A PORTUGUESE sports journalist has praised the Tartan Army for their dedication to leaving a “positive mark” on the places they visit as away fans.
Ahead of Scotland’s Nations League match against Portugal in Lisbon on Sunday, Tomás da Cunha shared his experience of meeting Scotland fans in Germany and their efforts to raise money for good causes in whatever country they visit.
“During Euro 2024, everyone was impressed by the energy of Scotland's fans,” he said on X/Twitter.
“There were thousands of them and they were in every pub or train, drinking heavily, singing and spreading the word.
“The Tartan Army sees football as an opportunity to showcase themselves as a people and a culture.
“In Germany, I was approached by a group of Scotland fans.
“Realising that I was Portuguese, they challenged me to something impossible to refuse. The two teams were due to face each other in a few months (they never miss a beat) and they needed support to put their plan into practice.
“This group has been working in Scotland for over 20 years. Nothing unusual there. But in that time they have done over 100 charity events across Europe, raising over £300,000. They want to leave a positive mark on the places they visit.
Durante o Euro’2024, toda a gente ficou impressionada com a energia dos adeptos da Escócia. Eram milhares e estavam em qualquer pub ou comboio, bebiam muito, cantavam e contagiavam. O Tartan Army leva o futebol como uma oportunidade para se apresentar enquanto povo e cultura.
— Tomás da Cunha (@tomasrdacunha) September 7, 2024
“The money donated by this group has already been used to build a playground in a children's hospital in Moldova, to buy incubators in hospitals in Croatia, to provide football training for children with disabilities (Germany), among many other things.
“Tomorrow, in connection with Portugal vs. Scotland, they will have made 102 consecutive donations in away games and, this time, they have chosen a Portuguese association.
“Football as an excuse to share and make the world a better place. It is worth remembering these fans.”
It comes after the behaviour of the Tartan Army received near universal praise at the Euros in Germany, with the German city of Cologne even making moves to twin with a Scottish city after the tournament.
Scotland lost 2-1 to Portugal on Sunday after Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the 88th minute.
