We’ll take it as a win. In a strictly literal sense it was, of course, a draw, Scotland getting a result and keeping hope alive until the last game in the group lifts the spirits of both the Tartan Army and the hardy band of journalists sweating over what to write for five days if Steve Clarke’s side are eliminated before the final match.

Team Herald arrive in Stuttgart for that clash with Hungary on Sunday before it’s had a chance to be taken over by saltires and kilts.

Stepping off the train into a hot, muggy city we decide to retire to a nearby terrace given our apartment won’t be ready until 6pm. The genial host asks if we’re English and when we reply that we are, in fact, from Schottland she says with a wink, “oh, but your English is so clear!”. Who says the Germans don’t have a sense of humour?

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In around 24 hours or so she and everyone else will be intimately acquainted with all things Scottish, just as Cologne was on Friday night.

Just as Munich before it, the city was dominated by Scots as far as the eye could see, with even a healthy contingent of Swiss visitors and German fans out to cheer on their team against Hungary totally outnumbered.

The famously unreliable Deutsche Bahn network struggled to cope, with many missing their train to the official fan march to the stadium, the sheer numbers and the general competence of DB meaning the queue for what is a nine minute train ride exceeded an hour.

Such are the numbers there are three fan zones in the city, with one reserved exclusively for the Tartan Army. When Scotland score early in the first half the roar which goes up from all three and the stadium could probably have been heard over the border in Belgium.

The Swiss equalise in short order thanks to a goal of the tournament contender from Xherdan Shaqiri, but Clarke’s men have the upper hand in the second half and could even win it, Grant Hanley hitting the post and Scott McTominay seeing a shot blocked.

(Image: Newsquest)

So we’re on to Stuttgart – 25 minutes late, of course – where a win against Hungary should see Scotland play knockout football for the first time in our major tournament history, while anything else will mean going home.

Victory could mean a return to Cologne for the Last 16 where everyone – and I do mean everyone – we speak to says the Tartan Army would be more than welcome.

In Stuttgart we ask the woman at the bar if she’s prepared for what awaits.

“I had a load of Scottish people here a few weeks ago,” she replies. “They were very friendly – and they can drink a lot.”

Brewers of Stuttgart rejoice – they’ll be coming down the road.