Head coach Pedro Martinez Losa says goalkeeper Eartha Cumings has earned her first competitive start for Scotland in Friday's Euro 2025 qualifying win in Slovakia.
Arsenal captain says it took time to get over missing out on the Premier League title on the season’s final day After a heartbreaking climax to the Premier League season, the last thing Martin Ødegaard wanted was to be sitting at home watching most of Europe’s best players battle it out in Germany. But that is exactly the position the Arsenal captain found himself in after Norway’s failure to qualify for Euro 2024, their chances having been ended by Scotland last year. “I wanted to be in the Euros and I’m pretty disappointed that we didn’t qualify,” he says. “The amount of games we play, the intensity in the games and how tough it is to play football at the biggest stage, it is really demanding so it is a good thing to get some rest. But I would prefer to be there.” Continue reading...
Lewis Ferguson hopes to still be in new head coach Vincenzo Italiano plans when he recovers from long-term injury because the Scotland midfielder is "happy here" at Bologna.
Musiala shot hit Cucurella’s hand in 2-1 loss to Spain‘I told the players we didn’t deserve this’ Julian Nagelsmann insisted that he did not feel that Germany had been robbed despite not being awarded a late penalty that might have seen them go through against Spain, but he did say that the handball rule should be revised. He also told his players that they had not deserved to be knocked out and called Germany’s togetherness at the tournament a lesson for society. Continue reading...
Germany are finally showing what they are capable of while underdogs such as Georgia have put up fantastic resistance Eight teams are left in Euro 2024 but all 24 nations have contributed to the success of this tournament. They have done so to create the atmosphere in the country but also in sporting terms. Germany’s 5-1 win in the opening game against Scotland was the exception from the rule that most games have been tight with close scorelines. I was sceptical when Uefa increased the number of teams but now I am pleased so many countries are represented. It is different for thea national team. The players compete for their home country and form a bond with the fans. The atmosphere in the stands has been joyful while some of the scenes on the pitch, with teams going out late, have been heart-breaking. Continue reading...
The dust has settled on Scotland's Euro 2024 exit and former internationals John Collins, Billy Dodds and Kenny Miller have their say.
Scotland were denied crucial penalty against HungaryRosetti says Attwell decision on Simons also correct Uefa has defended the decision to deny Scotland a penalty in their defining defeat against Hungary, insisting it was “just physical contact” that had caused the midfielder Stuart Armstrong to fall to the ground. The remarks follow outspoken criticism by Scotland’s manager, Steve Clarke, of the decision by the Argentinian referee Facundo Tello. Clarke claimed it was “100% a penalty” and demanded an explanation from officials. Continue reading...
It is not just the caterers who will miss Scotland after they were eliminated – they gave meaning to a cultural festival These days, I sit in the stadium every day and experience an intense time. It makes me realise what football does and how its folklore is part of overcoming the many problems of our time. That brings us to the Scots. They did everything right. They marched through Munich, Cologne and Stuttgart singing. Even in cities where they weren’t playing, they infected everyone with their good humour. Scottish fans really wanted to play a match against my home club, FT Gern. It took place the day after the opening game and afterwards everyone sat together in the clubhouse until late at night. They used this tournament to celebrate with others. They want to be part of Europe. It’s not just the caterers who will miss them. I’ve been asked what bothers me most about this Euros. I said that the Scots have already gone home. Continue reading...
Anger, confusion and disappointment were among the emotions in the nations eliminated in group stage Poland were the last team to qualify (their penalty shootout playoff win in Cardiff finished later than Ukraine’s and Georgia’s games) so it is no great surprise they bowed out first, being the only side to lose their opening two matches. The 36-year Robert Lewandowski is insisting on carrying on despite the public having doubts and his penalty (scored at the second attempt) in a 1-1 draw with France was a consolation for the Barcelona striker. The respected Polish journalist Michal Okonski summed up Poland’s tournament by writing: “Poland saved its face. It’s got the face of Kacper Urbanski” – referring to the 19-year-old youngest member of the squad, who at Thiago Motta’s Bologna has learned to play without fear. “Gone in 60 Seconds,” declared the front page of the Scottish Sun. “Down and Out,” said the Daily Record. The Record showed Scott McTominay with head in hands, the Sun providing a shot of Steve Clarke consoling the Manchester United midfielder. Coverage of another Scotland group-stage exit has been twofold. The Tartan Army, who have captured hearts and minds across Germany, take up a lot of the column inches as tens of thousands of Scots beat a hasty march home. There has also been stark criticism of Clarke for what is perceived as an overly negative approach, particularly against Hungary in a must-win fixture. The manager faces an uphill task to remove that label of over-caution. Clarke’s emphasising of a non-European referee during the Hungary defeat – in which Scotland were denied a late penalty – has drawn ridicule at home. Continue reading...
