No win, but a point that brings Switzerland closer to the round of 16: Coach Murat Yakin's team drew 1-1 against Scotland.
The one point puts Switzerland in a good starting position ahead of the final round: although the Scots could still draw level on points, their 5-1 defeat against Germany leaves them with a big mortgage. Switzerland, meanwhile, go into their final group game with a goal difference of plus 2. And even if everything goes wrong there, Switzerland still have a good chance of qualifying as one of the four best third-placed teams in the group with four points.
The fact that qualification was not secured on Wednesday evening was due to the self-sacrificing fight of the Scots, but also in part to the negligence of the Swiss. They showed the willingness to run that Yakin demanded and also played with heart. In terms of concentration, however, they allowed themselves a few lapses, which resulted in some hair-raising misplaced passes.
Shaqiri shines with a beautiful shot
Yakin had again taken a risk with his line-up - and again the player who received his trust rewarded him. After not playing a minute against Hungary, Xherdan Shaqiri was allowed to start against Scotland. Kwadwo Duah, one of the goalscorers in the first group game, was relegated to the substitutes' bench.
As a result, Switzerland played without a real striker. Instead, they had Shaqiri on the pitch, a player who is particularly reliable at finals: In the 26th minute, the 32-year-old capitalized on a bad pass by the Scots and flicked the ball into the corner of the goal. It was a typical Shaqiri shot, technically perfect and with the necessary eye for the goalkeeper's positioning.
The Basel player thus confirmed what his family had predicted before his departure. Namely that he would "certainly do something special again at this European Championship". Shaqiri has scored at least one goal at every World Cup and European Championship since 2014.
Falling behind through a near-goal
Shaqiri's goal came at a psychologically important time for Switzerland, who had fallen behind 13 minutes earlier after a counter-attack. Because the players were hesitant to rush back after a corner kick, the Scots gained an advantage and knew how to exploit it. Fabian Schär tried to clear Scott McTominay's shot in front of Yann Sommer, but failed to hit the ball properly and beat his own goalkeeper. As in the opening game against Germany, Scotland benefited from a great deal of help from their opponents to score.
Unlike against the hosts, however, this own goal was not scored at the end when everything was already clear. It was scored at the beginning, meaning the favored Swiss suddenly found themselves trailing. And this against a Scottish five-man defense that left hardly any space.
Shaqiri's quick reply gave the Swiss some relief in this respect. And Dan Ndoye almost doubled his tally shortly afterwards. First his shot was blocked by the Scottish goalkeeper, then the ball landed in the net, but Ndoye was just offside.
Ndoye fails several times
After the break, it was Ndoye again who had the golden opportunity after just under an hour, but he missed when alone in front of the goalkeeper. Shaqiri had not appeared for some time at this point and was therefore replaced by Breel Embolo, meaning that the Swiss were still playing the last half hour with a "trained" striker. Embolo seemed to copy his goal to make it 3-1 against Hungary shortly before the end - with the difference that this time he also started from an offside position.
But the Scots also had several good chances to score the winner in a wild final phase. The closest came from Grant Hanley, whose header landed on the post. It was to remain 1:1.
Switzerland will face hosts Germany in Frankfurt on Sunday (21:00) to conclude the group stage. At the same time, Scotland and Hungary will meet in Stuttgart.
The telegram
Scotland - Switzerland 1:1 (1:1)
Cologne. - 43,000 spectators. - SR Kruzliak (SVK). -
Goals: 13. Schär (own goal) 1:0. 26. Shaqiri 1:1.
Scotland: Gunn; Ralston, Hendry, Hanley, Tierney (61. McKenna), Robertson; McTominay, Gilmour (79. McLean), McGregor, McGinn (90. Christie); Adams (90. Shankland).
Switzerland: Sommer; Schär, Akanji, Rodriguez; Widmer (86. Stergiou), Freuler (75. Sierro), Xhaka, Aebischer; Shaqiri (60. Embolo); Ndoye (86. Amdouni), Vargas (75. Rieder).
Comments: Switzerland without Zakaria and Zuber (both injured). Scotland without Porteous (suspended). Cautions: 31st Rodriguez. 51st McTominay. 68th McKenna. 71st McGinn. 86th Sierro.
The live ticker to review
Scotland
Switzerland
- Scott McTominay - 1:0 (13.)
- (26.) 1:1 - Xherdan Shaqiri
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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26.
Shaqiri hammers the ball into the corner
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13.
Fabian Schär's own goal
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KEYSTONE -
1.
Yakin in the SRF interview about Shaqiri's role
"He has a lot of freedom today. He's in the center, where the ball moves. Where lines are bridged, he can be played on. I hope it works out, that he is used well. And I hope that he can also use his teammates in the final zone and keep the opposition busy."
