The European Football Cup tournament kicked off with an exciting opening match between host nation Germany and Scotland. While broadcasters saw a surge in viewership, Scottish fans were left disappointed after their team suffered a crushing defeat. The ardent Scottish football fanbase, known as ‘the Tartan Army’, showed up in large numbers to support their team, but many were dissatisfied with the coverage provided by ITV, one of the UK’s main broadcasters.
Reports from the Daily Mirror and other newspapers highlighted the frustration of Scottish fans towards ITV’s pre-match coverage, which they felt focused too much on England instead of Scotland. Former Scottish players, including Tony Watt and Lee Mair, took to social media to express their disappointment. The decision to include an interview with England manager Gareth Southgate, despite England not playing until Sunday, further fueled the anger of Scottish fans.
Following the disappointing match, Scotland manager Steve Clarke was caught on camera having a heated exchange with an assistant coach. Former player turned pundit Roy Keane did not hold back in his assessment of Scotland’s performance, criticizing the team for playing poorly and letting down their manager and supporters. The Sun newspaper reported Keane’s blunt comments, adding to the overall sense of disappointment surrounding Scotland’s performance in the tournament.
As the European Football Cup continues for the next four weeks, Scottish fans and the team itself will be looking to bounce back from their opening defeat. With matches still to be played and opportunities for redemption on the horizon, all eyes will be on Scotland as they strive to make their mark on the tournament. Despite the initial setback, the passion and dedication of the Scottish supporters, both at home and abroad, are sure to remain unwavering as they continue to cheer on their team throughout the competition.