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Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland wasn’t the result they necessarily wanted but with the matchday three fixture against fellow group strugglers Hungary in their back pocket, the point earned in Cologne leaves them with a win-and-in scenario.
The Scots have found it difficult to keep teams out as of late. With Ryan Porteous still banned, their problems at the back were exacerbated by the news that Kieran Tierney will miss the rest of Euro 2024 through a hamstring injury.
Germany carved through Steve Clarke’s side with ease on the opening night and it was a loose back-pass from right wing-back Anthony Ralston that led to Switzerland’s equaliser on Wednesday.
Hungary have only mustered one goal from their two outings thus far at Euro 2024 but generated 2.63 xG across those games and were unfortunate to draw blank against Germany. Scotland’s defence will have their work cut out for them.
Only three points will do for the Hungarians if they are to have any hope of progressing but in all likelihood, they require a two or three-goal margin.
The Magyars have a -4 goal difference and can only finish as high as third-place in Group A if they collect their first points of the competition against Scotland. In 2016, when the European Championships switched to the current format, four of the six third-ranked teams finished on three points. The two that qualified had a goal difference of zero while the others, each on -2, were eliminated.
At Euro 2020, a -1 goal difference was enough for Ukraine to advance with three points, while Finland and Slovakia missed out with -2 and -5 respectively.
Hungary’s group concludes before any other so they will not know the number they need to get to, but they can’t afford to leave anything to chance.
Scotland and Hungary have met nine times but never in a meaningful capacity.
The most recent encounter between the pair took place in Budapest six years ago. The Tartan Army were sent home happy that night as Matt Phillips scored his first Scotland goal to hand Alex McLeish the first victory of his second spell in charge.
Overall, the head-to-head record favours the Hungarians, who have won four of the nine match-ups. After Scotland were triumphant when they played each other for the first time in 1938, they had to wait 49 years for another success against the Magyars.
Attempting to put an end to a poor string of major tournament results, Hungary will look to captain Dominik Szoboszlai for inspiration against Scotland. The Liverpool midfielder provided the assist for the nation’s only goal of Euro 2024, but it’s when he finds the net himself that Hungary tend to have joy.
Scotland have offered up 31 shots at Euro 2024 and with Hungary needing a big win on Sunday, Angus Gunn is likely to be busy again. The best bet for this fixture is for Szoboszlai and Barnabas Varga to each register a shot on target.
Hungary need to show attacking intent from start to finish against the Scots. Even if they get the first goal, sitting back and defending the lead would be of no use to the Hungarians as they have an unfavourable goal difference to turn around.
Fortunately for the Magyars, they are up against a defence that allows opponents plenty of attempts. Szoboszlai recorded a shot on target against Germany and averaged over 1.6 per game during qualifying. Meanwhile, Varga is in terrific goalscoring form for his country, netting seven in his last 10 starts.
The hit rate for each player, the weakness of the opponent, and the need for Hungary to rack up the goals make this bet builder a tasty proposition at odds-against.
Szoboszlai came under criticism for his performance against Switzerland. He and his team were much better in the Germany defeat, but there is still a point to prove and he will be desperate to show why he is the youngest skipper in Euros history.
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