It is Scotland’s long-established fate to be tortured slowly in the finals of major tournaments, writes OLIVER HOLT after Steve Clarke’s side were dumped out by 100th-minute Hungary winner
They went into the game yearning for the win that would elevate them to the pantheon of Scottish football, the only players to carry their country into the knockout stage of a major men’s tournament after 11 failed attempts.
Steve Clarke’s players knew that immortality beckoned, that this was their opportunity to go one better than some of the world’s great players, the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Jimmy Johnstone, Graeme Souness, Denis Law and John Robertson, who had never got beyond a group stage.
It was their moment, their time, and they belted out Flower of Scotland in the MHP Arena before the game with the same visceral gusto as their fans, urging each other on into the heat of the battle to ‘rise now and be the nation again’.
But Scotland are to major tournaments what Sisyphus was to rock-rolling. For all eternity — or since the 1954 World Cup, at least — they roll that boulder up the hill and, before they get to the top, watch it roll back down again.
It is their long-established fate to be tortured slowly in the finals of European Championships and World Cups. They just find new ways of breaking their hearts.
Scotland fell to a 1-0 defeat against Hungary and in turn were knocked out of Euro 2024
Scotland fell to a 1-0 defeat against Hungary and in turn were knocked out of Euro 2024
The Tartan Army conceded in the 100th minute of the match after Kevin Csoboth’s strike
The Tartan Army conceded in the 100th minute of the match after Kevin Csoboth’s strike
Angus Gunn and the plethora of Scotland defenders were unable to prevent the effort
Angus Gunn and the plethora of Scotland defenders were unable to prevent the effort