Good morning.
Scotland stored their Euro hopes alive final evening with a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, however the huge story from the sport is Kieran Tierney choosing up what seems to be like a nasty damage. As he bought turned by Dan Ndoye on the sting of his personal field, he stumbled, and appeared to plant his foot, hyper-extending his knee. He instantly clutched the again of his leg, making many suppose it was a hamstring damage, however you don’t normally see gamers stretchered off if it’s a kind of. I hope that’s all it’s, but it surely’s laborious to not concern it may very well be worse.
Scotland supervisor Steve Clarke was gentle on element afterwards, however mentioned:
It seems to be fairly unhealthy. Clearly we’ve got to evaluate it however Kieran received’t play the final group sport. You need to really feel for him, he’s bought himself into nice form, he’s a prime participant for us who does ever so properly.
On a private degree it’s a blow for a participant who should have checked out this event as a approach of placing himself within the store window. An opportunity to persuade potential suitors that his damage report is one thing they may take a danger with because of the high quality of his performances, however as unlucky as final evening was, I believe it’s solely going to shut doorways for him moderately than open them. It’s unhappy, however for those who’re out there for a left-back, and it’s a toss-up between him and a participant who won’t be fairly pretty much as good however who’s all the time obtainable, most golf equipment will make the good choice.
Fingers crossed it’s not too critical although, and maybe we’ll get somewhat extra data because the event goes on. As for the sport, I believed Scott McTominay was very lucky to be awarded the Scottish objective. Sure, his shot was on track, however it will have been a easy save for the keeper had Fabian Schar not actually kicked it into his personal objective – thus making it … hold on, I do know they’ve a phrase for this … ah sure, an personal objective!
I believe if a goal-bound shot takes a deflection, give it to the person who had the try, however this wasn’t actually that. Anyway, it’s a small factor, which I think about no person cares about an excessive amount of, and I guess Schar himself is greater than happy it went to the Man Utd man. Switzerland’s equaliser got here from a mistake, however wow, what a end from Xerdan Shaqiri, a person who seems to be increasingly more like somebody made a mould of a human utilizing a barrel, however forgot to take away the barrel afterwards. The way in which it curled simply contained in the put up was spectacular.
Scotland will face Hungary of their remaining sport, who had been overwhelmed 2-0 by Germany. Jamal Musiala scored the opener, however I believe the host nation had been fairly fortunate the objective stood – it seemed to me like an apparent foul by Ilkay Gundogan within the build-up. Anyplace else on the pitch and I believe the ref blows instantly, so I don’t know why he didn’t right here. Hungary supervisor Marco Rossi admitted his facet deserved to lose, however mentioned:
“Germany didn’t need assistance from the referee, particularly in opposition to a staff like Hungary. After they play in opposition to somebody like France, let’s see if a foul might be given or not.”
The second objective got here from Gundogan himself, beautiful fast passing and sensible motion noticed him ghost in to double the lead, and that was kinda that. It wasn’t a lot of a sport, Kai Havertz didn’t play notably properly and bought taken off simply earlier than the hour mark. Germany face Switzerland within the remaining group sport on Sunday.
For me the sport of the day was the early kick-off between Albania and Croatia, and Sylvinho’s facet put the cat among the many pigeons with one other early objective, a sensible header from Qazim Laci within the eleventh minute. As of their first sport, Croatia seemed like a shadow of their former selves, however stepped it up within the second and actually put the strain on. An equaliser which all the time felt prefer it was coming was adopted by a extremely unlucky personal objective from substitute Klaus Gjasula, who had solely been on the pitch a couple of minutes.
However as is the best way with this event, it’s not over until it’s over, and Albania stored making an attempt, stored pushing, and the final 10 minutes took on a form madcap rhythm which is a lot enjoyable for the impartial. How becoming for them that the person who scored the personal objective, Gjasula, was on the spot to make it 2-2 with a stunning end that went in off the underside of Gvardiol’s nutsack.
Either side may have scored once more in a frentic closing interval, however a draw appeared a good outcome. Croatia face Italy of their subsequent sport, whereas Albania will play Spain with fascinating permutations at play given the three staff qualifying system.
At present it’s Slovenia v Serbia within the early sport, England are in motion in opposition to Denmark in a while – with apparent Arsenal curiosity there, earlier than we’ve got a tasty trying encounter between Spain and Italy within the night. We’ll have one other episode of our Euro 2024 podcast on Patreon somewhat later this morning, and a brand new Arsecast for you tomorrow.
Till then.
