On The Road... in Germany, Mail Sport's Hugh MacDonald looks for some reasons for cheer as Scotland and the Tartan Army head for Cologne
My pre-tournament reading of Why the Germans Do It Better was an obvious invitation for mayhem to come striding through the door at the Euros.
It’s not quite been anarchy but tales are drifting in of poor transport to games, long waits to get in, and a lack of organisation at fan zones, many closed today because of the weather.
My retreat from Munich to Cologne was beset with the sort of difficulties that are cropping up elsewhere.
Germany is creaking under sheer numbers. My train left late, its carriage length curtailed after ‘technical problems’. It caused a rush and disputes over reserved seats.
Fans pose in front of Cologne Cathedral
Scotland will face Switzerland in their second Euro 2024 game tomorrow
Scotland fans begin to gather in ahead of the crunch match
Amid the frustration caused by this first world problem, one Scot roared: ‘It’s just as bad as ScotRail.’ ‘No, it isn’t,’ said his mate, chugging pointedly on a can of lager that would be illegal on the 18.12 to Yoker.
THE Tartan Army is amassing in Cologne but Marienplatz will surely be remembered for generations.
This is the square where the Scots gathered pre and post gubbing by Germany. Martin Compston crowd surfed, Rab Douglas blootered balls into the air and Laura Woods, the sports broadcaster, cavorted with fans.
My favourite moment came when a former footballer of my acquaintance was greeted by a gentleman of a certain age who said he was friendly with the baller’s family. ‘We lived in the same close and the woman in the top flat had a mental dug,’ he said. And then moved on.
This is the sort of exchange one travels across a continent to witness.
THE mood of the Tartan Army is rising. Just in time, no doubt, to be crushed yet again.
Leaving Cologne railway station to be confronted by a magnificent, huge cathedral, one punter said that we should all head in and call for a bit of divine intervention.
This was ultimately dismissed as the band voted to seek another kind of sustenance involving spirit.
A huge support is expected in Cologne with city officials estimating more than 60,000 fans
Germany has had some issues due to the sheer number of fans
Besides, the cathedral did not seem quite big enough for the help we need.
One of the mysteries of football, at least to the Caledonian soul, is what it would be like to support a team with a genuine chance of winning a tournament.
It was educational, therefore, to be in Scholars bar, just down from the Marienplatz, and watch Germans watch Germans winning.
Their attention drifted as the team scored at will and focus was turned to matters of the Scots language.
‘What’s a bag of cans?’ asked one German of an increasingly exasperated Tartan Army footsoldier.
‘It’s a collective term for our back three,’ was the acerbic reply.
There are three stages of coping as a Scotland supporter. First there is hope, second there is awful reality and then there is the desperate search for benign omens.
It is in this spirit that I bring you the psychic powers of Lewis Morgan and the editors of World Soccer.
The New York Red Bulls winger has given a smashing interview to that august organ and was speaking when he had as much chance of making the Scotland squad as, well, Ryan Gauld.
But young Lewis is in Germany as a late call-up. He told his interviewer, presumably weeks ago: ‘I would love to be part of the Scotland set-up and I’m not giving up on that.’
So in a spirit of solidarity I suggest we Scotland fans do not give up either. Though we probably should.
