Scotland vs Hungary live updates: Euro 2024 match team news, tournament predictions and line-ups

Clarke's Pre-match Team Talk: Don't Expect Much

The Scotland coach, Steve Clarke, mentioned that he wasn't concerned about preparing his team before the match as the players are fully aware of the importance of today's game.

He mentioned, "I will attempt to deliver a speech, but we all understand the significance of this game. Words can only do so much to emphasize its importance."

In the first game against Germany, we may have overexerted ourselves a bit with a 5-1 defeat. Now we are focusing on downplaying the importance of this upcoming game, although it's hard to downplay a match of this significance. Our main goal is to ensure that we are thoroughly prepared and ready to play when the game starts.

Haaland And Unlucky Stars

There are exactly 624 soccer players in Germany for Euro 2024. These are the most talented and skilled athletes from all across Europe.

However, one of the top forwards globally, not to mention in Europe, will be absent.

Erling Haaland and Norway did not secure a spot, coming in third place after Scotland and Spain.

They did manage to complete the race before Georgia, however Georgia ultimately qualified due to the complex rules of UEFA's qualifications.

However, it has been 24 years since Norway's last appearance at a Euros or a World Cup. They have the advantage of time on their side, with Haaland being only 23 and Odegaard at 25. However, Norway will need to significantly improve in order to qualify for future tournaments.

You can find Tim Spiers' fantastic writings in their entirety down below for you to read.

Erling Haaland and the top players who always seem to miss out on playing in a European Championship

Hungary's Underdogs Remain Unrecognized

I made a mistake in predicting Hungary to be a surprise contender in this tournament. I had my reasons for thinking so, as they showed strong defensive abilities and a mix of attacking strategies in qualifying matches and the 2022 Nations League. They also had some talented players on their team.

In reality, they have not demonstrated strong defense in their first two group games. Switzerland was able to break through their defense on Saturday with Michel Aebischer, who played in a unique position as a combination of a midfielder and left wing-back. He either stayed wide to create space or moved into the midfield to put pressure on them. Aebischer assisted in the first goal for Switzerland and also scored the second in their 3-1 victory.

Hungary decided to switch up their wide defenders for the game against Germany, and it worked well in preventing passes through midfield to the No 10s. However, similar to Scotland, they had difficulty adjusting after falling behind 1-0 and ended up conceding a goal.

Barnabas Varga missed important opportunities to score goals when his team was losing 2-0. He did manage to score with a header to make it 2-1 against Switzerland, but missing five out of six good chances can cost you the game. Now, they must win the last group match against Scotland to have a chance to advance in the tournament.

Hungary Falls To Germany In Second Euros Game

The German team has secured a spot in the next round of Euro 2024 after a strong 2-0 victory against Hungary in Stuttgart.

In the 22nd minute, Jamal Musiala scored a goal for Julian Nagelsmann's team, giving them the lead. Captain Ilkay Gundogan secured the victory with another goal in the second half.

Hungary did not give up easily like Scotland did in their 5-1 loss in the tournament opener on Friday. Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made some important saves to prevent Marco Rossi's team from scoring.

Steve Clarke's Post-Match Comments

In the first game, we didn't perform well. However, we know we are a strong team when we are on our game. We must acknowledge that the first game was just a bad night for us. In tonight's match, we were focused on pressing the opponent, being aggressive in our defense, and pushing higher up the field. We were facing a tough Switzerland team, but we were determined to give it our all.

The fact is we were focusing on the last two matches in the group and that's how it ended up. Even if we had performed well against Germany, we would have needed to achieve something in this game.

Loss Of Kieran Tierney Is A Setback

Anyone who watched Kieran Tierney's injury in Scotland's recent game against Switzerland couldn't help but feel immense sympathy for him. It looked like another serious injury for him as he fell to the ground in pain while defending against an opponent. Tierney immediately signaled to the bench after his leg got stuck in the turf.

Tierney only started 17 games during his loan at Real Sociedad last year due to two major injuries. He faced a setback in April when he injured his abductor, but he managed to recover in time for the Euros.

