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Dejected Scotland team arrives back home after heartbreaking Euros exit
A dispirited Scotland squad has arrived back home following their disappointing elimination from the Euros.
Scotland suffered late heartache in Germany after an injury time goal from Hungary brought their Euro 2024 campaign to a premature end.
A last minute winner by Kevin Csoboth sealed a 1-0 win for the Hungarians in the final group game of the tournament in Stuttgart, and was enough to send Scotland on the first flight home.
The players cut forlorn figures as they touched down at a quiet Glasgow Airport on Monday night.
Callum McGregor, John McGinn, Angus Gunn, Scott McTominay, and Che Adams made their own travel arrangements as the management, staff and remaining players departed Germany – after being given a cheery farewell from a Bavarian oompah band.
Steve Clarke’s side lost 1-0 to Hungary on Sunday to leave them bottom of Group A with one point from three matches, following a 5-1 opening game thrashing by host’s Germany and a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Scotland scored only two goals in three games in Germany, an own goal against the hosts and a deflected McTominay strike against the Swiss.
According to UEFA’s official stats, the Scots had 16 attempts on goal with three on target over the three games – which is the worst record in the tournament.
The lack of a threat frustrated many fans – and midfielder Kenny McLean understood their frustration.
The Norwich playmaker said: “We are always going to find problems and come up against situations but we need to find the answers.
“It is obviously difficult to speak now, we have just been put out the competition but we will definitely look back and see what we can do.
“We are obviously frustrated with the situation as well. We would have liked to have had more shots on target, more goals, of course we would have.
“We gave everything, that’s what I can say. We gave everything, just unfortunately it wasn’t enough.
“When results aren’t there, there’s going to be concerns. We know we have the quality, that’s the thing.
“We didn’t find enough moments in matches to get the results we needed but we gave everything.
“It was obviously a tough night for everyone here, everyone back home and it will take a bit of time to get over.”
The Scotland squad will now have to regroup for the Nations League Group A campaign which begins on September 5, against Poland at Hampden.
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