Expect an exciting encounter between Scotland and Hungary, with both nations needing to get a victory to stand any chance of progression through to the last 16 of Euro 2024.

Scotland have netted in both their matches to date, while Hungary have not looked a solid defensive prospect despite a good record in recent friendly matches. Marco Rossi’s side have conceded at least one goal in each of their last seven competitive fixtures.

Scotland are depleted defensively, with Kieran Tierney now ruled out of the competition, leaving them bereft of quality in the heart of their defence. This was already arguably the weakest area of their squad.

Hungary may not have netted at Euro 2024, but they have generated 2.5 xG across their two previous matches and against the weakest defensive team in the group will expect to profit by finding the net at some stage.

After a quiet match against Switzerland in the opening round of the tournament, Szoboszlai seemed to be given more freedom against Germany and certainly profited from it as he began to look like the talisman he is for Hungary.

He led his nation in terms of both shots and shots on target in qualifying and will be the player they turn to in this crucial match. He finished sixth overall in terms of shots on target in the qualifying process with 13. No midfielder that led a team to qualification had as many.

The 23-year-old will take many of the key set pieces, including penalties, increasing his chances of a shot on target.

Szoboszlai will be given significant defensive responsibilities as well as his attacking ones, and that is likely to see him generate a significant foul count.

Though he was not pulled up for any crimes against Germany, he was booked for kicking the ball away. Threat of suspension will not put him off making wholehearted challenges to try to lead his country to the last 16.

He has given away at least one free kick in four of his last five competitive internationals as well as six of his last eight.
Hungary may get desperate at some point and have to increase their press, increasing the prospect of Szoboszlai committing a foul.

Given his importance to the side, it is virtually certain that he will play the full 90 minutes unless he suffers an injury. Having played every minute of qualifying and every minute of Euro 2024 to date.

Scotland will not hold back in this encounter, which is a do-or-die game for both nations and is likely to be played at a high tempo and in a very committed manner.

With the carrot of progressing through the group stage of a major tournament for the first time dangling in front of Steve Clarke’s side, the threat of a suspension for the last 16 is not one that is going to put the players off from attacking this match with everything they have.

Scotland are a team that typically racks up a high card count. In five of their last nine competitive games, they have received at least three cards. Given what’s at stake in this game, and the likelihood of a tight and competitive encounter, the odds on them picking up numerous cards appear to offer value.

Having already received five cards in Euro 2024 to date, including three against Switzerland in their last encounter. They may have picked up more than two against Germany in opening match had the sting not been taken out of the game as they trailed 3-0 at the break.

No one in Hungary’s ranks has been involved in more fouls than Vidi defender Attila Fiola. He has committed five fouls but has equally won three free kicks for his side.

He has given away at least one free kick in four of his last five competitive international matches.

Fiola will likely find himself in direct competition with Che Adams, whose role for Scotland is to make a nuisance of himself in attack. He will look to use his body to protect the ball but also to win free kicks. He has been fouled three times in the previous games, doing so at the rate of exactly 2 per 90 minutes.

Fiola is likely to be dragged into a physical battle that is primed to see him commit at least a couple of indiscretions. Although he was booked against Switzerland, the threat of suspension matters little compared to the prize of potentially progressing to the last 16.

Scott McTominay has been Scotland’s talisman since the beginning of the Euro 2024 qualifying process, in which he scored seven goals. He underlined his importance to the team by netting against Switzerland with a deflected shot in the previous match, which gave Scotland the lead.

While he is highly effective at arriving in the box late for either cutbacks or crosses, which are both situations that Clarke’s side try to manipulate on a regular basis.

Though he was mute against Germany in the opening match, he got into many dangerous positions against the Swiss, not only scoring but getting into excellent areas. He was denied a goal by an inadvertent block from Che Adams and an outstanding Manuel Akanji interception when he would have had a tap-in from close range.

McTominay produced 1.1 shots on target per 90 during the qualifying process.