Scotland vs Switzerland Prediction: Scotland need the points to survive elimination

When Switzerland plays Scotland on Wednesday at Köln's Cologne Stadium in the group stage of the UEFA European Championship, they will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start. On June 14, Germany trounced Scotland 5-1 in their first-ever Euro 2024 group round match. They have one victory, one tie, and three defeats in their five games this season.

On June 15, at Cologne Stadium, Switzerland defeated Hungary 3-1 in their first Euro 2024 group round match, extending their winning run to five games. With three points, Switzerland is ranked second in the group, and Scotland is ranked fourth with zero points. Germany leads the group with three points. Hungary is in third place with no points.

Switzerland defeated the other team 3-1 in their most recent meeting, which took place in February 2006. Scotland has played six games in all competitions, winning one, drawing two, and losing three. During that time, the Scottish team won two of the six games and gave up fifteen goals. Their opponents scored seven goals in the opening forty-five minutes, compared to their two goals. In their last six games, the Swiss team has won three, drawn two, and lost one. In that span, the Swiss team scored nine goals and gave up three, winning three of the six. Their opponents managed just one goal before halftime, while they scored five goals in the first half.

Before Scotland had the privilege of starting the opening match of this year's European Championships, the Tartan Army's party was the talk of the town. However, the ardent supporters' celebrations were swiftly cut short when a magnificent German outfit tore Clarke's modest men to shreds in Munich.

With Ryan Porteous' horrific tackle of Ilkay Gundogan in the second half, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fullkrug, and Emre Can all helped themselves to goals against the Scots, who had to play the entire second half with 10 men before Havertz converted his penalty kick.

Although an own goal by Antonio Rudiger briefly raised cheers among the Tartan Army, Can's long-range stunner soon restored Germany's four-goal lead, guaranteeing that Scotland would suffer the largest opening defeat in men's European history.

After Friday's humiliating experience, Scotland is already in fourth place in the Group A standings. A loss will eliminate them from top-two consideration, regardless of the outcome of the match between Germany and Hungary, and a draw will essentially mean the same thing. However, Clarke's team still has 180 minutes to salvage their European experience.

Of course, finishing third might still be enough to advance Scotland to the round of 16, but their recent form may put paid to that notion; Clarke's team has only won once in their last ten games across all competitions, and they haven't won in the Euro finals since the year 2000.

As Scotland was left to analyze a dull performance at the Allianz Arena, Switzerland rightly led Hungary by two goals at the half thanks to goals from first-timers Michel Aebischer and Kwadwo Duah, who made sure their quick start would be duly rewarded.

However, Murat Yakin's team let up in the second half, allowing Barnabas Varga to cut the deficit in half with a Dominik Szoboszlai delivery. However, in added time, a deft Breel Embolo lob would restore the Rossocrociati's two-goal lead.

Due to a muscle issue and ACL injury that kept him from playing in all but five Ligue 1 games throughout the 2023–24 season, the Monaco player's goal was undoubtedly one that both neutral spectators and supporters of Switzerland could appreciate. This was also his first appearance for his country since the 2022 World Cup.

The Swiss, who are currently ranked second, will undoubtedly finish in the top two. They will then play Germany in their last group match, where Yakin's team will be happy to ease off a bit on the pressure if at all feasible.

In preparation for their encounter against Scotland, whom they have not faced since a 3-1 friendly triumph in 2006 when a Kenny Miller goal proved to be in vain, the Rossocrociati had won three of their last four games and lost only one of their previous 15.

Due in part to Die Mannschaft's outstanding performance and in part to their persistently careless passing, Scotland's strikers saw very little of the ball against Germany; also, a strong Swiss team will not give up much.

Even if Yakin's team did eventually lose to Hungary, their three points were well-earned, and we can only hope that Switzerland finishes in the top two while causing the Scots the kind of suffering they are used to during the Euros.