Summary

  • Reaction as Scotland lose 1-0 to Hungary

  • Steve Clarke's side exit Euro 2024

  • Head coach angry at denied penalty claim

  • Captain Robertson says team 'let down Tartan Army'

  • 200,000 Scotland fans start trek back home

  1. Until we meet again!published at 12:35 British Summer Time 24 June

    Right then folks, I think that just about covers it. We're all hurt, we're all raging, we're all scunnered.

    According to our earlier poll, 500 of you want Clarke in. Over 1200 of you want Clarke out. Keep up to date with our dedicated Scotland page for more opinions on that particular debate.

    The one thing we can all agree on is that the Tartan Army have done us proud. No flying plastic chairs, no scraps. Just 200,000 folk, almost certainly more, having a jolly in Germany.

    As for the Euros - as the Germans say, Auf Wiedersehen.

    Scotland fansImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    I didn't know Billy Gilmour could play the pipes?!

  2. Welt TV channel bids Scotland farewellpublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 24 June

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland in Germany

    To illustrate just how dearly the Germans have taken Scotland fans to heart, this is the message currently running along the ticker at the bottom of Welt's Euro coverage:

    "Byebye Schottland. Ihr habt uns viel Freude bereitet."

    Cheerio, Scotland. You gave us great joy.

    Says it all, doesn't it? Well played the Tartan Army. Fine ambassadors for your country. German for haste ye back?

    Komm bald wieder!

  3. Lack of quality or wrong approach - what cost Scotland?published at 12:22 British Summer Time 24 June

    Nick McPheat
    BBC Scotland

    "The reality for Scotland is a lack of quality has cost them, particularly in forward positions."

    In the immediate aftermath of a gut-wrenching Euros exit, Scottish viewers could have perhaps done without an Englishman telling them where their painful late defeat to Hungary went wrong.

    But when someone with 313 career goals, in this case Alan Shearer, is delivering that kind of analysis, you can take note through gritted teeth.

    In a must-win game, the nation's biggest in a generation, Scotland's first shot on target came in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time - from centre-back Grant Hanley. He might even have been offside.

    Read all of Nick McPheat's article here.

    Scotland graphic
  4. 'Why is it not given?' - Clarkepublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 24 June

    A wee reminder of how angry, furious, raging, seething, and bealing Steve Clarke was at the end of that last night.

    Media caption,

    'Why's it not given?' - Clarke questions penalty incident

  5. 'Strangest experience I've had'published at 12:12 British Summer Time 24 June

    Connie McLaughlin
    Broadcaster on on BBC Five Live

    I'm not sure I've felt lower after a game. It was so tough to take.

    After these matches, I go down and interview the players. You've got to go down five or six minutes before the end of the game. I was in the tunnel area and as the guys came off the pitch, the silence was eery.

    It was the strangest experience I've had covering Scotland. On a human level, they were absolutely devastated.

    Put aside the expectations we have as fans - these guys put their heart and soul into this whole campaign and for them, I'm devastated.

  6. 'An apology is not required'published at 12:07 British Summer Time 24 June

    Erin Cuthbert
    Scotland and Chelsea midfielder on BBC Five Live

    [Steve Clarke] has got us to two major tournaments so he's done a great job. We've fallen short at the tournaments and I'm leaving this one thinking 'what if?' because I think we're good enough.

    I know Steve Clarke, he's a good guy and he'll pick himself up, dust himself down and reflect. Whatever happens, we'll come back fighting.

    Andy [Robertson] feels the weight of the country of his shoulders so I wasn't surprised to hear [him apologising]. He saw the level of support, everything on social media, maybe he doesn't feel the performances have matched that.

    An apology is not required because we've all had the time of our lives here. No matter what, the boys have given 100% effort. As Scots, we can't fault that.

  7. Scotland 'done by sucker punch'published at 12:02 British Summer Time 24 June

    David Moyes
    Former West Ham manager on BBC One

    It looked as if one team would get a winner - I hoped it would be Scotland, but we got done by a sucker punch.

