23/06/2024 – UEFA European Championship – (Group Stage – Group A)
Venue: Stuttgart Arena
Kick-off: 8 pm
Where to watch? Live on BBC One – and stream via the iplayer and BBC Sports website.
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Scotland and Hungary Clash in Must-Win Euro 2024 Group A Showdown
In a high-stakes battle for a spot in the Euro 2024 knockout phase, Group A rivals Scotland and Hungary will face off in Stuttgart on Sunday evening. Both teams are in dire need of a victory to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Scotland secured their first point with a draw against Switzerland, while Hungary, still without a point, face near-certain elimination unless they can pull off a miraculous win. The Tartan Army will be eager to capitalise on Hungary’s struggles and push for a crucial victory.
MATCH PREVIEW
‘Scotland and Hungary seek redemption’
In a bid to salvage pride and keep their knockout phase hopes alive, Scotland and Hungary will clash in Stuttgart on Sunday evening in a crucial Euro 2024 Group A match.
Scotland remains in contention after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Switzerland midweek. Following a heavy 5-1 defeat to Germany in their opener, Steve Clarke’s men took an early lead against Switzerland with a deflected goal by Scott McTominay in the 13th minute. However, Xherdan Shaqiri capitalised on an Anthony Ralston error to equalise with a spectacular strike. Despite Grant Hanley hitting the post and some late scares, Scotland secured a valuable point.
Clarke aims to guide Scotland to the knockout rounds of a major tournament for the first time. To achieve this, they need to beat Hungary and hope to secure one of the best third-placed spots. Finishing second is possible but requires a significant win and a heavy defeat for Switzerland against Germany.
Historically, Scotland has struggled at the European Championship, winning only two of their 11 matches to date.
‘Hungary faces uphill battle’
Hungary, winless in their last eight Euro matches, faces an uphill battle. Despite high expectations, Marco Rossi’s side has yet to secure a point, following defeats to Switzerland (3-1) and Germany (2-0). Hungary’s poor record at major tournaments includes just one win in their last 17 matches against European nations. They must defeat Scotland to avoid early elimination, though even three points might not suffice for a third-place qualification.
Sunday’s match is crucial for both teams, with Scotland needing a victory to keep their knockout stage dreams alive and Hungary seeking to avoid setting an unwanted record.
TEAM NEWS
‘Scotland without Tierney’
Scotland and Hungary are gearing up for a pivotal Euro 2024 Group A showdown, each aiming for a crucial victory to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Scotland’s upcoming lineup will reflect their wealth of experience, with their starting XI against Switzerland boasting a record 470 caps – the highest in their men’s international history. However, they will miss key defender Kieran Tierney due to a hamstring injury, and Ryan Porteous is suspended after a red card against Germany. Scott McKenna is expected to step in for Tierney, joining Anthony Ralston, John McGinn, and Scott McTominay, all one booking away from missing potential knockout matches.
McTominay has been instrumental for Scotland, accounting for a significant portion of their attacking output with four shots at Euro 2024 and crucial goals in recent internationals.
‘Hungary may opt for rotations’
In contrast, Hungary may opt for rotations, considering their slim chances of advancing. They are likely to maintain their 3-4-2-1 formation but could introduce players like Loic Nego, Callum Styles, and Martin Adam. Captain Dominik Szoboszlai, despite recent training absences, is expected to lead Hungary’s midfield alongside potential strikers Barnabas Varga and goal scorer Martin Adam.
Willi Orban, a stalwart in defence, continues to lead Hungary’s defensive efforts with notable contributions in possession, passes, and tackles during the tournament.
As both teams vie for a critical victory, the match promises to be a decisive encounter in Group A, with Scotland aiming to capitalise on their experience and Hungary seeking to challenge them from the start.
Where to watch?
The match is set for kick-off at 8 pm BST on Sunday 23 June at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena stadium.
This match will be broadcast live on BBC One and streamed on the iPlayer and BBC Sport website.
Predicted line-ups
SCO – Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, McKenna; Ralston, McGregor, Gilmour, Robertson; McTominay, McGinn; Adams
HUN – Gulacsi; Fiola, Orban, Dardai; Nego, A. Nagy, Schafer, Kerkez; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Varga
Predictions
Sunday night will see the two nations lock horns in their first competitive encounter: all nine previous meetings were international friendlies, but the stakes are now far higher. 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 at least denying them victory. Scotland 2-2 Hungary – (sportsmole)
Scotland need to play a perfect game against Hungary and can’t afford some of the moments of inaccuracy that almost cost them against Switzerland. But Scotland managed to turn a corner following their disastrous opening night, and have the belief that they can get the job done. Scotland 1-0 Hungary – (Independent)