Scotland must nullify main Swiss threat - or see Euro 2024 adventure cut short

Steve Clarke will be grinning from ear to ear if his game plan pays off.

Desperately chasing a win but absolutely certain that a defeat will end the entire Euro 2024 adventure after just two games, Scotland head into tonight’s Group A clash with Switzerland – as close as you get to a make-or-break fixture in a tournament with so many side door, back door and trap door paths to the last 16 for lucky losers – under pressure to perform. And that starts by improving on the defensive frailties exposed with such brilliant brutality by the beastly Germans last Friday night.

Photo 1: Switzerland overpowered Hungary's 5-4-1

Against a Swiss side who looked extremely slick, fluid and composed on the ball in their 3-1 win over Hungary. Scotland cannot make the same mistakes as the Hungarians, who singularly failed to counter the key threats of Switzerland; sitting deep in a 5-4-1 shape resulted in them being overpowered by the Swiss and their flexible 3-4-3 (See Photo 1).

Assuming Scotland will be more aggressive on the press and, as a result, enjoy more of the ball, they will really need to keep tabs on Michel Aebischer – a central midfielder deployed as a right-footed left wingback on Match Day 1. Not the worst decision of Murat Yakin’s time as manager. Possibly even his best call on a day when he surprised everyone by throwing Kwadwo Duah into the starting line-up, despite the striker – who scored, obviously – boasting 45 minutes of international football heading into the tournament.

Photo 2 shows Aebischer’s ability to get himself into a brilliant central position, drifting in from the wing to a No. 10 area. He took the ball on the half turn and assisted for Duah’s opener.

Photo 2: Aebischer finds space to set up opener.

Aebischer, a team-mate of Lewis Ferguson at Bologna, regularly dropped into difficult-to-mark areas and turned to find himself in huge areas of empty pitch (Photo 3). And he scored himself, a real beauty from the edge of the box.

Photo 3: Akanji and Aebischer combined to break lines and exploit space.

Scotland will expect to trouble Switzerland in possession. Without the ball? The pace of Duah and the guile of Aebischer are the main threats. And that’s before we even mention Granit Xhaka’s ability to dictate play.

Nullify those dangers, and Steve Clarke will have a chance of ending the night with a well-deserved celebration. Before marching onto Stuttgart and a date with destiny.