After a terribly disappointing Euro 2024 opener against Germany, Scotland bounced back with a confident yet hard-fought draw against Switzerland on Matchday Two.
So much now hangs in the balance against Hungary in the national team's third and final Group A encounter. In order to stay in the competition, it's a must-win spectacle for Steve Clarke's men. But having shown a side far more reflective of the one that led them to the tournament in the first place against the Swiss, confidence among the ranks, you'd have to assume, should be high.
Will it be high enough to overcome Hungary – to finish third and qualify as one of the four-best third-placed teams – remains to be seen. To this end, here are our Scotland vs Hungary predictions.
Kenny Ward
Scotland 2 – 0 Hungary
After a much-improved performance against Switzerland on Wednesday night when Scotland earned a deserved draw to kick-start their Group A campaign, Steve Clarke’s men can go up a gear this time and secure that four-point tally that was the national team manager’s goal at the start of the tournament to secure a place in the knockout rounds for the first ever time. Expect a big performance from Tartan Army hero John McGinn along with the imperious Scott McTominay as Clarke’s men make history.
Graeme McGarry
Scotland 2 – 1 Hungary
It isn’t going to be straightforward, but what else would you expect? Hungary will sit deep, defend, and try to hit Scotland on the counter. A situation in which Scotland don’t always excel. But I think the Scots showed enough the other night against the Swiss to suggest that we will be able to create chances, particularly with the power of Scott McTominay.
I also smell a magical meatball moment in the offing from John McGinn, who has been relatively quiet to this point. It will be typically nerve-shredding, but untypically, I think we can get the result we need to create history.
Ewan Paton
Scotland 1 – 0 Hungary
We're going to do it. It'll be nervy, it'll be tense, but in the end it'll be entirely worth every second of the emotional rollercoaster to secure passage to the last-16 with four points in Group A. Hungary are sitting bottom, although, parts of their performances against both the Swiss and Germany did show they have signs of life in them yet with some slick passing. John McGinn to provide another big moment for Scotland with the goal.
Matthew Lindsay
Scotland 2 – 2 Hungary
I thought Switzerland would have too much quality for Scotland on Wednesday night and was delighted to be proved wrong. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than for Scotland to come out on top and make it through to the last 16 of Euro 2024 on Sunday. But I think it will be another draw.
Andy Robertson and his team mates will have to be as good if not better than they were in Cologne in midweek to get the better of opponents who are smarting after back-to-back defeats and also have an opportunity to progress to the knockout rounds with a victory.
I feel, no disrespect to Scott McKenna, the loss of Kieran Tierney will be keenly felt by Steve Clarke. All that said, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a draw could be enough for the country to make history to get out of the group stages.
Tony Haggerty
Scotland 2 – 1 Hungary
History beckons for Steve Clarke's Scotland. A place in the knockout phase for the first time in the nation's history is the prize at stake for beating Hungary. It's ours for the taking.
Cue Elvis Pressley. It's Now or Never or Heartbreak Hotel. Scotland to win? Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Chris Jack
Scotland 1 – 0 Hungary
If Steve Clarke’s side can step it up again then history can be made. The performance against Switzerland was much more like it and has given the Tartan Army belief that the win Scotland need can be achieved. The loss of Kieran Tierney is an obvious blow and a tactical shift shouldn’t be off the table heading into the all-or-nothing fixture. From middle to front, Scotland should just have enough to hit that four point target.
Joshua Barrie
Scotland 1-0 Hungary
Hungary had lost 1 of 15 heading to Euro 2024 – their two defeats to date don't reflect their overall quality. If Scotland are to make history by winning to reach the knockouts it's far
from hyperbolic to suggest levels must go up again but why not? The belief is back – Clarke's side can do it.
Joe Donnelly
Scotland 1 – 0 Hungary
For me, it's going to be tense, it's going to be exciting, nerve-shredding, tear-jerking, expletive-inducing, but, ultimately, it'll be joyous. Scotland will edge it ever-so-slightly in what I fully-expect to be a well-contested 90 minutes. Scotland did not perform well on Matchday One, that goes without saying. But they dusted themselves down and bounced back with a solid, albeit far from perfect, performance against Switzerland. Let's assume that form is on an upward trajectory, because belief is such a huge part of all of this isn't it?
That's easy for me to say, of course. Now it's up to Steve Clarke's players to show it on the pitch. And best of luck to them!
Jonny McFarlane
Scotland 2 – 1 Hungary
It’s an opportunity for Scotland like no other in a major tournament – and I fully expect they will take it. Another performance at the level we saw against the Swiss should be enough. While Magyars are down, but they are a proud nation and anybody thinking they will down tools after two defeats hasn’t been paying attention. It will be tight but Scotland’s quality and poise in midfield can make the difference.
David Irvine
Scotland 1 Hungary 1
There is no doubt Scotland have the ability to beat Hungary and progress beyond the group stage, it's now just a matter of proving it on the big stage. Hungary are far better than their opening two defeats suggest and will be a tricky test for Steve Clarke and his charges. I'd desperately love to be proven wrong but see a score draw in Scotland's final group encounter - Hungary are playing for pride, Scotland are playing for history. It's simply too close to call.
