Stuttgart locals thank Tartan Army for 'brightening up summer' in Germany

There’s only one country more disappointed than us that the Tartan Army is beating a retreat from Germany – and that’s the Germans.

Two weeks ago, the operators of Stuttgart’s Underground network posted notices of welcome to the Scotland fans.

But the words of Robert Burns ‘Should Auld acquaintance be forgot’ inside carriages took on greater poignancy yesterday as sombre supporters began passing them on their way home.

The concession of a 100th-minute goal to Hungary’s Kevin Csoboth on Sunday night meant the Scottish-German love-in at Euro 2024 was ended in dramatic fashion.

Rab Govans, a bricklayer from Hurlford in Ayrshire, enjoyed a liquid breakfast in the Stuttgart sunshine on Monday morning.

The 65-year-old said: ”I’ve had people coming up to me, asking ‘What are we going to do without you? They are some of the loveliest people I have ever met. The Germans have been absolutely brilliant towards us.

“I’m topping up my tan this morning. I’m off to Cyprus on holiday in a fortnight but I know it will never touch this. I got lost after the game and don’t have a phone. Two lads helped me out by getting in touch with my son via Facebook.

“He gave them directions to my hotel. I was six miles from where I should have been.”

The city newspaper ‘Stuttgarter Zeitung’ carried several pages on Monday, June 24, of Sunday’s partying Scots.

The editorial ran: ”Are we in Glasgow or Edinburgh? No, it’s still Stuttgart. One hundred thousand football fans from Scotland, Hungary and Germany take over the city centre for a joyful fan party. But it’s a happy ending only for the Hungarians and Germans.”

The paper quoted Tartan Army footsoldier Billy Bell, 54, from Stirling. He said: "I told my wife I was nipping out for bread and milk!”

The German TV channel Welt Euro ran a ticker message at the bottom of the screen, saying: ”Cheerio Scotland. You gave us great joy.”

Local civil servant Julia Dangauer was on her lunch break in Stuttgart’s Konigstrasse when she revealed how the Scots visitors had ‘brightened up the summer’.

The 40-year-old said: ”There is too much testosterone surrounding football, with teams coming here beating their chest and telling us how they are the best.

“The Scots? They just look as if they are happy to be here. Your men are also much easier to approach than German men, always smiling and having fun.

“They also seem to appreciate what women have known for years; wearing a dress or a kilt is very liberating. Having wind between your legs is very enjoyable.

“The kilt is also very flattering. Whether they are slim or round, men just always seem to look good in it. You have brightened up our summer.”

Four lads from Glasgow had an uncertain journey home ahead of them – via Majorca – after their airline advised them their flight had been overbooked.

Ross McDonald, Andrew Macnally, Alistair Orr and Steven McColl left Stuttgart’s Schloss Platz for the city airport.

Steven said:”We’ve just been told there’s not enough seats for everyone on the plane. We are hoping for the best.”

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