During tough times at Arsenal, the Scotland camp was his main source of motivation. Playing as a left centre-back alongside Andy Robertson, he has developed a distinctive role. Losing him is a significant setback for the Scotland team.

Scott McKenna performed admirably when he entered the game, strategically receiving a yellow card to prevent a counterattack and effectively stepping up to block a late Switzerland goal. However, he faces a challenge in filling the shoes of his predecessor today.

Gilmour Shines Vs Switzerland

When the ball dropped from the sky in the 13th minute against Switzerland, many players were probably looking for an open space in the stands to kick the ball into. But not Billy Gilmour.

He controlled the ball with his chest, kicked a shot over the shoulder of the defender, and helped Scotland score the first goal.

This is the calmness that the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder adds to the team, which is why his exclusion from the match against Germany last week was so unexpected. During Roberto De Zerbi's tenure, he discovered a role in the system that helped him grow quickly over the last year and a half.

The 23-year-old is more than just a talented player who can handle the ball in tough situations and get Scotland into action. His physical ability has greatly improved, allowing him to cover more ground and disrupt the opposing team's plays.

Together with Celtic's leader Callum McGregor, they provided Scotland with a more dependable method of controlling the ball.

They were still missing creativity and tended to pass the ball back and forth in a horseshoe pattern within the defensive line. However, when Gilmour had possession, it seemed like Scotland finally had a player with the intelligence and skill to take risks. He put in a solid 79-minute performance.

Scotland's Euro 2024 Hopes Stay Alive

Following a disappointing 5-1 loss to Germany in their first match of the competition, Scotland came back strong. A great play on the left side resulted in Scott McTominay's goal, with his shot deflecting off Switzerland's Fabian Schar after 13 minutes.

The Chicago Fire quickly lost their lead after Xherdan Shaqiri scored a stunning equalizer from the edge of the box following Anthony Ralston's poor pass.

An intense and exciting match took place as both teams fought hard to score a winning goal, while Arsenal's defender Kieran Tierney was forced to leave the field due to a leg injury.

Breel Embolo's goal was disallowed due to offside, and Zeki Amdouni missed a good opportunity late in the game for Switzerland. However, Scotland, who were unlucky to hit the post with Grant Hanley's shot, will be aware that a victory in Stuttgart should secure their spot in the round of 16.

When Does Knockout Stage Begin?

After the group stage finishes, there will be a two-day break before the knockout stage begins. The Round of 16 kicks off on Saturday, June 29 with two exciting matches.

Here is a complete list of the dates for the knockout rounds:

How Does Knockout Stage Qualification Work?

The best two teams from each of the six groups will move on to the next round without having to play any additional matches.

The teams that come in first place will play against a team that finished as a runner-up or a third-place team in the next round. The teams that finish in second place will face either one of the group winners or another runner-up in the next round of the competition.

Since six teams will qualify as group winners and runners-up, there are only four remaining spots in the next round. These spots will be filled by four out of the six teams that finish in third place.

Out of the six teams in third place, the four teams with the highest number of points will move on to the next round. If there is a tie in points, other factors will be considered to decide which team progresses.

Dominik Szoboszlai: Hungary's Captain

Dominik Szoboszlai had a fantastic start to his English football career when he joined Liverpool last summer. Shortly after making his debut in the Premier League, he was already being compared to the legendary Steven Gerrard.

The power, physical prowess, ability to run with the ball, accuracy in passing and overall technical skill were impressive qualities to admire.

He is definitely the standout player for Hungary. His skill and ability to lead have helped him become the captain at just 21 years old in 2022. Since then, Hungary has only been defeated in one out of the next 16 games.

Szoboszlai has faced intense pressure and high expectations throughout his life. At a young age, he was identified as the country's upcoming star player.

His special advantage is his tiny feet. Szoboszlai wears size seven shoes, and he likes to wear boots that are a bit too small for him. In Hungary, older people believe that having small feet can lead to success as a football player. This belief goes back to Ferenc Puskas, Hungary's best player.

The Radar - The Athletic's detailed scouting report for Euro 2024.

