Scotland suffer more major tournament heartache as Kevin Csoboth s 100th-minute winner saw Hungary knock Steve Clarke s team out of Euro 2024.
had a penalty claim rejected after a challenge on substitute Stuart Armstrong in the second half albeit Hungary twice hit the woodwork and did not take advantage of several chances.
There was distress when Hungary’s Barnabas Varga was treated with screens around him before he was taken off on a stretcher. But in the 10 added minutes for the incident, substitute Csoboth netted a late winner in the 1-0 victory which meant ’s side finished Group A in fourth place with one point.
Scotland have still never qualified for the knockout stages of a major competition and in a second successive Euros, Clarke’s men have finished bottom of the table having garnered only one point.
In what was the first competitive game between the two countries – and effectively a win-or-bust situation for both – Clarke replaced injured defender Kieran Tierney with Scott McKenna, his only change.
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, the classy captain of Marco Rossi’s team, started despite training away from the main group this week and there was a return for Barnsley’s midfielder Callum Styles, in for Adam Nagy, with defender Endre Botka in for Attila Fiola.
A false start by over-eager Hungary at the kick-off saw it re-taken and then a battle for domination ensued.
The Scots got plenty touches of the ball in the early stages but in a Hungary break in the seventh minute, Angus Gunn had to save a long-range effort from Bendeguz Bolla with skipper Andy Robertson mopping up the keeper’s spillage.
Scotland were slow and laboured in possession. John McGinn was his usual combative self and fellow midfielder Billy Gilmour saw plenty of the ball but mostly in deep positions and Hungary keeper Peter Gulacsi was under little threat.
Hungary began to settle and five minutes from the break Scotland striker Che Adams gave a second free-kick away just outside the box, this time for a high foot.
Szoboszlai, whose first effort was deflected for a fruitless corner, this time chipped the ball to defender Willi Orban who clipped the crossbar with a header although he may have been offside and just before the break Szoboszlai fired a shot high over the bar.
The Tartan Army, subdued in the first half by their side’s caution, urged their side forward but it was Hungary who threatened in a counter, with Jack Hendry blocking a shot from Roland Sallai for a corner that was again defended.
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The game began to stretch but mostly towards Gunn.
In the 65th minute Dardai headed a cross from Bolla over the bar.
There was concern when Varga required lengthy treatment after falling to the ground in the second half following an aerial challenge inside the Scots’ penalty area,
