Scotland captain Andy Robertson expressed remorse to the nation after their elimination from Euro 2024 on Sunday night.
The Tartan Army entered their crucial group stage match against Hungary knowing that a victory was crucial for both teams’ hopes of advancing to the round of 16. Despite the possibility of qualification with a draw, Scotland’s subdued performance in Stuttgart, marked by only four shots, none on target until stoppage time, ended with Kevin Csoboth scoring Hungary’s decisive goal in the 100th minute, sealing their fate.
Much scrutiny has been directed at manager Steve Clarke’s tactics, particularly his adherence to a back-five formation until late in the match.
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Following the game, Robertson commented, “It will take a long time to recover from this one. We anticipated a moment when we could push forward and utilize our bench strength. We made that effort, but unfortunately, we were caught off guard at the end. Realistically, a draw wouldn’t have been enough, so both teams had to push for a win, and sadly, one of us had to lose.”
He continued, reflecting on the devastating loss, “Tonight is heartbreaking. There’s no sugarcoating it. Every player is devastated. It’s our responsibility to lift each other up, a process that will take time. I want to thank the entire nation for their support. We felt the enthusiasm back home, and we’re sorry for not meeting your expectations.”
Scotland has now exited the group stage in all twelve major tournaments they’ve qualified for, including four European Championships. Hungary’s advancement to the knockout stage remains uncertain, as they must secure a top-four finish among third-place teams in the tournament’s group stage.