Scotland v Hungary: Euro 2024 – live updates

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Hungary starts the match. The energy in Stuttgart is amazing! "A nation divided by increased nationalism, influenced by a charismatic leader, showing nationalistic anger in a language that is hard to understand, facing off against Hungary." That's Paul Griffin for you, folks. He'll be here all week, don't forget to try the harcsapaprikás.

The teams have taken the field! Scotland is wearing blue while Hungary is wearing white. They are exchanging handshakes, fist bumps, tossing the coin, and singing their national anthems. Hungary's national anthem, Himnusz, is slow and majestic like the Danube River, asking for blessings from the lord for the Magyar to have happy times and good cheer. On the other hand, the Tartan Army is passionately singing Flower of Scotland with as much energy as ever.

We will be leaving very soon.

Scotland coach Steve Clarke speaks with the BBC. He believes that the starting lineup for each game is not set in stone and that all options should be considered. The strategy should depend on the type of game at hand. Clarke feels that starting strong is important, even if adjustments need to be made later on. It is crucial for the team to perform well under pressure, but caution is also necessary to secure a win. Clarke emphasizes the importance of winning by more than two points. Preparation and approach should be consistent, regardless of the opponent. He values a relaxed mindset from the players before the match, but they must also understand their roles and responsibilities on the field. Clarke expresses confidence in the team's ability to execute their game plan effectively.

Pálinka versus Scottish Wine. This is a hot topic of conversation among Hungarians, but is it really true? According to Wikipedia, Pálinka, a Hungarian fruit brandy, can have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 86%, which is quite impressive. On the other hand, Chilled magazine talks about Bruichladdich X4, a malt drink that is distilled four times and has a whopping 92% ABV. However, The Whisky Exchange mentions that X4 is actually bottled at a reduced 50% ABV without aging, so it can't be called whisky. It seems like a matter of semantics and personal preference, depending on what you prefer to drink. Just be careful not to overindulge, as you might find yourself on a merry-go-round after the first glass.

In the past, there was a meeting between Scotland and Hungary in December 1954 at Hampden. The Scottish team, which included players from Partick Thistle, Preston, and Clyde, faced Ferenc Puskas, Nandor Hidegkuti, Sandor Kocsis, Joszef Bozsik, and others. Hungary scored two goals early on, but Scotland fought back with goals from Tommy Ring and Bobby Johnstone. Scotland dominated the second half but ultimately lost 4-2 after Kocsis scored in the final minute for Hungary. The Manchester Guardian described Scotland's performance as brave but not defeated.

Scotland had a good performance, with a brave 3-1 loss in Budapest in May. Gordon Smith scored a goal for Scotland, but Billy Liddell missed a penalty at the end. These were much better results compared to England's heavy defeats against Hungary. However, Scotland also lost 7-2 to England at Wembley, showing that comparing results is not always accurate.

Hungary has beaten Scotland twice in friendly matches, once in 1980 and again in 2004. On the other hand, Scotland has won three times against Hungary. The first victory was in their very first meeting in 1938, with a score of 3-1 in a friendly match. The most recent win was in 2018, with a score of 1-0 thanks to Matt Phillips. However, the most significant win for Scotland was a 2-0 victory in 1987, with both goals scored by Ally McCoist. This match also marked the debut of Steve Clarke, who was a new defensive signing from St Mirren for Chelsea at the time.

In simpler terms, this is the first time these two well-established teams have competed against each other. Preston was a strong team in England in the 1950s and Clyde was about to win some Scottish Cups. So, their past matches against Puskas and his team may not have been as surprising as they seemed.

Scotland captain John McGinn, looking a bit tired but with a big smile on his face, chats with the BBC. “We’ve been getting ready for this game just like we do for any other... but it’s not every day that you see thousands of Scotland fans outside your hotel! So, we had to skip our usual afternoon nap and listen to Scotland songs instead! It was really nice to feel the excitement building up before the game... You can hear the music in the locker room, the guys are calm and eager to play... we’re ready... we’re more prepared than we were three years ago [at Euro 2020]... we have more experience, more international matches under our belt... we’re ready for the pressure and the responsibility... we can be that team... the coach doesn’t say much, but when he does... he gave a great team talk at the hotel... we want to create more unforgettable moments for the fans and hopefully tonight will be another special one.”

Scotland has made a single change to the starting lineup from the previous 1-1 draw against Switzerland. Kieran Tierney is injured, so Scott McKenna will now play on the left side of the three-man central defense.

Hungary has made adjustments to their starting team following a 2-0 loss to Germany. Endre Botka will be playing on the right side of defense and Callum Styles, who was born in Bury, will be in the midfield. Attila Fiola and Ádám Nagy will be on the bench this time. Captain Dominik Szoboszlai has recovered from his injury and is ready to play.

Scotland's starting lineup for the upcoming match includes Gunn, Hendry, Hanley, McKenna, Ralston, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson, McTominay, Adams, and McGinn. The substitutes are Shankland, Christie, Kelly, Cooper, Armstrong, Morgan, Conway, Jack, Clark, McCrorie, McLean, Taylor, and Forrest.

Hungary's starting lineup includes Gulacsi, Botka, Orban, Dardai, Bolla, Schafer, Styles, Kerkez, Sallai, Szoboszlai, Varga. On the bench, they have Lang, Balogh, Szalai, Fiola, Nego, Adam Nagy, Adam, Dibusz, Kleinheisler, Gazdag, Zsolt Nagy, Szappanos, Csoboth, Horvath, and Kata.

Official: Facundo Tello Figueroa from Argentina.

Scotland has a long list of major tournament qualifications to be proud of, including Championnat du Monde de Football Suisse 1954, VM Fotboll Sverige 1958, WM 74, Argentina ‘78, España 82, México ‘86, Italia ‘90, Uefa 92, Euro 96, France 98, and Euro 2020(1). However, they have also faced disappointment with the same number of failed attempts to get out of the group stage. Let's not dwell on the past, we all know the score.

However, tonight in Stuttgart, Scotland has the opportunity to finally break free from their unlucky streak. A victory over Hungary would almost certainly secure their spot in the tournament's knockout stage, something they've been trying to achieve for 12 attempts. Only some unexpected outcomes in other groups could prevent this, but given Scotland's history with bad luck, no one is taking anything for granted. Nevertheless, a win is all they need.

A tie could be sufficient. If Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Turkey all win their matches against Croatia, Albania, Georgia, and Czechia, then two points would secure Scotland's advancement. This scenario would leave the third-place teams in Groups B and F with just one point. However, if England defeats Slovenia by five goals and Denmark beats Serbia in Group C, it may also be necessary depending on the outcomes of the Spain/Italy and Portugal/Turkey matches. But, let's not get caught up in unlikely scenarios. It's best to focus on winning and keeping things straightforward.

Loss and Scotland have been eliminated, sent back home to reflect. The anticipation continues. It is inevitable that it will happen someday, so why not today? Best of luck to all teams, may the strongest team emerge victorious. The match starts at 8pm. Game on!