Watch the best goals from the Euro 2024 group stage featuring great strikes from Turkey's Arder Guler, Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri and Germany's Niclas Fullkrug.
BBC Scotland looks at what other factors are at play for the Scottish national team.
Our cartoonist on a predictably Scottish outcome, England being England and Ronaldo finding his benevolent sideBuy a cartoon in the Guardian Print ShopLike what David does? Support our journalism Continue reading...
Dominik Szoboszlai demands to know why medics ‘didn’t rush in’But governing body believes Hungarian was well cared for Uefa has defended the speed with which treatment was given to Hungary’s Barnabas Varga during Sunday’s Group A win over Scotland, after the Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai added to criticism of medical staff for what he perceived as a slow reaction to his teammate’s injury. European football’s governing body insists Varga was attended to with “no delay”. Varga appeared to collide with the elbow of Angus Gunn, the Scotland goalkeeper, when attempting to meet a Szoboszlai free-kick in the 68th minute. The seriousness of the situation was instantly apparent, and two medics reached him inside 20 seconds. About 45 seconds after the collision, sheeting was placed around Varga to block the view of others in the Stuttgart Stadium and watching on television. It was later revealed Varga had initially been unconscious, sustained a concussion and required surgery on several broken bones in his face. Continue reading...
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! The most Scottish thing about it is that even though they’ve been eliminated from the tournament, things can still get even worse for Steve Clarke, his players and the Tartan Army. Spain beating Albania is far from unthinkable. Italy beating Croatia is far from unthinkable. Portugal beating Georgia is far from unthinkable. Denmark beating Serbia is far from unthinkable. Turkey beating the Czech Republic is far from unthinkable. And England thrashing Slovenia is – look, go with us on this one – far from unthinkable. There is no such thing as fear in football. No place for it, no reason for it either” – Alessandro Bastoni, the Chuck Norris of the Italy camp. ‘It was 100% a penalty’ Steve Clarke said, somehow forgetting to add ‘but only if you ignore Stuart Armstrong pulling the shirt of Willi Orban (which sounds like an insult against the Hungarian prime minister) beforehand’. It’s almost as though he wants to fuel a sense of injustice and detract away from Scotland’s first shot on target, in a game they needed to win, only occurring in the 97th minute” – Noble Francis. Some highlights of Euro 2024 so far. 1) CR7 passed in front of the goal. 2) CR7 passed in front of the goal. 3) CR7 passed in front of the goal. 4) CR7 passed in front of the goal” – Krishna Moorthy. Re: Antony Train’s splendid suggestion about geographical features on shirts (Friday’s letters). I’d also suggest including archaeological sites. That way Stonehenge could perfectly reflect whatever England formation put out: A rough arrangement of statuesque figures, defying all expert analysis, as no one can quite figure out how they got there or what their purpose was in the first place” – Justin Kavanagh. I wonder whether any of your resident geniuses can inform me about the amazing ball repellent that infects the corner flag quadrant. No one ever places the ball in the quadrant any more … why? Is it for fear that it will be ejected, or explode releasing poison gas or party streamers. What? If I can get hold of some of the stuff, I’m hoping it is also a dog repellent so as to stop horrid owners letting their dogs poop on my front lawn, and walk away without cleaning up” – Richard Fernandez (this should help, Richard – Euro 2024 Daily Ed). This is an extract from our daily Euros football email … Euro 2024 Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions. Continue reading...
