Dejected Tartan Army finds makeshift locations to sleep after Euros exit
- Scotland crashed out of Euro 2024 after suffering a 1-0 defeat by Hungary
- Steve Clarke’s side agonisingly conceded in the 10th minute of injury time
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Dejected Scotland fans slept on train floors and in luggage racks after watching their side crash out of Euro 2024 at the group stage.
Tartan Army supporters dressed in kilts looked crestfallen as they travelled back from Stuttgart late on Sunday night following their agonising 1-0 defeat to Hungary at the MHPArena.
Needing at least a point to maintain any hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages, Hungarian forward Kevin Csoboth scored in the last-minute of the game to claim a dramatic victory and break Scottish hearts.
It was a disappointing end to the tournament for Steve Clarke’s team, who will finish bottom of Group A, having lost two games and drawn one.
After the game, thousands of teary-eyed supporters were forced to find makeshift places to sleep whilst waiting for and riding public transport away from the ground.
Scottish football fans are no strangers to exiting a major tournament early. In 12 attempts, their nation has never once made it past the first stage of a World Cup or Euros.
Scotland fans slept in luggage racks on trains home from the ground as their team once again failed to make it pass the group stages
Tartan Army supporters looked crestfallen as they travelled back from Stuttgart late on Sunday night following their agonising 1-0 defeat to Hungary at the MHPArena
One fan, wearing a replica Scotland shirt and traditional kilt, slept on the floor of the train back from the MHPArena in Stuttgart
A dejected Scotland fan breaks down into tears after watching his side crash out of Euro 2024 at the group stage
A huge number of Scots had descended on Stuttgart on Sunday for the Group A decider, bringing a wave of colour and noise ahead of one of the biggest games in their country’s history.
Dressed in tartan kilts and replica kits, fans drank with locals, sang football anthems and even put on a bagpipe concert as the pre-match atmosphere built up into a frenzy in the sun-soaked German city.
The Tartan Army mingled well with the thousands of Hungary fans also in attendance, adding to the positive write-up their fans have received throughout the tournament.
But their energy and enthusiasm was not enough to help their team on the pitch, meaning most supporters woke up on Monday morning with a sore head and a broken heart as they planned their journeys back home to the UK.
Some were vocal in their criticisms of their side following Sunday’s defeat, after Scotland had just one shot on target during the match – Hungary, meanwhile, had five.
‘Steve Clarke, sorry son, but you’ve got to go, you’re f***ing useless, I’m sick of this s***,’ one supporter told Mail Sport outside the MHPArena on Sunday night after the defeat.
‘I’ve spent about 10 grand to come here. It’s a f***ing joke, and you didn’t have a shot on target. Out.’
Scotland began their Euros campaign with a 5-1 defeat by Germany but gave themselves a chance of sealing a berth in the last 16 after drawing against Switzerland last week.
Another fan gave a different view of Scotland’s form at this summer’s tournament, pointing to Scotland’s injury list as the reason why Clarke’s side made an early exit.
Scotland fans at 2am on Monday morning in Stuttgart sleeping on the floor of a train station following their country’s 1-0 loss to Hungary
A heartbroken member of the Tartan Army after Scotland failed to make it out of the group stage for the 12th time at a major tournament
It was a disappointing end to the tournament for Scotland and their supporters, who will finish bottom of Group A, having lost two games and drawn one
Defeat in Stuttgart on Sunday night means the Scotland team and their fans will be heading home early from the tournament
Another Scotland fan making a makeshift bed for himself whilst waiting on a train station platform in Stuttgart
Dejected Scotland fans wait for their train home after watching their side crash out of Euro 2024
Scotland fans were shocked to see their side lose to Hungary in the last minute
Scotland fans have been venting their frustrations after their side were knocked out of Euro 2024
Steve Clarke’s (pictured) side suffered an agonising late defeat by Hungary on Sunday night
One fan stated that Scotland’s performance was a ‘f***ing joke’ and added that he’d spent ‘ten grand’ to fly to Germany to watch his team
Scotland have now failed to qualify for the knockout stages at the Euros or World Cup in their last 12 tournaments
Other fans believed that Scotland’s injury list during the tournament has been the cause of their woes
Scotland had a chance of qualifying for the knockouts but needed to beat Hungary and hope that other results went their way
‘We’ve all come out we’ve enjoyed ourselves, the Hungarian fans have been great. It’s just a bit disappointing. That’s all it is,’ the fan said to Mail Sport.
‘There’s a lot of people that are angry, but I’m not angry – I just wished they’d played a wee bit better.
‘Our injuries, we had five of our best players out before today. Then you had [John] McGinn coming off, [Andy] Robertson coming off.’
When asked if the manager got it wrong, the fan added: ‘No, no no. I always have faith in Stevie Clarke. He’s got us to two Euros. When was the last time we were at the Euros? 96. We were at the World Cup in 98.
‘Whatever Stevie Clarke says I’ll go with.’
Giving his analysis on why Scotland have struggled during this summer’s tournament and have struggled to score goals, the fan added: ‘We didn’t get any shots either, but I don’t think that’s the problem, what you’re forgetting is that our injury list was so bad. We’re not like England or Italy…’
He was then interrupted by another Scotland fan who said: ‘Steve Clarke out – hopeless,’ to which the supporter being interviewed disagreed, saying: ‘See that is just ridiculous.’
With 10 minutes to go, Scotland’s Stuart Armstrong went down inside the Hungarian penalty area.
Referee Facundo Tello did not award the penalty. A VAR check agreed with the Argentine referee’s initial decision.
But after the match, Clarke fumed at the officials, stating: ‘The biggest point in the game is the penalty kick.
Kevin Csoboth (left) shattered any hopes Scotland had of reaching the knockouts after scoring in the 10th minute of injury time
Clarke, meanwhile, blasted the officials for not giving Scotland a penalty in the second half
‘I don’t understand how VAR can look at that and say it’s not a penalty. I’ve got words for it, but I like my money.’
Clarke was also pressed on whether he had spoken to the referee, with the Scotland manager saying: ‘What’s the point?’
‘He’s from Argentina. Why is it not a European referee? I don’t understand why he’s here and not in his own country refereeing a game. It’s just my opinion.’
