Auf Wiedersehen, Scotland! Around 200,000 dejected members of the Tartan Army begin long trek home after crushing defeat by Hungary

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Dejected Scotland fans have began the long journey home after the Tartan Army's Euro 2024 party ended in agonising defeat.

Around 200,000 supporters travelled to Germany and enjoyed raucous celebrations throughout the tournament as they cheered on their team's attempt to seize a place in the history books.

But they were left nursing hangovers and bitter disappointment after their dreams were shattered by a Hungarian goal in the 100th minute of their final group-stage game on Sunday.

Scotland's Anthony Ralston leaves their base camp in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Musicians play traditional German music as a dejected Jack Hendry heads for home

The Scotland team bus departs from the idyllic German ski resort in Bavaria

Huge queues had formed at railway stations after the match, with fans – many the worse for wear - resorting to sleeping on concourses, luggage racks and the aisles of trains.

Yesterday the streets of Stuttgart – which had rocked to the sound of the fans' anthem No Scotland No Party – had fallen silent as the Tartan Army packed up to head home.

Supporters were seen hauling their luggage towards the station, with many still posing for pictures or stopping off for a last pint of the trip as they bade farewell to Germany.

Scotland star Scott McTominay's partner Cam Reading

Scotland fans slept in luggage racks on trains home from the ground as their team once again failed to make it pass the group stages

Flights back to Scotland were expected to be filled with fans, and one who was heading for the airport said: 'We've just been told there's not enough seats for everyone on the plane. We are hoping for the best.'

Another who arrived back at Glasgow Airport yesterday afternoon was hoarse from cheering but described the experience as 'phenomenal'.

Others had taken a road trip to Germany for Scotland's first appearance at a major overseas international tournament since 1998 and were left facing a long drive home after the party had wound up.

John Campbell, from Winchburgh, West Lothian, spent the last three weeks with his wife following the team in their camper van and said: 'One goal could have kept us here another week.

Tartan Army supporters looked crestfallen as they travelled back from Stuttgart late on Sunday night following their agonising 1-0 defeat to Hungary at the MHPArena

One fan, slept on the floor of the train back from the MHPArena in Stuttgart

A dejected Scotland fan breaks down into tears after watching his side crash out of Euro 2024 at the group stage

'Munich was incredible, Cologne was incredible, Stuttgart was incredible. Unfortunately the performance on the park hasn't matched the desire of the fans.'

'Since 1998, my wife and I have waited to be able to come to a European championship to do this.

'Germany has been special, the people have been fantastic, the Tartan Army has been incredible - the football not so great - but that's what it means being a Scotland fan.'

Fans had stretched their annual leave allowances and finances to make the trip but none expressed any regrets.

Scotland fans at 2am on Monday morning in Stuttgart sleeping on the floor of a train station following their country's 1-0 loss to Hungary

It was a disappointing end to the tournament for Scotland and their supporters, who will finish bottom of Group A, having lost two games and drawn one

Defeat in Stuttgart on Sunday night means the Scotland team and their fans will be heading home early from the tournament 

Glaswegian Jim Taggart had caught five flights to get to Germany from his home in Canada, and said: 'Some of the football's been good, some of it not so good. But I wouldn't want to miss it.'

Josh Henderson, a public health practitioner for the NHS in Glasgow, told the BBC it had been the 'trip of a lifetime'.

He said: 'I've had to take a significant amount of time off work.

'Financially it has been really hard going, in terms of the amount of money we have had to shell out.

'But we said we would have paid anything to be here, it was just that important. Now I have got this experience forever.'

Another Scotland fan making a makeshift bed for himself whilst waiting on a train station platform in Stuttgart 

Dejected Scotland fans wait for their train home after watching their side crash out of Euro 2024 

Scotland fans were shocked to see their side lose to Hungary in the last minute 

The Scotland team’s wives and girlfriends - dubbed the SWAGs - also shared in the heartbreak, with Scott McTominay’s partner Cam Reading photographed looking disappointed in the stands after the full time whistle.

The players were given a traditional Bavarian send-off by local musicians as they checked out of their base camp at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Members of the Tartan Army were also praised for their good humour - and their contribution to the local hospitality industry.

Extra supplies of beer have had to be ordered by pubs in Cologne - where Scotland drew against Switzerland last week - after fans drank the city dry during a three-day spree.

Tartan Army supporters looked crestfallen as they travelled back from Stuttgart late on Sunday night

Fans try to make themselves comfortable on the platform as they wait for a train home 

Scotland had a chance of qualifying for the knockouts but needed to beat Hungary and hope that other results went their way 

Kevin Csoboth (left) shattered any hopes Scotland had of reaching the knockouts after scoring in the 10th minute of injury time 

Clarke, meanwhile, blasted the officials for not giving Scotland a penalty in the second half 

Germany’s ambassador to Britain, Miguel Berger, posted on X: ‘Scotland may have left the Euro 2024 championships - but the enthusiasm and cheer fans brought to Germany were an absolute delight that will stay with us for a long time.

‘Tartan Army, we’ve loved having you and we’ll miss you. You’re captured the essence of the tournament and won our hearts.’

The newspaper ‘Stuttgarter Zeitung’ also carried several pages of coverage about the Tartan Army’s ‘joyful’ partying, with an editorial reading: ‘Are we in Glasgow or Edinburgh? No, it’s still Stuttgart.’

The German TV channel Welt Euro screened a message saying ‘Cheerio Scotland. You gave us great joy.’

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