Meet John McGinn: Versatile Player

John McGinn’s unique dribbling technique, where he arches his back and positions himself against the opponent while using his rear end as a shield to change direction, is uncommon among top players. Yet, it is surprisingly successful.

He gets called for fouls often and seems to thrive in challenging situations, but what really sets him apart this season with Aston Villa is his refined skill in controlling the ball. He is versatile and has shown noticeable improvement at Villa with Unai Emery as coach.

In the past five years, Steve Clarke has helped Scotland player grow and improve. In his first 14 games, the player did not score any goals. But under Clarke's guidance, he has scored 16 goals and provided 8 assists in 47 games. He has become Scotland's most consistent goal scorer. McGinn is a versatile player who can play rough and then switch to a skilled finisher. He is an important player for Villa and a reliable goal scorer for Scotland.

The Radar - The Athletic's in-depth guide to scouting for Euro 2024

Hungary's Euro 2024 Team: 26 Players

Goalies: Denes Dibusz from Ferencvaros, Peter Gulacsi from RB Leipzig, and Peter Szappanos from Paksi FC.

Defenders: Balogh Botond from Parma, Endre Botka from Ferencvaros, Marton Dardai from Hertha Berlin, Attila Fiola from Fehervar FC, Adam Lang from Omonia Nicosia, Willi Orban from RB Leipzig, and Attila Szalai from Freiburg.

Midfield players: Bendeguz Bolla from Servette FC, Mihaly Kata from MTK, Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, Laszlo Kleinheisler from Hajduk Split, Adam Nagy from Spezia, Zsolt Nagy from Puskas Academy FC, Loic Nego from Le Havre, Andras Schafer from Union Berlin, Callum Styles from Sunderland, and Dominik Szoboszlai from Liverpool.

New Additions: Adam Martin joins Ulsan Hyundai, Kevin Csoboth signs with Ujpest FC, Daniel Gazdag moves to Philadelphia Union, Krisztofer Horvath goes to Kecskeméti TE, Roland Sallai transfers to SC Freiburg, and Barnabas Varga joins Ferencvaros.

Scotland's Euro 2024 Squad: 26 Players

Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn from Norwich City, Zander Clark from Hearts, and Liam Kelly from Motherwell.

Defenders: Andy Robertson from Liverpool, Kieran Tierney playing for Real Sociedad, Jack Hendry at Al Ettifaq, Ryan Porteous representing Watford, Liam Cooper playing for Leeds United, Scott McKenna at FC Copenhagen, Grant Hanley from Norwich City, Greg Taylor from Celtic, Anthony Ralston also from Celtic, and Ross McCrorie from Bristol City.

Midfield players: Callum McGregor (Celtic), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Jack (Rangers)

Incoming Players: Che Adams from Southampton, Tommy Conway from Bristol City, James Forrest from Celtic, Lewis Morgan from New York Red Bulls, and Lawrence Shankland from Hearts.

Where To Watch Scotland Vs Hungary?

The match between Scotland and Hungary will be broadcasted live on BBC One, BBC Scotland, and BBC iPlayer in the UK. In the US, you can catch the game on FOX.

When Does Scotland Vs Hungary Start Today?

There are no games scheduled in the early time slots today, so the games airing in primetime will be especially enjoyable for those of you in the US.

The game will start at 9pm in the local time zone, which is equivalent to 8pm in British Summer Time, 3pm in Eastern Time, and 12pm in Pacific Time.

Live Coverage: Scotland Vs Hungary! Welcome

Greetings and welcome to our live updates of the Scotland vs Hungary match at the 2024 European Championship.

Today is the day when the fate of Group A teams will be decided. Germany has already secured their spot in the next round by winning both of their games. However, the other teams are still fighting for their chance to advance.

Switzerland has earned four points out of a possible six, securing a spot in the top three but not a guaranteed place in the knockout round. Scotland and Hungary must win their upcoming matches to have a chance of advancing, although even a victory may not secure their spot.

Scotland can secure a spot in the next round by defeating Hungary today and hoping for a German loss to Switzerland, along with a significant six-goal difference in score.

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