Scotland’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 have suffered a blow as defender Kieran Tierney was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to a hamstring injury. The left-back, who returned to Arsenal after a loan spell at Real Sociedad, was stretchered off during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Scotland’s assistant coach, John Carver, confirmed the severity of Tierney’s injury, stating that he will be returning to Arsenal for treatment and assessment. “He’s got an issue with his hamstring,” Carver told reporters. “He’s heading home to be assessed by Arsenal and that’s all I can really say at the moment.”
Tierney’s absence is a significant loss for Scotland, who are still in contention to qualify for the last 16. They need a win against Hungary in their final Group A match on Sunday to secure a place in the knockout stages. While Tierney’s recovery is a priority, his absence opens up an opportunity for another player to step into the left-back position. Carver acknowledged the impact of Tierney’s injury but remained optimistic, stating, “It’s a blow because he’s one of our top players. In tournament football you need your best players on the park. But it is also an opportunity for somebody else to step in.”
Tierney’s injury history, which includes previous hamstring problems during his loan spell at Real Sociedad, makes his latest setback particularly concerning. He will now focus on recovery and rehabilitation under the care of Arsenal’s medical team.
