What do Scotland need to escape group & make history?

'We have a chance' - Clarke hopeful of knockout stage qualification

Anyone else watch Georgia miss a glorious late chance against the Czech Republic on Saturday and breathe a sigh of relief?

Likely quite a few Scots did just that as they pondered the permutations of how Steve Clarke's side might reach the last 16 of Euro 2024.

First place in Group A has gone, and Scotland's hopes of finishing second are slim.

They would need to beat Hungary on Sunday, while Germany are beating Switzerland, and hope for a goal-difference swing of seven goals. Unlikely.

More feasible is snatching a place as one of the four best third-placed teams.

A win - and tally of four points - should prove enough to do that. But this is Scotland. Stranger things have happened.

As Scotland's Coefficient on X has explained, there is a way in which a draw with Hungary might sneak them through - and that's where wishing ill on Georgia comes in.

After the Scots' qualification rivals draw with the Czechs, should any two of these three things happen, a point would be enough for Clarke's men to make history:

  • Spain and Italy both win their final games in Group B - against Albania and Croatia respectively - on Monday

  • Denmark overcome Serbia and England beat Slovenia by four goals in Group C on Tuesday

  • Portugal and Turkey earn victories in Group F on Wednesday over Georgia and Czech Republic respectively

What happens if Scotland get through?

An excellent question that deserves an extremely convoluted and vague answer.

We only really know for sure where Scotland would be if they finished second.

If so, Clarke’s side would play the runners up of Group B in Berlin’s Olympiastadion on 29 June at 17:00 BST.

That’s currently holders Italy, but could still end up being Albania or Croatia.

If Scotland finish third, they’d be back in Cologne or Munich, or would travel to Frankfurt, for a game on 30 June, 1 July or 2 July against the winners of Group B, E or F.

Those sections are currently topped by Spain, Romania and Portugal.

All of this is mind-bendingly confusing, so try not to fret at this stage. Scotland just need to get there first.

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