Former Scotland striker Kris Boyd stated Steve Clarke’s facet “did the nation proud” after they stored their Euro 2024 final 16 hopes alive with a draw towards Switzerland.
The Sky Sports activities pundit labelled their 5-1 defeat to Germany within the match opener as “embarrassing” however was fast to heap reward on the gamers after their much-improved efficiency of their second Group A match.
A win towards Hungary on Sunday would seemingly see Scotland progress past the group levels at a serious match for the primary time.
They went in entrance early on when Scott McTominay dispatched Callum McGregor’s cut-back, through a deflection off Fabian Schar, following a fast counter-attack.
Switzerland quickly levelled by means of veteran Xherdan Shaqiri, who produced an excellent, first-time end from the sting of the field after pouncing on Anthony Ralston’s free move.
“There were questions and criticism after the performance on Friday night and rightly so,” Boyd instructed Sky Sports activities Information.
“Tonight they’ve responded and it has been extra like Scotland, proper of their faces.
“Switzerland are no mugs at this level but they’ve more than matched them and they come away with a draw.
“Sure they rode their luck at instances however I believe Steve Clarke shall be comparatively proud of that end result.
“From where we were on Friday night there had to be a response and we’ve got that this evening.
“There have been most likely just a few harsh phrases flying across the coaching floor over the previous couple of days, however that is lifetime of a footballer. There are ups and downs.
“Scotland have shown they can compete at this level. It’s a quick turnaround but they’ve done the nation proud tonight.”
Clarke: We obtained what we anticipated
Scotland supervisor Steve Clarke:
“That’s what we expected. This is the way we’ve been playing as a team the last three or four years and it’s why we’re here at a major tournament.
“We knew what we needed to do, the gamers knew what they needed to do. I believed it was a very good group efficiency towards a very good opponent.
“It’s just about doing better all the time. Sometimes as a footballer or a manager it doesn’t go your way, and it certainly didn’t go our way on Friday night. Tonight was just about getting back to what we’re good at.
“The fact is, when the draw was made and we had been drawn towards the host nation within the opening sport, you are wanting on the second two video games within the group and considering ‘perhaps that is the place the factors are going to come back from’ and that is the way in which it is turned out.”