Scotland’s Tartan Army marched on in Germany’s Cologne, keeping Scotland’s Euro 2024 dream alive after a well-contested 1-1 draw with Switzerland. This means a win against Hungary on Sunday should be enough for Scotland to qualify from the group stage at a major tournament for the first time ever. For the supporters who have swamped Germany in their tens of thousands, this guarantees at least another four days of partying.
Scotland’s fans gathered in their hundreds on the steps of Cologne Cathedral, singing the songs and proudly displaying flags from all over Scotland. Thousands of fans assembled in a meeting point to the west of the stadium and marched the final 2km to the gates, led by pipers and drummers. This was a stirring sight which had locals stopping in the streets to watch.
Not everyone who was there had match tickets, so when they arrived at the stadium, they bid their goodbyes and headed off to the bars and restaurants in the city centre. However, there were some issues before and after the match as long queues formed around the main central station, which had to close temporarily to manage the influx of passengers. But the mood in the city centre after the final whistle was one of relief rather than jubilation.
Jen Blackwood of the West of Scotland Tartan Army said the result was very much needed. “Scotland’s fans will support Scotland whatever happens but it definitely is good to have a bit of a boost from time to time,” she said. As for back home, the dizzying highs and plummeting lows played out in similar fashion at fan zones across the country.
This performance is a significant stride forward for Scotland who have not yet qualified for the Euros tournament’s knockout stages. Chris McLaughlin, a football analyst for BBC, highlights that while so much has been made of Scotland’s fans on this Euros journey in Germany, especially the partying and the singing and mixing with locals, they are still desperate to see their side do well on the pitch. To many, the thought of being knocked out before the final game in Stuttgart was unthinkable. So a win would be crucial for Scotland to progress through to the knockout stages
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