Scott Mullen
BBC Scotland at Cologne Stadium

Okay, so we're being moved from the media tent outside to the stadium now for safety reasons due to a thunderstorm.

We're currently man-marking the creme brulee cheesecake on the way out the door.

Jane Lewis
BBC Scotland in Cologne

Well the rain is here - and it's heavy, very heavy!

I might need a boat to get to the Swiss and Scotland media conference.

Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

Chatting to Scotland fans last night about who they would you like to see in the team, the name that came up most was Billy Gilmour.

The other name was Lawrence Shankland. But I would feel for Che Adams [if he was dropped] because he didn't have a chance against Germany.

Calum Macdonald
BBC Scotland in Germany

Image source, PA Media

We know Steve Clarke will have to make at least one switch for Wednesday with Ryan Porteous suspended, but ex-Scotland winger Neil McCann expects more changes in Cologne.

"I would bring Billy Gilmour in," McCann said on today's Scottish Football Podcast.

"The shape, out of possession, should be tweaked slightly. Switzerland play a back three so their spare man will be at the back. I think Scott McTominay and John McGinn will play in front of Callum McGregor and Gilmour as a box-type four.

As well as changes in defence and midfield, McCann is backing Lawrence Shankland to start up front.

"I think Che Adams would be really unfortunate to miss out, he had no service and no support on Friday," McCann adds.

"It was essentially a running exercise for him. But I would go with Shankland, he's a captain at Hearts and his number of goal involvements are important."

Anyway, where were we?

Aye, being just a day away from the game now you can expect plenty of debate about who should and shouldn't start.

That was the vibe for a good bit of today's Scottish Football Podcast...

Any regulars here will be aware now that our colleagues in Germany seem to constantly talk about free cakes they can help themselves to at media events.

Please, we're jealous enough as it is without needing to know you can dive heid first into a cheesecake at every presser.

Scott Mullen
BBC Scotland at Cologne Stadium

Ever wondered what it was like to work at one of these things? Well, come with me on a magical mystery tour of the Cologne media hub.

We’re in a bit of an inflatable dome as the rain tips down outside. No free scran here, but a bit of crème brûlée cheesecake is on offer.

Alas, no empire biscuits.

Image source, SNS

Anon: Is it not time to be bold and start Tommy Conway up front? Looked a breath of fresh air when he came on against Finland the other week, he’s quick and with his strength could play the Lyndon Dykes role well.

Neil McCann: He’s not as physical as Dykes, no-one we have can play that Dykes role as well because I don’t believe we have that player in the squad. Conway has done well for his club this season, but I don’t think he’s ready for a starting position.

Yesterday we gave you the chance to ask our pundit Neil McCann a question.

Most of them have been team selection related...

What do you lot think about the Ryan Porteous situation?

There's no doubt he has been superb for Scotland over the past year, but all that red card on Friday has done is bring the discipline debate back up.

Does he have a job on his hands now getting back into the team? Hit the thumbs up if so...

Leanne Crichton
Ex-Scotland midfielder on BBC's Scottish Football Podcast

I felt at the time Ryan Porteous left Hibs for Watford, it was an opportunity for him to go and tidy up his image. The reputation he had in Scotland was he was hot-headed, reactive, overaggressive at points, too caught up in certain moments in the heat of the battle.

Maybe it’s the fact we’ve not been drawn to it too much, but as far as I’m aware his image has been a lot cleaner in terms of his conduct on the pitch at Watford. I felt there was a level of trust there, he’s going to need to rebuild that again with supporters and the manager.

Yes it can be seen as a one-off, but in his career it hasn’t been a one-off. It’s something he’s going to struggle to deal with and it will constantly haunt him, or he’s going to have to really look at how he wants to be perceived.

Is he a top level footballer that can be trusted in the big games? That’s the question he will need to answer.

Calum Macdonald
BBC Scotland in Cologne

Image source, Reuters

Former Scotland international Leanne Crichton thinks it's unlikely Ryan Porteous will feature again for the national team at this tournament.

Uefa upgraded the centre-back's suspension to two games yesterday for his red-card challenge on Friday.

"The reality for Ryan Porteous is that it's a horrible decision he's made in terms of that challenge. The sadder fact is his tournament is most likely over." 72-times capped Crichton said.

"Even if Scotland get out of the group, unless there are injuries he's played himself out of the team, it's going to be a tough one for him to get back in and to be trusted to come back in."

Speaking on today's Scottish Football Podcast from Cologne, Crichton said she was surprised Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was able to continue after the challenge.

"I don't think you'll see many challenges at this tournament that are any worse than that Porteous challenge," she added.

"We were surprised Gundogan was able to get to his feet and play on."

Okay, so yesterday's news about Ryan Porteous' upgraded red card didn't really come as a shock.

It did, however, prompt a discussion on the Scottish Football Podcast about the centre-back's international future.

Let's turn our attention to that next...

Yep, that's the stairs at the Cologne Stadium, where Scotland will play Switzerland tomorrow night, that have almost finished Scott.

And it's there that will host tonight's press conferences.

Scott and the rest of the team will be covering that for us, with the Scotland camp expected to speak to them at around 18:30 BST.

Scott Mullen
BBC Scotland at the Cologne Stadium

So. Many. Stairs.

Not for one minute would we EVER suggest to our BBC Scotland colleagues to make that train journey for the Switzerland team uncomfortable.

But...

Andrew Southwick
BBC Scotland in Germany

A surprising set of faces on the train to Cologne...

The Switzerland team boarded the same one as us!

The German hosts have of course urged teams to use train travel as much as possible to cut down on their carbon footprint.

They look happy and relaxed, which a 3-1 win over Hungary in their opening game is likely to do.

Now can Scotland send them back the other way 'tae think again' tomorrow night?

Sunny saltire settingpublished at 16:07 BST 18 June 2024

16:07 BST 18 June 2024

Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Sport Scotland in Germany

You see it now and again, but the perfect jet trail saltire in the sky was looking down on Scotland’s final training session at their camp ahead of their journey to Cologne this afternoon.

A clean bill of health again is the good news. Ryan Porteous very much part of the mix. The Watford defender will miss the final two group matches after his red card against Germany.

Seriously hot in southern Bavaria today - a complete contrast to the wet deluge that awaits them in Cologne.

A real vibrancy about the squad in the sunshine ahead of two make-or-break matches for Steve Clarke’s side.

Image source, PA Media

Good afternoon!

The Tartan Army have made their way to Cologne and the Scotland squad will soon be joining them.

Steve Clarke's side face Switzerland tomorrow as they look to bounce back from Friday's horror show.

We'll hear from the Scots' camp at about 18:30 BST. Until then, let's look ahead...