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It looks like all but certain elimination for Scotland from the 2024 European Championships if they lose to Fabian Schar and his international teammates.
The Newcastle United star had a very good game on Saturday as Switzerland comfortably put away Hungary 3-1.
The 5pm kick-off today saw Germany win 2-0 against Hungary, though the hosts had a few scares.
For Switzerland the prize is certain qualification to the knockouts if they get this win over Scotland, the kick-off 8pm and to be shown on BBC1.
Three points for Fabian Schar and Scotland would put them on six points in Group A, the same as Germany. The top two automatically qualifying.
A defeat would leave Scotland and Hungary on zero points but with Steve Clarke’s team having been smashed 5-1 by Germany, difficult to see them going through as one of the four best third placed teams if they also lose to the Swiss, even if they defeated Hungary in their final game.
Fabian Schar starts in this Switzerland team:
Sommer, Rodríguez, Akanji, Schar, Aebischer, Xhaka, Freuler, Widmer, Vargas, Shaqiri, Ndoye
Meanwhile former Newcastle United defender Grant Hanley starts in this Scotland team:
Gunn, Tierney, Hanley, Hendry, Robertson, McGregor, Gilmour, Ralston, McTominay, McGinn, Adams
Hopefully Fabian Schar can help his team make it four wins out of four for teams featuring current Newcastle United players at these European Championships.
Newcastle United players on international duty:
Saturday 15 June
Switzerland 3 Hungary 1 (Euros Group match)
The Newcastle United defender with a very good personal performance, playing the full 90 minutes as the Swiss deservedly beat Hungary.
Sunday 16 June
England 1 Serbia 0
England got the job done, eventually.
Anthony Gordon an unused substitute but Kieran Trippier playing the full 90 minutes and doing ok at left-back. His job to stretch things in attack up England’s left hand side, with likes of Foden not willing/able to stay out wide and instead continually drifting inside. With the plan clearly for all of England’s main attacking to be through the middle and especially out wide on the right.
That is where the excellent winning goal came from, a great ball from Walker putting Saka in behind and his deflected cross perfectly then flighted for Bellingham’s pinpoint run into the box and the header giving Serbia’s keeper no chance.
At the other end was Trippier’s main task though and with the rest of the defence he did well, especially after the break when England suddenly went all defensive and invited Serbia to go for the equaliser. The Three Lions offering zero threat in the second-half apart from sub Bowen’s cross where the keeper made a great save but in reality Kane should have given him zero chance with the header.
Pickford only had one shot on target to save all game and whilst the commentator and pundits raved about it, in reality it was from outside the box and straight at him, the England keeper tipping the ball over the bar.
The highlight of Trippier’s performance was when Serbia got into the box on the left and an equaliser beckoned for Serbia with Mitrovic waiting for the ball to be squared for a tap-in. However, the Newcastle defender covering his central defenders had got across and was too strong for Mitro who was sent sprawling and claiming for a forlorn penalty.
Monday 17 June
Slovakia 1 Belgium 0
Martin Dubravka and his Slovakia teammates pulling off a massive shock, third ranked in the world Belgium beaten by a team ranked 48th.
Schranz scoring after only seven minutes and the Newcastle keeper and his international teammates more than matching Belgium. What a victory.
Wednesday 19 June
Switzerland v Scotland (Fabian Schar) Euros Group match 8pm BBC1
Thursday 20 June 2024
England v Denmark (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match 5pm BBC1
Friday 21 June 2024
Slovakia v Ukraine (Martin Dubravka) Euros Group match 2pm BBC1
Sunday 23 June 2024
Switzerland v Germany (Fabian Schar) Euros Group match 8pm BBC TBC
Monday 24 June 2024
Costa Rica v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) Copa America Group match
Colombia v Paraguay (Miguel Almiron) Copa America Group match
Tuesday 25 June 2024
England v Slovenia (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match 8pm ITV1
Wednesday 26 June 2024
Slovakia v Romania (Martin Dubravka) Euros Group match 5pm BBC TBC
Friday 28 June 2024
Paraguay v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almiron) Copa America Group match
Tuesday 2 July 2024
Colombia v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) Copa America Group match
(There will of course be more matches for Newcastle United players if their nations get through the group stages of the Copa America and/or the European Championships.)
Sunday 14 July 2024 – European Championships final.
Sunday 14 July 2024 – Copa America final.