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1.
Who will play up front?
The national team line-up is known. But how will the Swiss play? Will Shaqiri play on the right wing? Or rather as a false nine? Or even in left midfield? We won't know for sure which plan Murat Yakin will send his players out with until the match kicks off.
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Shaqiri instead of Duah in the starting eleven
For the second European Championship group game against Scotland, Swiss national team coach Murat Yakin is once again relying on Xherdan Shaqiri. However, Kwadwo Duah is not in the starting line-up.
He had to sit out the entire game against Hungary, but will be back in the starting line-up against Scotland: Xherdan Shaqiri will make his 124th international appearance for Switzerland. The 32-year-old attacker has been given the nod by Yakin and, together with Ruben Vargas and Dan Ndoye, should provide a goal threat.
However, Duah, who scored the first goal of the game in only his second appearance for the national team in the 3-1 win over Hungary, will not be in the starting eleven. The Ludogorez Rasgrad striker will be on the bench against Scotland for the time being.
This is the only change to the starting eleven compared to the game against Hungary. Otherwise, Yakin is relying on his tried and tested squad. Michel Aebischer will once again play in left midfield.
Switzerland will play their second match in Cologne, as they did at the start of the finals. A win against Scotland would secure qualification for the round of 16 before the final group game against hosts Germany.
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1.
Switzerland's line-up
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The Scotland line-up
On the pitch it should look something like this:
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1.
The arrival of the Nati in the stadium
The Swiss national team has already arrived at the stadium in Cologne. The players take to the pitch for the first time.
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#Preview
Nati fans want Shaqiri in the starting eleven
A few hours before kick-off, blue Sport takes the pulse of the Nati fans. It is striking: Many Swiss would like to see Xherdan Shaqiri in the starting eleven. Breel Embolo is also often mentioned.
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#Preview
With or without a ticket: Scotland fans are hot
Not all Scotland fans have a ticket, but they have traveled to Cologne to support their team and celebrate a big party.
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#Preview
"Nothing stands in the way of a huge football festival"
Around 100,000 Scots are expected in Cologne. Although there is only room for 40,000 people in the stadium and half of them are Swiss. Everything is ready for a huge football festival. An on-site assessment.
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#Preview
"I know Yakan Hakin"
Walter and Pat come from Scotland and are die-hard fans of the Scottish national team. They talk to blue Sport about their love of football and tell us which Swiss footballers they know.
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#Preview
Henchoz: "Switzerland have a huge opportunity against Scotland"
In "Heimspiel bei der Nati", former Switzerland defender Stéphane Henchoz analyzes the next Nati opponent. Like all British teams, Scotland have a lot of fighting spirit, but are limited in terms of quality, says the blue Sport expert.
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#Preview
Who will win the European Championship?
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90.+5.End of 2nd half
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90.Substitution in Scotland
Lawrence Shankland
Striker
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90.Substitution out Scotland
Ché Adams
Striker
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90.Substitution in Scotland
Ryan Christie
Striker
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90.Substitution out Scotland
John McGinn
Striker
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86.Substitution in Switzerland
Zeki Amdouni
Striker
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86.Substitution out Switzerland
Dan Ndoye
Striker
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86.Substitution in Switzerland
Leonidas Stergiou
Defender
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86.Substitution out Switzerland
Silvan Widmer
Midfielder
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86.Yellow card Switzerland
Vincent Sierro
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79.Substitution in Scotland
Kenny McLean
Midfielder
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79.Substitution out Scotland
Billy Gilmour
Midfielder
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75.Substitution in Switzerland
Fabian Rieder
Striker
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75.Substitution out Switzerland
Ruben Vargas
Striker
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74.Substitution in Switzerland
Vincent Sierro
Midfielder
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74.Substitution out Switzerland
Remo Freuler
Midfielder
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71.Yellow card Scotland
John McGinn
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68.Yellow card Scotland
Scott McKenna
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61.Substitution in Scotland
Scott McKenna
Defender
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61.Substitution out Scotland
Kieran Tierney
Defender
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60.Substitution in Switzerland
Breel Embolo
Striker
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60.Substitution out Switzerland
Xherdan Shaqiri
Striker
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51.Yellow card Scotland
Scott McTominay
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+4.End of 1st half
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31.Yellow card Switzerland
Ricardo Rodríguez
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26.Goal for Switzerland, 1:1 through Xherdan Shaqiri
Xherdan Shaqiri
Striker
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13.Goal for Scotland, 1:0 through Scott McTominay (Callum McGregor)
Scott McTominay
Midfielder
Assist: Callum McGregor
Midfielder
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1.Start of the match