    We don't have a huge pool of players to pick from at the top level.We were thrilled when we qualified, Steve Clarke has done a good job getting us here and he took us to the last couple of minutes, there's no shame in it. But we don't have top, top players to make a difference.

  8. Tartan Army once again impresses off the pitch, rather than on itpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 24 June

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland in Germany

    As if to rub salt into Scotland's wounds, Saturday's fixtures here at the Euros make for painful reading, with Scotland's name nowhere to be seen.

    Saturday 29th June:

    17.00 Switzerland v TBC

    20.00 Germany v TBC

    Hungary have a waiting game. Three points may be enough for Marco Rossi's side to progress but they won't know for sure until the fixtures are completed in certain other groups.

    Sadly, the only thing the Scotland players and staff are waiting for is transport to the airport for the flight home.

    The fans have left a lasting impression on Germany with their good behaviour, vast numbers and huge contribution to the local economy of each city they enlivened with their presence.

    The football? Not so much.

  9. Another ex-pro sticks up for Clarkepublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 24 June

    Willie Miller
    Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

    I don't think there should be question marks over Steve Clarke's future. I think he's done a fabulous job with the squad over the years. We have to remember he's got us qualified for two major tournaments after we hadn't for so long. He's done magnificently well for the country.

    It wasn't a good game of football. I think the Hungarians felt like they had a cause behind them and Scotland were just desperate to get the goal at the end and left themselves so open. I can totally understand why Scotland threw everything at it in the dying minutes.

  10. Scotland didn't do enough - Lambertpublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 24 June

    Paul Lambert
    Former Scotland midfielder on BBC 5 Live

    I don't think we've done enough in the game.

    Steve [Clarke] is right, it was a stonewall penalty. Hungary were a really bang-average team, the way they played.

    That's when I think one of your centre-halves has to step into midfield, because it gives you overload because they were defending so deep, but we don't have the type of players who can unlock.

    We've never had the number 10 playmakers that can send a pass or have a shot at nothing. We have to get goals through a team effort, I just don't think we did enough to unlock them or to put them [Hungary] on the back foot."

  11. The no-minute menpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 24 June

    As is usually the case in a major tournament, there are some unlucky souls that are named in the 26-man squad and never even get on the pitch.

    Steve Clarke only used 18 players over the three games, so who were the unlucky eight for Scotland?

    Unsurprisingly, there were the goalies - Zander Clark and Liam Kelly.

    Defenders Ross McCrorie, Greg Taylor and Liam Cooper never got a look in. There were doubts over Ryan Jack's fitness, and while the media campaign for James Forrest's inclusion was successful, he never got off the bench.

    Finally, there was poor Tommy Conway, Lyndon Dykes' replacement, who couldn't get on even when Scotland desperately needed a goal.

    Ross McCrorie, James Forrest, Zander Clark, Tommy ConwayImage source, Getty Images
  12. Former Scotland striker Jackson backs Clarkepublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 24 June

    Darren Jackson
    Former Scotland striker on BBC Radio Scotland

    I think he does remain. He looks as though we've got the spirit back, we've qualified for the last two.

    The next step is now - is there players coming through? We need more pace. Ben Doak, maybe others.

    I think he deserves another go.

  13. 'Hungary looked like the team that were going to win it'published at 11:31 British Summer Time 24 June

    More from BBC Scotland's Amy Irons, speaking on BBC 5 Live Breakfast: "I think for that [last] 15 minutes, it really opened up. You could tell that this was a game that both sides needed to win.

    "It was like watching basketball, it was proper end to end. There was a feeling that if Scotland maybe had 10 more minutes like that and a player like Lawrence Shankland on the pitch, it could have ended differently.

    "It probably sums up the game across the whole when you realise Grant Hanley, our centre-back, had more touches and it was his shot on target that was probably our best chance of the whole game.

    "I think if Scotland fans really reflect this morning, Hungary looked like the team that were going to win it more but it wasn't from a lack of trying from the Scotland players on the pitch because they gave it their all and it's just ended with such disappointment."

