Steve Clarke accused of xenophobia

"The decision was unlucky for Scotland, who are right to feel aggrieved.
But to suggest that the referee’s nationality played a part in Scotland’s exit from the tournament is more than sour grapes – it is plainly ridiculous and smacks of xenophobia.
It is not a good look for Clarke, who should look to himself first when trying to find someone to blame.

Scotland were absolutely dreadful against Hungary. They had plenty of the ball yet did nothing with it. They passed backwards at every opportunity.
They looked devoid of ideas and of any quality in the final third. Their first shot – and only – shot on target came in the 98th minute after throwing Grant Hanley up front. Unsurprisingly, the defender shot straight at Peter Gulacsi.

Their possession-based tactics come from Clarke. In a must-win match, he is the one who ordered his players to focus on keeping the ball, rather than attempting riskier vertical passes.
While he is not responsible for the lack of quality, he can affect their ambition, which was sorely missing in this game and the 1-1 draw with Switzerland."

Why’s he here?

The ref could have asked the same about Scotland 

He makes a fair point.  Why is a South American referee taking part in the European Championship?  And why put an Argentine referee in charge of a match involving a British side when there is obvious animosity between Argentina and Britain?  You wouldn't have a Serbian referee a Croatian match.

Jun 25, 2024 -- 1:06PM, tobermory wrote:

Why’s he here?The ref could have asked the same about Scotland

UEFA have an exchange programe going with CONEMBOL with refs refffing either side of the Atlantic, I don't know what the point it. South American refs are used to South American players play acting every 5 seconds and trying to con them, probably why he didn't give the pen and why VAR didn't bother reviewing it.

Tobes

If the jock striker had tried to get his shot on goal rather than try to cheat and get a dodgy pen ... things might have been different

After three games he finally goes on the attack

They had the ball in the first half as Hungary had decided to try and play on the counter and therefore let the scots have the ball, when it got to the final 20 minutes and Hungary had to become more front foot they looked far more dangerous, personally I think that if Hungary had decided to grab the bull by the horns from the get go they would have been comfortable winners.

Scotland have no quality whatsoever and you can decide for yourselves who out of them and Poland are the poorest in the competition.

Clarke could have communicated with him in Spanish by adding an "o" to the end of each word.

"Hey ref .... You're a (rhymes with) Punto"

Could've had a Scottish ref in charge and still wouldn't have gone through

Jun 25, 2024 -- 2:24PM, Crisp77 wrote:

After three games he finally goes on the attack