Scotland crashed out of Euro 2024 in limp vogue as Hungary stole third place in Group A with a One centesimal-minute objective from Kevin Csoboth.
Each side knew solely a win would imply they stood a practical likelihood of advancing to the knockout phases however, as a substitute of a recreation filled with attacking verve, it made method for a nervy, chanceless night in Stuttgart.
Scotland did not muster a single shot on track, though they’ll level to a 78th-minute incident by which Stuart Armstrong seemed 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 defensively. Csoboth had already struck a publish within the 10 minutes of injury-time added on following a sickening damage to Hungary striker Barnabas Varga earlier than he did hit the goal, operating on to Roland Sallai’s cross to fireplace previous Angus Gunn with nearly the final kick of the sport.
The win moved Hungary on to 3 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 2024
Group A delivered 🍿 pic.twitter.com/DgSPDBARs2
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) June 23, 2024
The primary half was excessive on power however woefully quick on high quality with either side creating little of notice in entrance of objective.
Scotland’s finest alternatives got here from free-kicks in extensive areas however each Andy Robertson and Billy Gilmour couldn’t beat the primary man with their supply.
Hungary a minimum of had a number of efforts on objective. The primary, from Bendeguz Bolla, drew an ungainly save from Gunn whereas a second, from Sallai, flashed excessive and extensive.
Their finest likelihood, nevertheless, got here 5 minutes earlier than the break, Orban stealing in on the far publish 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 identical vein with the strain growing as every minute handed.
Hungary nonetheless maintained the higher leading edge 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 pretty much as good because it acquired, bar a Grant Hanley shot that was simply parried by Peter Gulacsi.
The higher menace got here on the different finish. Gunn saved effectively from Szoboszlai earlier than Csoboth wriggled free down the proper solely to see his shot come again off the right-hand publish.
He made no mistake when a second likelihood got here his method following good work from Sallai.
