It started with John McGinn being fouled, had some David Moyes gaslighting halfway through and ended with Scotland exiting Euro 2024 in spectacular fashion. Scotland have a proud, glittering history of setting up a grandstand tournament finish they have either have no intention or no chance of delivering. They just had to beat Croatia at Euro 2020, but lost 3-1.
They just had to beat Morocco at the 1998 World Cup, but lost 3-0. They just had to beat Switzerland by enough goals at Euro ’96, but only won 1-0. They just had to beat Uruguay at the 1986 World Cup, but drew 0-0 despite their opponents having a man sent off after 56 seconds.
They just had to beat the Soviet Union at the 1982 World Cup but drew 2-2. They just had to beat Yugoslavia at the 1974 World Cup, but drew 1-1. It is why, for all the reserved satisfaction generated by a draw with Switzerland which had millions searching up qualification permutations heading into the final group games , many knew what was probably coming.
The only mystery was just how much of a mess Scotland would make of trying to sneak through the back door and into the knockouts. This was a worthy entrant into the pantheon of complete failure. Scotland had four shots in a game they realistically needed to win; their second came in the 93rd minute.
The first was from Che Adams, which is arguably even more damning. They lingered for ages on a penalty decision which was probably offside anyway. They had a corner in the 99th minute, decided no.
