Peter Martin’s analysis as Scotland go into final group game

A little bit of good fortune and a lot of effort goes a long way with the Tartan army and so it proved in the Cologne stadium in Scotland’s draw with the Swiss on Wednesday night.

A point keeps us alive in the group. We wanted a point before a ball was kicked and we got what we deserved, no more, no less in my view.

Desire and no shortage of effort, that was sadly missing from the opener against Germany, was here in abundance from the opening whistle.

Two changes and a clear message from Steve Clark to try and take the game to Switzerland clearly struck a chord with the starting eleven.

It was tense, but when that little bit of luck that deflected Scott McTominay’s shot into the goal put us in front, suddenly all generations of the Tartan army started to believe.

However, I’ve been watching Scotland in six different decades and we have a magnificent and regular tendency to shoot ourselves in the foot. Right on cue, step forward Anthony Ralston with an insane backpass and the quality of Shaquiri put us to the sword. The finish was sublime.

The second half was more blood, guts and thunder, not really a game for football purists. We hit the post, they almost snatched it with a glancing header at the end.

The Tartan army cheered their foot soldiers at full-time for going into battle with the right attitude. A point keeps it alive and also keeps me believing we can do this.

As Xherdan Shaquiri said in the post-match interview, “with those Scottish fans and if they play like they did against us, they can win the game against Hungary.”