Xherdan Shaqiri netted another EURO stunner after Scott McTominay scored the opener as Scotland and Switzerland played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in their second UEFA EURO 2024 match.
2024 European Championship
1-1
Although just the sides' second match of the tournament, this Group A encounter had the feeling a knockout game, not least because of Scotland's position in the group and their fans' intense backing from the off.
With huge roars greeting every won throw-in and 50-50 tackle, the players responded and were soon in the lead. Andy Robertson broke clear down the left and fed Callum McGregor, whose cut-back was struck goalwards by McTominay. Yann Sommer looked certain to collect but Fabian Schär stuck out a leg and diverted the ball into the top corner.
The Tartan Army were sent into raptures but the joy did not last long as Switzerland were level by the 26th minute.
Making his first appearance of the tournament, Shaqiri was occupying a central role and when Anthony Ralston slipped a loose pass inside, he latched onto it, bending a brilliant first-time effort past Angus Gunn.
The Scotland goalkeeper then had to be sharp to deny Dan Ndoye as the game's pace refused to settle down. Steve Clarke's men suffered a blow on the hour as Kieran Tierney was forced off with a hamstring injury trying to stop Ndoye, who could only shoot wide.
Grant Hanley then headed a Robertson free-kick against the post as the game remained in the balance.
McTominay had a volley blocked while Ndoye continued to look dangerous, now down the left with Breel Embolo having entered the fray. Another Swiss substitute, Zeki Amdouni headed just wide as the game slipped into added time but it was Scotland pressing at the end.
Although they were unable to give their fans the second goal they craved, they have at least kept their EURO dream alive, while Switzerland move onto four points behind already-qualified Germany in Group A.
Line-ups
Scotland XI: Hanley, Callum McGregor, Gunn, Robertson, McGinn, Tierney, Adams, Jack Hendry, Anthony Ralston, McTominay, Gilmour
Subs: Ryan Jack, Liam Cooper, James Forrest, McLean, Armstrong, Zander Clark, Lawrence Shankland, Liam Kelly, Ryan Christie, Scott McKenna, Lewis Morgan, Ross McCrorie, Greg Taylor, Tommy Conway
Switzerland XI: Sommer, Shaqiri, Rodriguez, Xhaka, Schar, Freuler, S.Widmer, Akanji, Michel Aebischer, Rubén Vargas, Dan Ndoye
Subs: Mvogo, Steffen, Elvedi, Embolo, Gregor Kobel, Vincent Sierro, Cédric Zesiger, Kwadwo Duah, Noah Okafor, Fabian Rieder, Leonidas Stergiou, Ardon Jashari, Zeki Amdouni