Scotland vs Hungary facts

Group A of UEFA EURO 2024 concludes at the Stuttgart Arena as Scotland take on Hungary.

The sides have never met in a competitive international although there is plenty of history between the countries; indeed, current Scotland coach Steve Clarke made his international debut against Hungary in 1987.

The pair have a point between them in Group A, although both can still reach the round of 16. While Hungary have lost 3-1 to Switzerland in Cologne and 2-0 to Germany in Stuttgart, Scotland followed their 5-1 defeat against the hosts in the tournament's opening match in Munich with a 1-1 draw against the Swiss in Cologne.

Scotland will be through to the round of 16 in second place if they beat Hungary and Switzerland lose to Germany in the other Matchday 3 game provided Scotland finish ahead on goal difference, then overall goals scored, then disciplinary points, then European Qualifiers rankings. Scotland will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose.

Hungary cannot finish in the top two and will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they do not beat Scotland.

Previous meetings

Matches 9
Scotland wins 3
Hungary wins 4
Draws 2
Scotland goals 14
Hungary goals 18

This is the sides' first competitive fixture, and only their tenth meeting overall.

Scotland were victorious in the last game between the sides, claiming a 1-0 friendly win in Budapest on 27 March 2018 thanks to a second-half goal from Matt Phillips (48).

The previous match had also ended in an away win, Hungary triumphing 3-0 in Glasgow on 18 August 2004 with Szabolcs Huszti scoring either side of half time (45+3pen, 53) and an own goal from Scotland keeper David Marshall, on his international debut, 17 minutes from time.

Two Ally McCoist goals (34, 62) had given Scotland a 2-0 home victory at Hampden Park on 9 September 1987 – a match that marked the senior international debut of current head coach Clarke.

Scotland managed only one victory in their first six games against Hungary (D2 L3), two of those defeats coming against the 'Magical Magyars' in the 1950s – 2-4 in Glasgow and 1-3 in Budapest – but have won two of the last three games between the sides.

EURO facts

Scotland

Scotland are in the EURO final tournament for the fourth time overall, and the second in succession.

Having ended a 24-year absence from the European Championship by qualifying for EURO 2020, Steve Clarke's side finished bottom of Group D at the finals, their only point coming from a 0-0 draw against England at Wembley on Matchday 2. They also lost 2-0 to Czechia and 3-1 against Croatia, both at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Clarke's charges won their first five EURO 2024 qualifiers – most notably defeating Spain 2-0 in Glasgow – and were confirmed as reaching the finals after Norway failed to pick up three points at home to Spain on 15 October. They ended with 17 points, four behind Group A winners Spain but six ahead of third-placed Norway.

Scotland have won two of their 11 matches at EURO tournaments (D3 L6), most recently a 1-0 defeat of Switzerland on Matchday 3 of EURO '96.

Scotland have played only one previous game in Stuttgart – a 3-1 friendly win against West Germany at the Neckarstadion, the predecessor to the Stuttgart Arena, in May 1957.

Hungary

This is Hungary's fifth EURO appearance. After going 44 years without qualifying between 1972, when they finished fourth, and 2016, Hungary have now made it to their third tournament in a row.

Third in 1964 and fourth eight years later, Hungary had to wait until 2016 for their next finals appearance, losing 4-0 to Belgium in the round of 16 having finished top of Group F on five points.

At EURO 2020 Hungary failed to get out of their section, finishing fourth in Group F despite draws against France (1-1) and Germany (2-2). They lost 3-0 to holders Portugal in their opening fixture.

Under Italian Marco Rossi, who has been in charge since 2018, Hungary were Group G winners in EURO 2024 qualifying, remaining unbeaten in their eight matches (W5 D3). They booked their place in Germany with a 2-2 draw at home to Bulgaria in their penultimate fixture and finished four points above section runners-up Serbia.

Hungary also played Germany in Stuttgart on Matchday 2 – that was their first game in the city.

Links and trivia

Andrew Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai have played together for Liverpool since 2023.

Szoboszlai, Péter Gulácsi and Willi Orbán all started Leipzig's 3-1 home win against Celtic in the Champions League group stage on 5 October 2022 although both captains Gulàcsi and Callum McGregor were forced off early through injury.

Szoboszlai and Orbán both started Leipzig's 2-0 victory in Glasgow six days later, McGregor and Gulácsi both missing the match due to injury.