Scotland Euro 2024 rivals Switzerland in disarray amid row over base & transport

Scotland’s Euro 2024 opponents Switzerland appear to be in disarray ahead of the tournament’s big kick-off.

A row has erupted over facilities at the Swiss side’s training base and also transport plans for getting to and from matches. They are based in Stuttgart and the first problem emerged when they realised the town’s main attraction, TV tower Fernsehturm Stuttgart, was overlooking their training pitch. They asked for it to be moved.

Players were also unhappy after discovering the Swiss FA planned for the to travel to and from matches by train, with concerns over regular delays on the Deutsche Bahn. Things have got worse after they discovered the newly-laid grass on the training pitch has not given time to bed in properly before they have to use it.

Ahead of facing Hungary in their opening match on Saturday, Switzerland have demanded Uefa find them an alternative base. National team director Pierluigi Tami explained the situation.

He said: “The pitch consists of several sections of grass, which are not well put together. The players were also surprised and not happy with the pitch. The composition of the grass means there are a lot of bumps. This means that it is not a compact, clean surface. The ball bounces. And you can also feel bumps when you run. UEFA has already apologised.”

Switzerland and Scotland face off in the second match of group A, on Wednesday night with an 8pm kick-off.

Meanwhile, Steve Clarke’s squad have trained at their own base again today and Lawrence Shankland and Andy Robertson were part of the session after yesterday’s brief scare, as did Scott McTominay and Andy Robertson. Ryan Jack sat it out but, like with yesterday’s duo, that was just a precaution.