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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Steve Clarke issues defiant Scotland Euro 2024 message

Steve Clarke and his players restored some pride back into the nation as Scotland managed a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Switzerland last night.

Now, the national team head coach is calling on his players to get ready to go again against Hungary this weekend, with a victory required to seal progression to the last-16 of Euro 2024.

Scott McTominay had the Scots in front in Cologne before Xherdan Shaqiri's stunning equaliser in the first half.

"We didn't turn up in the first game, we wanted to show them we can play," the 60-year-old said. "We know we have to be aggressive. Everything you saw on the pitch was aggression but quality as well. We're a good team when we play. 

"They've always shown that we could turn it around. You have to put the first game down as a bad night for us. We didn't get on the front foot at all against Germany, we sat back too much. Tonight, we were determined to make sure we were pressing and went after the ball. We kept two players higher up the pitch to start that press, and it worked tonight against a very good Switzerland team I have to say.

"It was a heartbreaking moment (Anthony Ralston's error), but it happens in football. It was a small misplaced pass, if it falls to any of the other Swiss players I don't think they score. If it falls to [Xherdan] Shaqiri, you know where the ball is going to end up. 

"So, we got harshly punished for a small mistake. But we responded. We stayed in the game, we worked hard and we had chances. Obviously, Switzerland are a good team and they had their own chances. I thought it was a good game between two evenly matched-sides.

"It definitely needs a win. If you go back to the very start when the draw was made, you think 'The first game is going to be difficult,' we didn't think it was going to be so difficult, but it was a difficult night for us. We always knew that the points we required would come from these two games. We've got one point now, that means we have a chance going into the last game to get three points. I believe if we get those three points we go through to the next stage."

Defender Kieran Tierney has to be stretchered off the field after going down clutching his hamstring on the hour mark. The former Celtic left-back hit the deck after an innocuous fall after a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge with Switzerland's Dan Ndoye. 

Clarke confirmed the 27-year-old will not be involved in Sunday night's match.

He added: "Yeah, he's definitely out. It looks pretty bad. We have to assess it, but Kieran won't make it. 

"You have to feel for Kieran. He's got himself into great shape, he's a top player for us. He does ever so well. It's a shame, but someone else has got to step in and step up to the mark."

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