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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 23rd 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
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