Scotland crashed out of Euro 2024 in limp vogue as Hungary stole third place in Group A with a One centesimal-minute aim from Kevin Csoboth.
Each side knew solely a win would imply they stood a sensible probability of advancing to the knockout phases however, as a substitute of a sport stuffed with attacking verve, it made manner for a nervy, chanceless night in Stuttgart.
Scotland did not muster a single shot on the right track, though they are going to level to a 78th-minute incident during which Stuart Armstrong gave the impression to be felled inside the world by Hungary defender Willi Orban. Argentine referee Facundo Tello waved play on and VAR didn’t intervene.
Steve Clarke’s males lastly threw warning to the wind within the closing phases however that left them uncovered on the different finish. Csoboth had already struck a submit within the 10 minutes of injury-time added on following a sickening harm to Hungary striker Barnabas Varga earlier than he did hit the goal, working on to Roland Sallai’s cross to fireplace previous Angus Gunn with just about the final kick of the sport.
The win moved Hungary on to a few factors and places them in a robust place to complete as one of many four-best third-placed finishers. For Scotland it’s throughout and their solitary level from three video games means they end backside of the pool.
✅ Germany and Switzerland advance to the RO16
👀 Hungary are nonetheless in with an opportunity of qualifying
❌ Scotland are OUT of Euro 2024Group A delivered 🍿 pic.twitter.com/DgSPDBARs2
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) June 23, 2024
The primary half was excessive on power however woefully brief on high quality with either side creating little of word in entrance of aim.
Scotland’s greatest alternatives got here from free-kicks in vast areas however each Andy Robertson and Billy Gilmour couldn’t beat the primary man with their supply.
Hungary at the very least had a number of efforts on aim. The primary, from Bendeguz Bolla, drew a clumsy save from Gunn whereas a second, from Sallai, flashed excessive and vast.
Their greatest probability, nevertheless, got here 5 minutes earlier than the break, Orban stealing in on the far submit to fulfill Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick and energy a header onto the bar and over.
Szoboszlai additionally fired over as a disappointing first half got here to an in depth.
The second half continued in an analogous vein with the stress rising as every minute handed.
Hungary nonetheless maintained the higher innovative though their momentum stalled when Varga went down following a 68th-minute collision with Gunn and Anthony Ralston. Medical employees held blankets across the Ferencvaros striker as he was being handled on the pitch earlier than he was ultimately taken to hospital.
Scotland thought they need to have had a penalty following Orban’s clumsy problem however that was nearly as good because it bought, bar a Grant Hanley shot that was simply parried by Peter Gulacsi.
The higher menace got here on the different finish. Gunn saved properly from Szoboszlai earlier than Csoboth wriggled free down the proper solely to see his shot come again off the right-hand submit.
He made no mistake when a second probability got here his manner following good work from Sallai.
