Scotland keep knockout hopes alive with draw against Switzerland | OneFootball

EURO 2024 has had another day to remember as round two of the group stages kicked off.

Scotland keep hopes alive with Switzerland draw

Scorers: McTominay 13′; Shaqiri 26′

Inside a raucous Cologne stadium, Scotland and Switzerland played out a brilliant 1-1 draw that keeps both in the hunt for the round of 16.

Scotland looked to make a quick start and give their fans something proper to shout about. Two corners came in the opening few minutes but Switzerland easily dealt with both.

Scotland took the lead in the 13th minute when Scott McTominay’s shot deflected off Fabian Schär and past Yann Sommer. It was an excellent counter attack which saw Andy Robertson find Callum McGregor who teed up the Manchester United man.

The Swiss settled into the game, began to dominate possession but struggled to make chances until Xherdan Shaqiri pulled one out of the bag from nowhere in the 26th minute.

Anthony Ralston played a slack back pass and the former Liverpool man curled home a stunning left-footed finish. It was his 10th goal at major tournaments.

Scotland had Angus Gunn for keeping them on level terms when he expertly saved Dan Ndoye’s fierce strike. The Swiss striker was then marginally ruled offside after putting the ball into the net less than a minute later.

Che Adams had a half chance for Scotland shortly before half time but his volley at the back post from a corner was stopped by Sommer.

The second half was a less frenetic affair to start with as both sides looked to push forward without leaving themselves open at the back. Ndoye missed the first real chance, putting the ball wide via a slight touch off Gunn in the 58th minute.

Kieran Tierney, who had put Ndoye under pressure for his strike, was then stretchered off having seemingly suffered another hamstring injury.

Grant Hanley hit the post with a crashing header from Andy Robertson’s dangerous free-kick shortly after as the temperature of the game rose once more.

Ndoye had one ruled out for a tight offside with less than 10 minutes left on the clock before Zeki Amdouni somehow missed a free header from a free kick in the final minute of regular time.

The Swiss had Manuel Akanji for keeping them level in added time as he cleared the ball two yards from his goal line with McTominay lurking behind.

A draw was a fair result and it means Scotland have it all to play for ahead of Sunday’s clash with Hungary, while Switzerland are extremely likely to qualify for the knockout rounds in one of the top two spots.

Germany book spot in last 16 with defeat of Hungary

Scorers: Musiala 23′, Gündoğan 67′

A goal in each half saw Germany defeat a determined Hungarian side 2-0 and become the first team to book their spot in the round of 16.

Hungary were denied an immediate lead by Manuel Neuer, with the German shot-stopper called into action early as Hungary enjoyed the better start to proceedings.

At the other end, Kai Havertz stung the palms of Péter Gulácsi as the hosts reminded Hungary of the threat they possess.

But though Hungary looked compact and solid for the opening quarter of the game, they gifted Germany the lead almost on the midway point of the half as a mix-up at the back saw Jamal Musiala grab his second goal of the tournament to hand his side the lead.

Manuel Neuer once again came to Germany’s rescue just moments later, diving full length to keep out a powerful free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai.

Nagelsmann’s side began to assert their dominance as Musiala continued to impress, with Hungary being asked to do increasing amounts of defensive work ahead of the interval.

The stadium thought that Musiala had added a second just before the break as a vicious strike found the side netting, and Hungary thought that they had equalised on the stroke of half time when they headed the ball past Neuer, only for the offside flag to kill their celebrations.

They remained firmly in the game heading to half time despite having hardly ventured out of their own half for much of it.

Following a sustained spell of German pressure, they were handed a glorious chance to level proceedings only for Barnabas Varga to head over when well placed.

It proved costly, with Germany doubling their lead minutes later after a cross from Max Mittlestadt found İlkay Gündoğan, who swept home from eight yards out to hand Germany breathing space.

As the hosts turned to their substitutes bench, Hungary offered little going forwards and rarely looked like getting back into the game after falling two goals down, though they almost grabbed a consolation after Neuer spilled a cross, only for the ball to be cleared off the line behind him.

It means that Germany became the first side to secure qualification the the knockout rounds, while Hungary will need three points against Scotland to have any chance of making it out of the group stages.

Albania snatch late point in classic against Croatia

Scorers: Kramarić 75′, Gjasula (OG) 77′; Laçi 11′, Gjasula 90+5′

Klaus Gjasula went from zero to hero for Albania as his own goal was followed by an injury time equaliser to secure a 2-2 with Croatia.

Both of these sides lost their opening game in Group B with Croatia going down to a strong Spain side, whilst Albania thrilled early on against Italy but struggled to keep up that momentum.

A defeat here then, would almost certainly end one of these teams’ chances of getting to the round of 16.

As such, it was a fairly cagey opening but that was blown wide open on 11 minutes as Qazim Laci found space inside the area headed Albania into a lead.

Despite enjoying nearly 70 per cent of the ball, Croatia were struggling to create any sort of meaningful chances with the Albanian defence roared by their fans and remaining resolute.

Despite going into the lead, Albania were still pushing for a second and almost got it as Laçi’s first time effort from the edge of the area just went over the bar.

With almost the least kick of the half Rey Manaj had a great chance to double Albania’s advantage but his close range header was saved.

Into the second half and immediately Croatia made two attacking substitutions as they went for broke.

One of those subs, Luka Susic went close straightaway as his effort from the right-hand side of the area was palmed away well.

Things just weren’t working for Zlatko Dalić’s side as they went into the last half hour desperate to find an equaliser from somewhere.

It really was all Croatia with 20 minutes to go but despite Luka Modrić’s best efforts, there was simply no way through, over or around this Albania backline.

Eventually all that pressure told however as Andrej Kramarić cut back on his right foot and rifled in a low effort from 12 yards out.

And then just 30 seconds later Croatia took the lead as Klaus Gjasula put the ball into his own net after good work down the left-hand side.

Remarkably though, Albania secured themselves a point with virtually the last kick of the game as Gjasula, the scorer of the own goal, netted with a first time finish.

Thursday will see England taking on Denmark and a huge game between Spain and Italy.