Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie admitted that the team’s 5-1 defeat to Germany was a painful experience but he urged everyone to look positively towards the remaining group games.
The national team suffered a nightmare start to the tournament, falling three goals behind before half time and having Ryan Porteous sent off. Hosts Germany pressed home their advantage and ended up winning with plenty to spare against a Scotland side that never really got going.
Christie didn’t hide the fact that Scotland had disappointed after a huge build-up to the showcase game, but said that with two group games still to play, the team needed to think positively.
“Obviously it was a tough night,” the midfielder said. “For tonight and probably most of tomorrow, you feel kind of disappointed and gutted a bit because, you know, with everything kind of building up to this tournament, you want to start believing that you can get somewhere tonight.
“Listen, I think the gaffer touched on it as well and all the boys have said, you know, the two big games in this group for us are the ones to come.
“So hopefully we learn a bit from tonight and then, you know, we move on positively.”
Germany were ruthless in attack and punished every mistake, leaving Christie frustrated Scotland weren’t able to put their opponents under any pressure or even let nerves build in the Allianz Arena.
“I think we knew they’d be good coming into it,” he said. “But, I think maybe if anything, we learned how kind of cut-throat it is at this level in these tournaments.
“Half-chances probably end up on the back of your net. So especially teams like them, they were pretty impressive tonight, to be honest.
“They were tough to play against. It was disappointing we couldn’t frustrate them and limit them to 0-0 a wee bit longer and ease ourselves into the game. You know like 1-0 after almost ten, 11 minutes, it kind of kills you a bit. So that’s the frustrating part.
“But, when you look back on it now, you know, it was going to be very, very tough to come here and get a result.
“We need to look positively now on to Switzerland.”
A noisy crowd of Scotland supporters had backed the team inside the stadium, after tens of thousands had partied in the streets of Munich and Christie said he had been blown away by the backing.
“Unbelievable,” he said. “Honestly, before the game like warming up, even just when we came out to check the pitch… stuff like that, result aside, will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“It was amazing. All my mates were sending me videos of stuff that happened around Munich today.
“So hopefully they keep their spirits high tonight. Obviously a frustrating night for them, but it was amazing once they celebrated the goal, that was pretty special. Hopefully we can give them a bit more celebrate against Switzerland.”
Ready for UEFA Euro 2024? We are. Catch Scotland’s opener versus Germany plus other key matches on STV and STV Player.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
