Scotland Men's Football Team

Former Scotland striker Steven Thompson poses questions to fans in the build-up to the seismic Euro 2024 match with Hungary.

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Get Scott McTominay in the Hungary box.

That has to happen as much as possible if Scotland are going to get the result they need in their last game in Group A.

In the past couple of years, the Manchester United man has been really important to Scotland because he can play in several different roles.

It was not too long ago that McTominay was as used as centre-half under Steve Clarke for a period but, more recently, he has played higher up the pitch – which is where I feel you get the best out of him.

When I watch him, it is his goals that stand out. He has got plenty of them for club and country in big games in the past few months, so many that it makes me think that he might end up being Scotland’s top scorer.

At the moment that is definitely the part of his game that we need the most.

Scotland have not really offered much of a threat so far at Euro 2024 and McTominay gives us the best chance of doing that on Sunday, in a game we probably need to win to reach the last 16.

Read David Moyes' column in full

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Sidelined Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes is backing the team to get the job done against Hungary.

Dykes, who is with the squad in Germany despite his on-field involvement being scuppered by injury, told the BBC's Sunday Breakfast: "They definitely can do it. The reaction was really good to see [against Switzerland on Wednesday].

"The boys turned up, played very well. Hopefully they get the result tonight.

"It's always a tough role up there. Sometimes you don't get a lot of chances. But it's a team effort, we all stick together and that's how we win games.

"The players feel really good. There are smiles on the faces, the boys are confident. The second game they showed they were back to their best. Everyone will just be buzzing to get out there."

On missing the tournament through injury, Dykes added: "It was really tough at the start, I had been waiting on this all season. It was devastating.

"But I decided to come out with the boys to have a bit of fun with them. Once the game gets going, I'm just a fan."

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A win against Hungary secures Scotland either second or third - most likely third - and potentially a place in the last 16.

To finish second would require a German victory over Switzerland, and one hell of a goal swing. The Swiss currently have a goal difference of +2 while ours is -4.

If a six-goal swing happens and the goal difference finishes level (both teams have scored four goals and conceded six) then lower disciplinary points would decide second, which Switzerland hold.

We'd take a scrappy 1-0 though, getting Scotland to four points - which is usually enough to be one of the best third-placed teams.

What about a draw? Well, mathematically, Scotland do not need to win tonight. A draw would move them to two points which might - big might - be enough to progress as one of the best third-placed teams.

Should any two of these three things happen, a point would be enough for Clarke's men to sneak through on the two-point mark:

• 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

Actor Greg McHugh, aka Gary: Tank Commander, gives a rousing message to Steve Clarke and his squad before the crucial Euro 2024 meeting with Hungary.

Watch Late Night at the Euros on BBC Scotland and iPlayer

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• This will be Scotland and Hungary’s first competitive encounter. All nine of their previous meetings were friendlies (3 wins for Scotland, 4 wins for Hungary, 2 draws).

• Scotland have won two of their last three meetings with Hungary (L1), with this their first meeting since a 1-0 away win in March 2018.

• Scotland are looking to reach the knockout stages of the European Championship for the first time. Although they have won just two of their 11 group games at Euros (D3 L6), both wins came on matchday three: in 1992 vs CIS (3-0) and 1996 vs Switzerland (1-0).

• Hungary have lost both of their games so far at Euro 2024, losing to Germany and Switzerland. They’ve only lost all of their matches at two major tournaments before, losing both games at Euro 1972 and all three group games at the 1978 World Cup.

• Scotland’s starting XI against Switzerland last time out had a combined total of 470 caps (including that game), their most for an international ever. It was also their first starting lineup to feature five players with more than 50 caps – McTominay (51), Hanley (52), McGregor (62), McGinn (68) and Robertson (73).

• Hungary have only won one of their last 17 games at major tournaments (Euros + World Cup) against European nations (D5 L11), a 2-0 win over Austria on matchday one of Euro 2016.

• Excluding own goals, the six scorers of goals for Scotland at European Championships have all had surnames starting with Mc – McStay, McClair and McAllister in 1992, McCoist in 1996, McGregor in 2020 and McTominay in 2024. In addition to this, their four assisted goals have all come from Mc players (McPherson, McCoist, McAllister, McGregor).

• Hungary are winless in their last eight UEFA EURO matches (D4 L4) – the only nation to have a longer winless run in the competition are Russia between 1988 and 2004 (9 games – including games as Soviet Union/CIS).

• Since the start of 2023, Scott McTominay has scored eight goals in 10 competitive internationals for Scotland, only one fewer than all other Scottish players combined in that time (9 goals). McTominay has also had four of Scotland’s 13 shots at Euro 2024, as well as eight of their 27 touches in the opposition box.