    Amy IronsImage source, SNS
  14. No 'lack of effort' from Scotlandpublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 24 June

    Alan Shearer
    Former England striker on BBC One

    The pool of players, the injuries, I don't think it was for a lack of effort. Any Scotland head coach will have the same problems.

    From a Scotland point of view, it was through no lack of effort, but the reality is a lack of quality has cost them. Particularly in forward positions. They were very rarely a threat. We were hoping rather than expecting. What I would say is the penalty decision was terrible. For me it was a penalty all day.

  15. Reality bites hardpublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 24 June

    Scotland out of Euro 2024

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland in Germany

    This won't be a popular opinion, but Scotland finished exactly where they should have in Group A - bottom.

    Let's remind ourselves of the teams' respective world rankings: Germany - 16th; Switzerland - 19th; Hungary - 27th; Scotland - 39th.

    Wonder of wonders, that's exactly the order they finished in the group, with Scotland living up to their seeding - fourth.

    To have done any better, Steve Clarke needed to get his team to do what it did in qualifying and over-perform. The form that brought the big wins over Spain and Norway was nowhere to be seen here.

    Indeed, not only did Scotland fail to exceed their normal levels, they actually did the opposite and under-performed.

    Three shots on target in the entire tournament? 17 shots of any description across all three matches? It simply doesn't cut it at this level.

  16. Some fans have seen enough...published at 11:11 British Summer Time 24 June

    Your views

    Anon: Steve Clarke is so negative in his selection and why James Forrest was not used just sums up how dull that manager is. Dire performance matched by Clarke.

    Gentile: We didn't go into the game looking like a team that wanted to win or needed to win. It was abject. Nothing created until the dying embers of the game. Changes made too late and the wrong ones. Steve Clarke has done a good job, but the time has come for him to go.

    Robert: Disappointing exit but hardly unexpected. Recent national sides have been ponderous, predictable and lacking in penetration. Steve Clarke needs a break and Scotland needs a fresh start.

    Gal: Steve Clarke is the problem, sticking by players who can't get a game for their club.

  17. A case for the defencepublished at 11:03 British Summer Time 24 June

    John Collins
    Former Scotland player on BBC Radio Scotland

    He's got us to two tournaments. For 20 years we were starved. There were no Scotland fans at European Championships.

    We're getting close to qualifying. I think he'll stay.

    The question is, can clubs develop more players for Steve Clarke? The clubs have to start playing more young Scottish players in the Premiership. Then we'd have more chance of developing more quality for the national team.

  18. The Big Questionpublished at 10:57 British Summer Time 24 June

    It's going to be the main talking point for the next few days, weeks and maybe months.

    Is Steve Clarke still the right man to lead Scotland?

    Thumbs up for yes, let's give him another chance.

    Thumbs down for no, I've seen enough.

    Steve ClarkeImage source, Getty Images
  19. 'Lack of quality cost Scotland'published at 10:51 British Summer Time 24 June

    Darren Jackson
    Former Scotland striker on BBC Radio Scotland

    We weren't good enough last night that was for sure.

    Everyone goes on about possession but there's got to be progression in possession and I think we just lacked quality in the final third. It's heart-breaking because I've been there. We lost out to Patrick Kluivert scoring a goal in '96.

    I think the sheer lack in quality in the final third cost us.

  20. 'Maybe he should have rolled the dice a little sooner'published at 10:46 British Summer Time 24 June

    BBC Scotland's Amy Irons spoke about the pain of Euros defeat on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: "I'm still feeling pretty stunned but frustrated because this was a game Scotland had to win if they wanted to make history and make it out of the group stages for the first time at a major tournament ever.

    "To not change things until about the 75th minute... I think most Scotland fans were scratching their heads - especially when there were so many attacking options, fresh legs, sitting on that bench. [For example] the likes of Lawrence Shankland, who we know has been such a prolific goal scorer in the Scottish Premiership.

    "Maybe [Clarke] should have rolled the dice a little sooner, who knows, but it was just painful."

    Amy IronsImage source, Getty Images