Euro 2024: Scotland knocked out after heartbreaking defeat
Scotland 0 - 1 Hungary
Scotland had needed a win to secure a spot in the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time. Hungary kept their hopes alive with a win.
The match had seemed destined to end in a frustrating, goalless draw until Hungary scored a 100th-minute winner. Frankly, neither team looked deserving of a place in the last 16 based on their performances.
Scotland struggled to make an impact. Hungary's attacks usually fizzled out 25 yards from goal until stoppage time, when the game took on a frenetic pace.
Steve Clarke and the Tartan Army would have been left gutted by the outcome, but the harsh truth is that over the three games, they fell short of the required standard. Scotland had vowed to have learned from their Euros experience three years ago.
They fell just short again. There are now bigger, more longer-term questions and problems that need solving by the Scottish FA.
A closer look at what happened in Stuggart
Despite the nerve-wracking tension, Scottish fans would have started to hope in the dying moments of the game.
As the match neared its end and with numerous substitutions, opportunities began to appear where previously play had been sluggish.
Scotland's best chance came to defender Grant Hanley just before Hungary's decisive blow, but his shot was too close to Peter Gulacsi and wouldn’t have counted anyway.
There were also loud appeals for a penalty on Stuart Armstrong, but cries of disbelief followed as no VAR check was forthcoming.
Much of the discussion after the first two games centred on Scotland's defensive vulnerability, particularly on the right. However, their lack of attacking flair has been a persistent problem throughout the tournament, and it was evident again here.
Euro 2024 news and stories (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
A spate of injuries both before the tournament and during it didn't help their cause.
But after captain Andy Robertson declared there would be no regrets following their underwhelming performance at the last Euros, the sense of déjà vu is strong.
The Hungarian players, moments after the final whistle, celebrated with their euphoric supporters behind the goal.
Despite the painful defeat for Scotland's fans, Hungary always seemed more likely to score, especially when Csoboth hit the post in injury time before netting the winner.
Somehow, Scotland managed to squander a potentially valuable point while preparing to take a corner with seconds left.
Once again, their set-piece led to nothing, and they were hit by a swift counter-attack down their exposed left side, resulting in a clinical and decisive goal.
Scotland had just 17 shots at Euro 2024 in total, the joint fewest by any nation in the group stage, matching Northern Ireland's record at Euro 2016.
Hungary, after a 14-game winning streak in qualifying, surrendered much of the possession to their ineffective opponents but have somehow created a glimmer of hope for advancement after losing their first two games.
