Lack of quality or wrong approach - what cost Scotland?

"The reality for Scotland is simply a deficiency of value has costs them, peculiarly successful guardant positions."

In nan contiguous aftermath of a gut-wrenching Euros exit, Scottish viewers could person possibly done without an Englishman telling them wherever their achy precocious conclusion to Hungary went wrong.

But erstwhile personification pinch 313 profession goals, successful this lawsuit Alan Shearer, is delivering that benignant of analysis, you tin return statement done gritted teeth.

In a must-win game, nan nation's biggest successful a generation, Scotland's first changeable connected target came successful nan seventh infinitesimal of second-half stoppage clip - from centre-back Grant Hanley. He mightiness moreover person been offside.

That effort was conscionable 1 of 4 shots connected target Steve Clarke's broadside mustered up complete 3 Euro 2024 games earlier being dumped retired pinch a whimper.

A arguable punishment determination whitethorn overshadow an underwhelming attack successful a lucifer of specified magnitude, but nan attacking numbers are damning for nan Scots - and they don't extremity there.

Across nan 3 matches, Scotland had conscionable 17 shots.

Since nan Euros group shape was introduced successful 1980, that's nan associated fewest by a federation - matching Northern Ireland's full successful 2016.

Their mixed expected goals (xG) crossed nan finals was 0.91. Miserable, miserable stuff.

Shearer, nan Premier League's all-time starring scorer, pinpointed nan Scots' wounded woes and a constricted excavation of attacking players.

"I don't deliberation it was for a deficiency of effort," he added connected BBC One.

Those points were echoed by erstwhile West Ham head David Moyes, watching alongside Shearer and Scotland skipper Rachel Corsie successful nan workplace successful Berlin.

But that will struggle to instrumentality pinch a deflated Tartan Army who watched their broadside people 17 goals crossed 8 qualifiers to scope Germany.

"We were thrilled erstwhile we qualified," Moyes said. "Steve [Clarke] did a bully occupation getting america present and he took america to nan past mates of minutes [against Hungary].

"There's nary shame successful it. But we don't person top, apical players to make a difference."

"But they made nan quality during qualifying", would beryllium nan apt consequence to that Moyes point.

So is location much to it than conscionable not having a top-level guardant to prime from?

Clarke's broadside entered nan tourney disconnected nan backmost of a grim tally - 1 triumph successful nine.

But speech from nan March friendlies - a 4-0 conclusion by nan Netherlands and a 1-0 nonaccomplishment to Northern Ireland - goals were not excessively overmuch of an issue.

The Euros opener against Germany tin astir apt beryllium written off. It's safe to presume that moreover a Kylian Mbappe pinch a Scottish granny would person made small difference.

But location were valid questions astir a deficiency of urgency and intent successful that Munich mauling.

The Scotland campy tried to bat distant those concerns pinch suggestions nan players were possibly playing successful fear.

A much-improved show successful position of effort and power against Switzerland past provided dream nan illness against Germany was a blip.

A ponderous and pedestrian attack returned against Hungary, though, particularly successful a first half wherever Scotland seemed to beryllium taking their clip complete restarts against a stubborn guidance who were benefitting from breaks successful play.

There person only been 2 instances astatine Euro 2024 of a squad failing to person a changeable successful nan first half of a match. Both person been Scotland.

Centre-backs Grant Hanley and Scott McKenna had nan astir touches for Clarke's side, while starting striker Che Adams had conscionable 1 touch successful nan guidance box.

Across nan tournament, nan 27-year-old striker, who started each 3 games, managed conscionable six successful total.

Clarke's broadside are astatine their champion erstwhile they bring chaos to nan occasion, but location was excessively overmuch be aware successful Sunday's must-win showdown, which made it difficult to flick nan switch.

Even then, nan changes required were possibly excessively late.

"I conscionable wish we had gone astatine it," erstwhile Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton said connected Sportsound.

"Looking astatine nan players who came connected and could make a difference, to hold until 75 minutes successful a crippled of this magnitude to freshen things up is beyond belief."

'No regrets' was nan taxable successful nan build-up to these finals from nan Scotland camp. You tin beryllium judge they will beryllium leaving Germany pinch plentifulness of them.