EURO 2024: Scotland To Take On Hungary In “Do or Die” Affair In Stuttgart
Written by Olaleye Oluwadamilola
Do-or-die clashes in Group A! Both Scotland and Hungary face a win-or-bust situation in their final group stage match as neither team has managed a victory yet.
Well, here’s the time of redemption in the final action of Group A which is set to unfold in Stuttgart with Scotland facing Hungary. Scotland started rough, succumbing to a 5-1 defeat against Germany. However, they showed resilience, earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Switzerland.
Hungary, on the other hand, have struggled. They fell to both Switzerland (3-1) and Germany (2-0) and sit at the bottom of the group. A win is their only hope to salvage a chance for the knockout stages.
Scotland
Desperation hangs heavy in the air for Scotland as they enter their final group stage match. The Tartan Armies carry the weight of history – eight World Cup exits and three Euros disappointments, with a mere two wins in the European Championship.
Euro 96 heartbreaking exit still stings, where a late Dutch goal against England sent them home on a technicality despite identical records.
Manager Steve Clarke’s motivational tactics may have worked, but Scotland face this crucial match with a blow. Key defender Kieran Tierney’s injury rules him out of the first-ever competitive clash with Hungary. This adds pressure to a historic opportunity – a win could see Scotland finally break their 11-tournament curse and reach the knockout stage for the first time!
Hungary
Hungary heads to Stuttgart on a concerning run. They fell 2-0 to Germany in their latest Group A outing, conceding goals in both halves. This extends their winless streak to three in all competitions, following defeats against Switzerland (Euro 2024) and Republic of Ireland (friendly).
They are staring down another Euros disappointment. After a winless Euro 2020 campaign, they’ve fallen to two defeats at Euro 2024 (Switzerland and Germany). Their negative goal difference (-4) makes qualification even tougher.
While historically, some third-placed teams with three points have advanced, the odds are stacked against Hungary. Only one such team with a negative goal difference has ever made it.
Head to Head
This Scotland-Hungary clash marks a rare occurrence. Despite their rich football histories, they haven’t met competitively before. Their last encounter was a friendly win for Scotland in 2018, and before that, a gap stretched back to 2004. Both nations enjoyed peaks in the 20th century and are experiencing resurgences in modern football, making this a fresh and intriguing matchup.
Key Performers
Scotland boasts a unique Euros record – all six of their scorers have surnames starting with “Mc”! Midfielder Scott McTominay joined the club recently with his goal against Switzerland. Meanwhile, Hungary will pin their hopes on captain Dominik Szoboszlai. He’s undefeated (8 wins, 1 draw) whenever he finds the net for his nation, a run that dates back to September 2019. It remains unknown if the trend breaks against Scotland.
Conclusion
High drama awaits in Stuttgart as Scotland and Hungary lock horns in a winner-takes-all clash for their Euro 2024 fate. The Tartan Armies, buoyed by a morale-boosting 1-1 draw against Switzerland have a sliht booster edge although, they do know that a victory would propel them to the knockout stages for the very first time at a major tournament, finally breaking an 11-tournament curse.
However, Scotland face a determined Hungary desperate to avoid another Euros flop. The Magyars have slumped to two defeats so far, leaving them with a mountain to climb. Their negative goal difference only adds to the challenge. While a mathematical chance of progressing remains, they’ll also need favorable results elsewhere to progress as a best third-placed team.
Despite their struggles, Hungary can’t be underestimated. They possess a weapon in captain Dominik Szoboszlai, who boasts an undefeated record (eight wins, one draw) whenever he finds the net for his nation since 2019.
This fixture also marks a unique occasion – the first competitive meeting between these two nations. Though both boast rich footballing histories with peaks in the 20th century, their recent paths haven’t crossed. The last encounter was a friendly win for Scotland in 2018, with a gap stretching back to 2004 before that. Now, they stand on the precipice of a historic night, with only one team guaranteed to extend their Euros dream.
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