Good morning.
Scotland saved their Euro hopes alive final night time with a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, however the massive story from the sport is Kieran Tierney choosing up what appears like a nasty harm. As he acquired 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 assume it was a hamstring harm, however you don’t normally see gamers stretchered off if it’s a type 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 stated:
It appears fairly dangerous. Clearly we now have to evaluate it however Kieran received’t play the final group recreation. You need to really feel for him, he’s acquired himself into nice form, he’s a prime participant for us who does ever so nicely.
On a private degree it’s a blow for a participant who will need to have checked out this event as a manner of placing himself within the store window. An opportunity to persuade potential suitors that his harm file is one thing they may take a danger with as a result of high quality of his performances, however as unlucky as final night time was, I feel it’s solely going to shut doorways for him fairly than open them. It’s unhappy, however when you’re available in the market for a left-back, and it’s a toss-up between him and a participant who won’t be fairly nearly as good however who’s all the time accessible, most golf equipment will make the good selection.
Fingers crossed it’s not too critical although, and maybe we’ll get just a little extra info because the event goes on. As for the sport, I believed Scott McTominay was very lucky to be awarded the Scottish aim. Sure, his shot was heading in the right direction, however it could have been a easy save for the keeper had Fabian Schar not actually kicked it into his personal aim – thus making it … cling on, I do know they’ve a phrase for this … ah sure, an personal aim!
I feel 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 one cares about an excessive amount of, and I wager 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 appears increasingly like somebody made a mould of a human utilizing a barrel, however forgot to take away the barrel afterwards. The best way it curled simply contained in the submit was spectacular.
Scotland will face Hungary of their closing recreation, who had been crushed 2-0 by Germany. Jamal Musiala scored the opener, however I feel the host nation had been fairly fortunate the aim stood – it seemed to me like an apparent foul by Ilkay Gundogan within the build-up. Anyplace else on the pitch and I feel the ref blows instantly, so I don’t know why he didn’t right here. Hungary supervisor Marco Rossi admitted his aspect deserved to lose, however stated:
“Germany didn’t need assistance from the referee, particularly towards a workforce like Hungary. Once they play towards somebody like France, let’s see if a foul might be given or not.”
The second aim got here from Gundogan himself, pretty 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 recreation, Kai Havertz didn’t play notably nicely and acquired taken off simply earlier than the hour mark. Germany face Switzerland within the closing group recreation on Sunday.
For me the sport of the day was the early kick-off between Albania and Croatia, and Sylvinho’s aspect put the cat among the many pigeons with one other early aim, a wise header from Qazim Laci within the eleventh minute. As of their first recreation, Croatia seemed like a shadow of their former selves, however stepped it up within the second and actually put the stress on. An equaliser which all the time felt prefer it was coming was adopted by a very unlucky personal aim 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 saved attempting, saved 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 aim, Gjasula, was on the spot to make it 2-2 with a beautiful end that went in off the underside of Gvardiol’s nutsack.
Each side may have scored once more in a frentic closing interval, however a draw appeared a good end result. Croatia face Italy of their subsequent recreation, whereas Albania will play Spain with attention-grabbing permutations at play given the three workforce qualifying system.
Immediately it’s Slovenia v Serbia within the early recreation, England are in motion towards Denmark in a while – with apparent Arsenal curiosity there, earlier than we now have a tasty wanting encounter between Spain and Italy within the night. We’ll have one other episode of our Euro 2024 podcast on Patreon just a little later this morning, and a brand new Arsecast for you tomorrow.
Till then.