Scotland midfielder John McGinn on joining in with the Bavarian welcome dance when the squad arrived at their Euro 2024 base of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke says he is "trying to underplay" the significance of Sunday's Euro 2024 group game against Hungary.

The Scots go into the match in Stuttgart knowing a win will most likely take them into the last 16 of the competition.

Never before have a Scotland team reached the knockout stage of a major finals.

Clarke suggested there was "a little bit too much" noise from his camp prior to the Euros opener with Germany, which ended in a 5-1 defeat.

On this occasion, the Scotland boss is aiming to keep a lid on the build-up to what is arguably the nation's biggest game in a generation.

"Everybody knows how big it is," Clarke said. "You can talk and talk and talk about it. We probably did a little bit too much with the first game.

"So we're trying to underplay this one, if you ever can with a game of this magnitude, but we're trying to make sure we're well prepared and ready to go.

"Nothing except three points for us is what we're thinking. We need to get three points to at least finish third in the group and we'll see where that takes us."

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland at Stuttgart Arena

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Head coach Steve Clarke was speaking to the media prior to Scotland's final Euro 2024 group game against Hungary on Sunday.

Here's the best of it:

• Clarke says Scotland face a similar situation to what they did three years ago in their last Euros campaign and is hopeful they've learned their lessons.

• He believes two similar line-ups and teams will face one another on Sunday but hopes Scotland's system is slightly better.

• Clarke adds that the mental side of the game is "massive" and that's what let Scotland down in first game.

• "If Scotland do what they're good at they've got a chance," he says.

• The head coach adds that Scotland are trying to "underplay" the game to take the pressure off.

• Clarke says it doesn't matter if he is the first manager to get Scotland out of a group, all focus is on the three points.

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland at Stuttgart Arena

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Midfielder John McGinn was speaking to the media prior to Scotland's final Euro 2024 group game against Hungary on Sunday.

Here's the best of it:

• He says it would mean everything to reward Tartan Army, who have made him proud to be Scottish.

• The Aston Villa captain says the first game against Germany was a write off, but the draw with Switzerland was about determination.

• "We’ve got different gears to go up," McGinn added.

• He says "it would mean everything" to be the goal hero on Sunday.

• McGinn also says progressing with Scotland would mean more than getting Aston Villa to the Champions League.

• He adds that football is about proving people wrong and that's what Scotland want to do on Sunday.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Stuttgart

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Hungary manager Marco Rossi has been speaking to the media ahead of their match against Scotland on Sunday.

Here are the key points:

• Rossi expects Scotland to be aggressive, as they always are.

• Although he singled out Billy Gilmour, John McGinn and Scott McTominay as key players, he says the team are dangerous as a whole due to their attitude. Adding his side will have to be in the right mood to play as well as possible.

• He says Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai trained alone on Saturday, but that doesn’t mean he’s not fit to play.

• Rossi adds that Callum Styles is at last ready to play for Hungary.

• He says three points might see them through, so no alternative but to go for the win if they want to have a chance of progressing.

• When asked how he'll ensure the players are motivated after a poor start, he hit back that the players shouldn’t need motivation.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Frankfurt

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Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has a big smile on his face when I ask him if he would be happy for Scotland to qualify for the last 16, given the number of fans who've travelled and made new friends here.

"I've seen a lot of the videos in Munich. They are tough when it comes to beer drinking, the Scottish fans," he says.

"They are very noisy. It was a cool game against the Scottish team. But I wish all the teams the best of luck to be successful. First of all we want to win the game tomorrow against the Swiss.

"I wish you all the best. The same for the Hungary team. They [Scotland] should fight for the three points."

Ach well, you can't blame a boy for trying, can you? I was hoping for 'Nagelsmann's Scottish rallying cry'. Instead, we had 'all the best to Scotland and Hungary'.

A superbly diplomatic answer. Germany has been a great host so far and they don't want to upset anyone unnecessarily.

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Leanne Crichton has suggested Ryan Christie should replace John McGinn for Scotland's game against Hungary.

McGinn has started both of Scotland's Euro 2024 group games so far, while Christie started the 5-1 defeat to Germany and came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland.

Crichton says she has "reservations as to how match sharp and on it" McGinn is.

"I think he's going to be massive for us regardless, but I look at the energy levels of Ryan Christie and I wouldn't object to McGinn going out and Christie coming in," she said.

"I'd have Lawrence Shankland playing up top so you have Christie and Scott McTominay who would play underneath him.

"I think if you're bringing on McGinn at 60 minutes in a game where you're looking to win it, I think it would give everybody a massive lift.

"He really struggled in the first game, did a power of running in the second with very little influence in possession. We're just not using McGinn to his strengths.

"I don't think Steve Clarke is going to drop him but I wouldn't object to Christie being given the chance to go and show what he can do in a game where he'd have more influence."