Both needing victory to have any chance of reaching Euro 2024‘s knockout phase, Group A rivals Scotland and Hungary go head-to-head in Stuttgart on Sunday evening.
While the Tartan Army picked up their first point by holding Switzerland last time out, Hungary remain pointless and are bound for the exit barring a miracle.
Match preview
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In the process of salvaging some pride from their European Championship campaign, Scotland kept themselves in contention to reach the last 16 with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in midweek.
Having suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Germany on opening night, Steve Clarke‘s men went ahead in the 13th minute, when Scott McTominay fired home with the help of a huge deflection.
However, tournament specialist Xherdan Shaqiri soon took advantage of an Anthony Ralston error to curl an unstoppable strike into the top corner, and Switzerland were back on level terms in spectacular fashion.
Grant Hanley later rattled the goal frame, while Scotland survived some scares at the other end, but picking up a point means they might yet go through by beating Hungary on Sunday.
Progressing to the knockout rounds of a major finals for the first time has been Clarke’s stated aim for this summer, and finishing third in Group A may well be enough to fulfil that ambition.
Only if they win handsomely and Switzerland lose by a significant margin to Germany will the Tartan Army be able to snatch second spot, so they must try to tally four points from three games, then cross their fingers and hope.
However, history suggests that could be easier said than done: Scotland have won just two of their 11 European Championship matches to date.
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Meanwhile, Hungary are winless in their last eight attempts at the Euros, and another failure this weekend would see them equal the all-time record run for games without a victory.
Indeed, the Magyars have won only one of their last 17 matches at major tournaments when pitched against fellow European nations, following back-to-back defeats at the start of their Group A campaign.
Marco Rossi‘s men had high expectations when heading towards Germany, as they had previously lost just once in 16 matches across all competitions – now they are staring an early exit straight in the face.
After being beaten 3-1 by Switzerland in their opener, before succumbing 2-0 to the hosts on Wednesday, Hungary categorically cannot finish in the top two and will be unable to reach the last 16 if they fail to beat Scotland.
Even then, a total of three points is unlikely to see them through as one of the best third-placed teams, so the outlook certainly seems bleak.
Scotland European Championship form:
Scotland form (all competitions):
Hungary European Championship form:
Hungary form (all competitions):
Team News
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Scotland’s starting XI against Switzerland had a combined total of 470 caps – their most ever for a men’s international – and Steve Clarke is set to name a similarly experienced side on Sunday.
However, he will be missing key defender Kieran Tierney, who was forced off by a hamstring injury in midweek and will definitely be absent this weekend; Ryan Porteous is also unavailable, having been handed a two-match ban after his red card against Germany.
Scott McKenna should deputise for Tierney in the Tartan Army’s back three, while Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie and Hearts forward Lawrence Shankland are also vying for promotion from the bench.
Meanwhile, Marco Rossi may be more likely to rotate his resources, as Hungary have little left to lose and will surely attack Scotland from the start.
The Magyars are not expected to deviate from their familiar 3-4-2-1 formation, but Loic Nego, Callum Styles and South Korea-based striker Martin Adam are among several contenders to come in.
Once again, captain Dominik Szoboszlai will drive forward from midfield, with either Adam or Barnabas Varga – the latter of whom scored Hungary’s only goal so far – leading the line up front.
Scotland possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, McKenna; Ralston, McGregor, Gilmour, Robertson; McTominay, McGinn; Adams
Hungary possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Fiola, Orban, Dardai; Nego, A. Nagy, Schafer, Kerkez; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Varga
We say: Scotland 2-2 Hungary
Neither side will think about sitting back, as both pride and the chance of edging through to the last 16 are at stake in Stuttgart.
Hungary’s hopes are vanishingly slim, but they boast sufficient firepower to exploit Scotland’s dubious defence and could knock the Tartan Army out by denying them victory.
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