The dream is over. Scotland came so close to progressing from the group stages of a major tournament for the first time – but as was the case three years ago, their campaign fell apart in their third group stage match.
A goalless draw would have left them with a slim chance, but Kevin Csoboth shattered Scottish hearts in the 100th minute when he finished a blistering counterattack to ensure the Tartan Army are boarding the next plane back home.
Here are five things we learnt from the showdown in Stuttgart.
Lack of tactical flexibility in the front line
It wasn’t the best of evenings for Scotland’s Ché Adams. Conspicuous by his absence for much of the game, it’s no surprise that the Southampton forward was withdrawn with fifteen minutes to play.
The 27-year old was lucky to remain on the field after a dangerously high boot, and would have breathed a palpable sigh of relief when Willi Orban directed the resulting free-kick against the crossbar.
But perhaps the problem is a systemic one, rather than being the fault of the 27-year-old. Steve Clarke’s system focuses on utilising the forwards to create space for the midfield stars to drive into – but even so, Adams was deprived of service on a night he so desperately needed it.
Do Scotland lack the tactical flexibility that’s required for matches like these? Perhaps. There’ll be plenty to ponder when the Tartan Army head back home.
Tierney’s absence proved costly
A serious injury for Kieran Tierney against Switzerland disrupted Scotland’s preparations for this crucial clash in Stuttgart. Known for his ability to push forwards from defence, the Arsenal defender – who spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Real Sociedad – was crucial to how the Tartan Army operate, and his absence was felt on Sunday.
Slotting into his berth on the left side of a back three was Scott McKenna – a solid replacement, but a defender who offers an entirely different skillset and perhaps isn’t as confident when venturing forward.
To be clear, the 27-year-old didn’t have a bad match per se. He kept his cool, remained solid at the back and performed his defensive duties well, but the absence of an attacking-minded centre-back certainly hampered Scotland.
Still more to come from Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai is the standout name in this Hungarian side, and for good reason. The Liverpool man has been handed the Magyarok armband, leading his nation into a major tournament at just 23 years old.
His performance was, for the most part, remarkably impressive. Every attack went through him, even if that required him to drop deeper into the midfield to progress the ball forwards – and he played an influential role in the rapid counterattack that was expertly finished by Kevin Csoboth.
Still, there’s a feeling that there may still be more to come from the Hungarian. He could have bagged one or two for himself, but at times it appeared as though his side had become overly reliant on him. Finding a way to let his excellence shine through is one of the key tasks that Marco Rossi must work on before the knockout stages commence.
UEFA failed to learn lessons from Eriksen collapse
Understandably, the biggest talking point from Sunday’s clash was the medical treatment administered to Hungary’s Barnabás Varga after he was rendered unconscious in a collision with Angus Gunn. The forward is stable and conscious, and will undergo surgery in the coming days for facial fractures, as revealed in the post-match press conference.
The coverage of the incident was nothing short of a disgrace, though. Camera operators came under heavy flack three years ago when Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest at Parken, with replays of the incident being shown before the Danish midfielder’s condition was known. UEFA did not learn.
With Varga still unconscious and receiving treatment, replays of the collision were shown to millions across the continent. BBC Scotland were forced to apologise and cut away to a wide-angle shot of the stadium – but it was too late. Broadcasting of these events needs to improve.
Steve Clarke deserves his credit
Steve Clarke may not be the most popular man north of the border at the moment, but he has revolutionised a team in disarray and guided them to consecutive European Championships. Whether his tactics on the night were up to scratch is up for debate, but there is no doubt that Scottish football has taken a huge leap forwards under his guidance and for that, he deserves some applause.
While the party may have subdued for now, all signs point towards Scotland becoming a mainstay at the EUROs going forwards. Injuries plagued their campaign this time around and they still came painstakingly close to qualifying for the knockouts; who knows where the limit would be for a fully-fit squad?
Scotland may have been knocked out of EURO2024, but you can still follow extensive coverage of the tournament right here on FromTheSpot.
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