Scotland vs Hungary Preview & Prediction | UEFA EURO 2024 | Group Stage

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

After humiliation on opening night, Scotland have an excellent opportunity to move into the Round of 16 by defeating Hungary in this one on Sunday but the Hungarians will also believe they still have a chance as one of the best third placed teams.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 23^rd June, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US EST – 3:00pm / US PST – 1:00pm

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – BBC / US – FOX

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – VIX

SCOTLAND PREVIEW: SAME AGAIN FROM THE SCOTS

As mentioned, Scotland were truly awful in their 5-1 loss to Germany in the opening match of the tournament but Steve Clarke settled the Scots down and they actually produced a much-improved and actually very mature performance against Switzerland in Cologne to reignite their UEFA EURO 2024 campaign and keep themselves alive.

The Tartan Army took a surprise lead early on when Fabian Schar deflected Scott McTominay’s shot beyond Yann Sommer before an excellent goal from Xherdan Shaqiri brought things level. The Swiss perhaps dominated the rest of the first-half but an even second-half in which the Scottish were the team that pressed for a winner more will give them serious hope.

HUNGARY PREVIEW: FORGETTING THE FIRST TWO

Under the management of Italian relationist tactician Marco Rossi, Hungary came into the tournament as potential ‘dark horses’ and they have shown glimpses in both of their games so far but back-to-back defeats and a goal difference of minus four means they head into the final round of fixtures right up against it.

The Magyars began with a 3-1 loss to Switzerland with the scoreline certainly flattering the Swiss before then suffering a 2-0 defeat to Germany in a game in which they were very much in it and had chances to equalise at 1-0, most notably via a Barnabas Varga header, but instead came unstuck and have a lot of work to do.

SCOTLAND TEAM NEWS: TIERNEY INJURY AN ISSUE

Scotland, as mentioned, performed a lot better against Switzerland on Wednesday so will be expected to retain a similar eleven but there will be an enforced change after Kieran Tierney suffered a hamstring injury. Scott McKenna should join Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry in the back three with Ryan Porteous remaining suspended.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, McKenna; Ralston, McGregor, Gilmour, Robertson; McTominay, McGinn; Adams

UNAVAILABLE: Porteous (Suspended), Tierney (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE:

HUNGARY TEAM NEWS: AGGRESSIVE HUNGARIANS

The Hungarians made a tactical switch to bring in Attila Fiola for Adam Lang against Germany to sure up their defensive ranks with an extra out and out centre-back. It is expected that Lang returns to provide more thrust down the right hand side. First choice right wing-back Loic Nego remains a doubt alongside Sunderland loanee Callum Styles.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Gulacsi; Lang, Orban, Szalai; Bolla, A. Nagy, Schafer, Kerkez; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Varga

UNAVAILABLE:

QUESTIONABLE: Nego (Injured), Styles (Injured)

KEY STATS

• This is the first competitive meeting between Scotland and Hungary, all their previous nine encounters were friendly matches. The most recent was in 2018 when Scotland came out on top with a 1-0 win in Budapest. Overall, Hungary lead the head-to-head record with four wins to three, the pair have also drawn on three occasions.
• Scotland have won only two of their 11 EURO matches (D3 L6), most recently a 1-0 defeat of Switzerland in 1996.
• Scotland are aiming to qualify from a EURO group for the first time. A win would see them match their highest points total of four which they achieved in 1996 when they narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout rounds.
• Both of Scotland’s previous two wins in EURO matches came on Matchday 3. A 3-0 victory against CIS in 1992 and a 1-0 win against Switzerland in 1996.
• Scotland have scored in three successive EURO matches for the first time.
• Scotland have won only one of their last 11 international matches (D4 L6).
• Scotland have scored more than one goal in only one of their 11 EURO matches.
• Scotland have only failed to score in one of their last ten competitive matches.
• A goal for Scotland would mean they have scored in all three matches in a EURO group for the first time.
• Scotland’s highest tally of goals scored in a EURO group is three (1992), they need one goal to match this total.
• Hungary are without a win in their last eight EURO matches (D4 L4). Since a 2-0 victory against Austria in their opening fixture at EURO 2016.
• Hungary are trying to qualify from a EURO group for the second time having done to in their group stage debut in 2016. Their last appearance in the knockout rounds was in 1972, prior to the introduction of a group stage,
• Hungary have kept only one clean sheet in their 13 EURO matches. That was in their 2-0 victory against Austria in their opening fixture at EURO 2016.
• None of Hungary’s previous 13 EURO matches have finished without a goal being scored.
• Against Germany, Ádám Nagy made his eighth EURO appearance, this is more than any other player for Hungary. He previously was the joint-record holder with Ádám Szalai.

SCOTLAND VS HUNGARY PREDICTION

Ahead of the tournament, Scotland would have looked at their group as Germany being a free hit but four points from Switzerland and Hungary likely being enough to send them through. Such was the manner of their performance and loss to the hosts in their opener, the fact that was still on did get a bit lost in the hype but there is the possibility that Steve Clarke can play this to perfection. Hungary, though, are a strong side with players that can hurt the Scots and a team that have not yet given up hope. It could turn into a bit of a slugfest and both teams scoring may well be worth backing.

SCOTLAND VS HUNGARY TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE