Scotland bounced back from their disappointing start to Euro 2024 with a point that keeps their hopes of making the knockout round alive. Check out the best facts, stats and Opta data with our Scotland vs Switzerland stats page.
Scotland and Switzerland played out one of the less memorable Euro 2024 games, but both sides will be content with the outcome after a 1-1 draw that should suit both teams.
The game was played in front of a raucous crowd, largely made up of the Tartan Army, and they created what might have been mistaken for a home atmosphere from well before kick-off. It has been well documented just how many Scottish fans have travelled to Germany, and when the Flower of Scotland was belted out before the game, it felt more like Hampden Park than FC Köln’s stadium.
It was therefore Switzerland’s plan early on to try and take the sting out of the game, and it initially appeared as though they might manage to. Twelve minutes into the game, there had been no action of any note, and the stadium was a much, much quieter place. Then Scotland gifted Switzerland a corner, and more than a few nervous groans could be heard around the ground.
But Scotland quickly turned a defensive situation into their first shot, and the opening goal, of the match.
Xherdan Shaqiri’s cross was cleared, and Scotland raced up the pitch; in numbers, too.
Billy Gilmour brought the ball down brilliantly and found Andy Robertson, who raced up the pitch and then fed Callum McGregor on the left side of the penalty area. The Celtic man cut back and laid the ball off for Scott McTominay, who arrived on the scene to smash an effort into the back of the net via the knee of the helpless Fabian Schär.
In truth, were Schär to have let the ball go, Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer might well have saved it. Of course, that didn’t matter one jot to the delirious fans in the stands.
Scotland had had just one shot in their opening game of Euro 2024 against Germany, a 5-1 defeat in which their goal was an own goal from Antonio Rüdiger. It was their lowest shot tally in any international since a friendly against Italy in May 2016 (also one shot).
It therefore came as a huge boost to their morale that they took the lead so early here.
However, the Scots were shortly to be the makers of their own downfall.
Right-back Anthony Ralston, under little pressure, played a pass into the space behind his centre-backs, and Shaqiri was sharpest to it, racing through on the Scotland goal. The former Liverpool forward knew he didn’t have the pace to hold off the Scotland defenders, so he took his shot early, hitting it first time from outside the area. The ball curled beautifully into the top corner, past a despairing Angus Gunn.
The goal meant Shaqiri has now scored in each of the last six major tournaments (Euros and World Cups) since 2014 – a record no other player can match.
It also meant he had been involved in seven (5 goals, 2 assists) of Switzerland’s 15 goals in the European Championship since 2016 (46.7%). Only Cristiano Ronaldo (61.1%) for Portugal has been involved in a higher proportion of his team’s goals (for teams with 10+ goals in the competition in that time).
Scotland did well to steady themselves after that setback, but they still found chances of their own hard to come by. They also had Gunn to thank for a couple of smart saves from efforts from Dan Ndoye and Granit Xhaka before the break.
Going in 1-1 at half-time, both teams might have wondered whether their opponents were going to play for a draw from here on in. After all, Switzerland had won their first match – against Hungary – so a point would as good as guarantee their place in the knockout round. Scotland, meanwhile, needed to avoid defeat more than they needed to win.
Switzerland came out after the break chasing the win more than the Scots, and they very nearly went ahead just before the hour mark. Ndoye rolled Kieran Tierney and went clean through on goal, only to put his effort just wide.
But Scotland weren’t just settling for a point. This team simply aren’t going to create tonnes of chances against good, solid, experienced teams like Switzerland, and have to pick their moments to attack. By the hour mark, they had still only had three shots, worth a total of 0.27 xG.
Steve Clarke’s side therefore have to make the most of the opportunities they do get. Which is why there were so many heads in hands in blue shirts when, midway through the second half, Grant Hanley headed Robertson’s free-kick off the post from point-blank range.
There was never any question of either team playing for a draw, and both sides pushed hard for a winner, but this was a game that lacked quality, particularly in the final third, from start to finish. The teams produced the lowest pass success rate of any game at Euro 2024 so far (79.6%) and the second-lowest combined xG total (1.65), after England’s win over Serbia (0.71 xG).
The one moment of quality we did see – when Breel Embolo lifted the ball smartly over Gunn to score – the linesman’s flag cut short any celebrations.
Burnley striker Zeki Amdouni was to come off the bench and add one more underwhelming moment in front of goal, heading wide when it appeared easier to score, as these two teams ultimately cancelled each other out.
The fact is that a point suits both sides. Switzerland have as good as secured second spot in the group, while Scotland know that a win against Hungary on Sunday should see them through to the second round.
They both will also know, however, that they’ll need to improve on tonight’s performances against better opposition.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Scotland vs Switzerland stats from their Euro 2024 Group A meeting at Cologne Stadium.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own post-match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
Scotland vs Switzerland: Post-Match Facts
- Scotland have gained their first ever result in a UEFA European Championship game in which they’ve conceded, having lost their previous six such matches when shipping a goal
- Scotland ended a run of two consecutive defeats at the Euros since their 0-0 draw against England in June 2021.
- Xherdan Shaqiri has become the only player to score in each of the last six major tournaments (World Cup/Euros) since the 2014 World Cup, while he’s netted in twice as many such competitions as any other Swiss player.
- Scotland remain unbeaten against Switzerland at major tournaments (W1 D1), avoiding defeat in six of their last seven competitive matches against them (W2 D4 L1). Indeed, 44% of their group stage points (4/9) at the European Championship have come against the Swiss (W1 D1).
- Switzerland have lost just one of their last 12 matches at the UEFA European Championship (W4 D7), avoiding defeat in their opening two group stage games for the second time, after Euro 2016 (W1 D1).
- Scott McTominay has scored nine goals for Scotland under Steve Clarke, with only John McGinn (18) netting more. His eight goals since the start of Euro 2024 qualifying in March 2023 is more than twice as many as any other Scotland player.
- Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri scored his 10th goal at major tournaments (World Cup/Euros), nearly 10 years since his first such goals, when he scored a hat-trick against Honduras at the 2014 World Cup.
- Xherdan Shaqiri appeared in his seventh major tournament for Switzerland (World Cup/Euros), the most in the nation’s history.
- Switzerland named their oldest ever starting XI in a UEFA European Championship game (30y 119d), while only Slovakia have named an older XI so far at EURO 2024 (30y 229d).
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