Burkina Faso
Friendly Games
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Scotlandvs.Hungary

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 June 2024, 16:51
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

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.

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:

L

D

Scotland form (all competitions):

L

L

W

D

L

D

Hungary European Championship form:

L

L

Hungary form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

L

L

Team News

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.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to continue strong starts to the Major League Soccer season, Minnesota United and Inter Miami will do battle at Allianz Field on Saturday. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The final match of the MLS weekend will see the top-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps host a surging Los Angeles FC side on Sunday at BC Place Stadium. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With their hopes of staying in the Bundesliga resting on finishing in the relegation playoff spot, Heidenheim will travel to face Union Berlin at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Saturday. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Marcus Rashford is said to have changed agents in order to help a transfer to Barcelona materialise in the summer transfer window. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara's quest for European football goes down to the wire as they play host to Famalicao at the Estadio de Sao Miguel in the penultimate game of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign on Saturday. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly not offered Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne a contract ahead of the expiry of his deal in the summer. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Liam Manning labelled referee Oliver Langford's decision to send Rob Dickie off as a 'disgrace' as Bristol City's play-off hopes took a major blow. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has reportedly been recommended by former Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eyupspor will look to halt their downward slide when they welcome Kasimpasa to Istanbul on matchday 35 of the Turkish Super Lig. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Ruben Amorim believes that luck, fitness and clinical finishing must go Manchester United's way in order to claim Europa League glory at Tottenham Hotspur's expense. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Galatasaray continue their march towards another Turkish Super Lig crown when they travel to the Black Sea coast for a clash with an in-form Trabzonspor side in one of the standout fixtures of round 35. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur wrote a new chapter of club history by downing Bodo/Glimt 2-0 to reach the 2024-25 Europa League final. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Second-bottom Saint-Etienne could be relegated from Ligue 1 this weekend when they travel to Stade Auguste-Delaune II to face a Reims side seeking consecutive home wins for the first time this season. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Visitors Borussia Monchengladbach must beat newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on Saturday at Allianz Arena to keep their European hopes alive. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea made it to the final of the UEFA Conference League after beating Djurgardens IF 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their semi-final on Thursday evening. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Angers and Strasbourg face off in the penultimate Ligue 1 fixture at Stade Raymond Kopa with much on the line. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City Women will wrap up the 2024-25 season when they welcome Crystal Palace Women to the Joie Stadium for Saturday's contest. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Robert Huth labelled Mikel Arteta 'bitter' and believes his controversial claims could have a detrimental effect on Arsenal. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With European football at stake in the final two matchweeks of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, Werder Bremen will host RB Leipzig at Weserstadion on Saturday. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will fight for European silverware in this season's all-England Europa League final. 8 May 2025 talksport.com The Europa League final is set and we will see an all-English showpiece between Manchester United and Tottenham. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hosts Holstein Kiel could be relegated from the Bundesliga if they lose against Champions League hopefuls Freiburg on Saturday at Holstein-Stadion. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United secured their place in the Europa League final with a 4-1 win on the night and 7-1 aggregate victory against Athletic Bilbao, setting up a Battle of Britain clash with Tottenham Hotspur. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will travel to the King Power Stadium for a meeting with Leicester City Women on the final day of the Women's Super League season. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur advanced into the Europa League final after beating hosts Bodo/Glimt 2-0 on Thursday in the second leg of their semi-final clash, beating their Norwegian counterparts 5-1 on aggregate. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Dallas and Real Salt Lake will clash at the Toyota Stadium this weekend in their gameweek 12 MLS encounter. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton Women will be looking to claim back-to-back victories when they face Tottenham Hotspur Women in Saturday's final game of the season. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Paul Scholes was left red-faced during his pre-match analysis of Athletic Bilbao ahead of their clash against Manchester United. 8 May 2025 talksport.com Fabio Paratici has recommended Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham Hotspur as a potential Ange Postecoglou replacement, talkSPORT understands. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Braga will look to return to winning ways and reignite their push for a top-three finish when they travel to Casa Pia this weekend in the penultimate Primeira Liga encounter of the 2024-25 campaign.