Scotland found themselves a man down after the Watford center back received a red card for a forceful challenge on former Manchester City player İlkay Gündoğan. Ryan Porteous, a favorite among his international teammates, was sent off during their Euro 2024 opener against Germany after fouling Barcelona’s Gündoğan, leading to a penalty and a 5-1 loss for the visitors.

Despite his suspension for the upcoming match against Switzerland, Callum McGregor assured that the Scotland squad stands united behind Porteous, absolving him of any blame for the defeat. McGregor emphasized the collective responsibility in a team sport, acknowledging that mistakes can happen to anyone and it’s essential to support each other through the highs and lows.

Reflecting on the incident, McGregor described the tackle as honest but perhaps too robust for the UEFA standards, resulting in a challenging night with ten men on the field. He stressed the importance of empathy and understanding, noting that different players process setbacks in varying ways, and it is crucial to give people the necessary time to reflect and recover.

Despite the setback in their first match, Scotland still harbors hopes of advancing from Group A and will face Switzerland next in Cologne followed by a final group stage encounter against Hungary in Stuttgart. Meanwhile, Germany and Switzerland will clash on the same day, setting the stage for a crucial round of matches in the Euro 2024 campaign.