGinn, and McGregor were formidable presences in the middle of the park. Scott pressed high and marked Granit Xhaka out of the game. His shot, albeit deflected, earned Scotland a much-deserved point, and his work rate never dropped.

John McGinn pressed like a terrier and was a constant nuisance for the opposition. He brought the physicality he had failed to show in the previous game, at one point clattering into Schar after the defender had played the ball, much to the delight of an onlooking Kenny McLean.

Despite being much maligned by pundits following his previous outing, McGregor was key in Scotland’s build-up play. He offered the defenders another option when Gilmour was marked and combined with the Brighton midfielder to move the ball forward. Less of an attacking threat than a reliable presence in his own half, the Celtic captain might not be the first choice as a single pivot, but he is invaluable on nights like these.

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Gilmour is 20/20

Gilmour gave the side a whole new facet. His desire to play a one-two increased the tempo and the speed at which the ball went from one end of the pitch to the other without using haphazard long balls. He constantly offered players around him an extra passing option, never leaving them isolated.

Despite his slighter frame than most on the park, Gilmour demonstrated nous and never allowed anyone to push him off the ball. People will question why the coach didn’t pick him to start against Germany, but hindsight is 20/20.

Having two players from teams who enjoy possession, McGregor and Gilmour, can only be beneficial. The hope is that they can continue to bridge the gap in quality on the ball between the defence and attack.

Centre-backs a concern

Despite their defensive efforts, in which the Swiss failed to get a sniff from 8 corners, Scotland’s centre-backs could be a cause for concern in the final game. Without the injured Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey, Steve Clarke’s options for technical defenders have been limited. However, Tierney’s injury means Ralston, Hendry, Hanley, or Mckenna will fill the back, and none look all too comfortable when pressured by opposition attackers.

The side succeeded with shorter passes in the build-up and a higher line; however, Ralston’s fault in the Swiss goal showed their passing limitations, and Embolo’s introduction tested their pace.

Although Gilmour and McGregor offer options, the three must be careful against a desperate Hungary, which will know that only three points will do.

Photo by Mario Klassen on Unsplash