Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Scotland stars send warning to Hungary ahead of high-stakes Euro 2024 showdown
Scotland could be one win away from the Euro 2024 knockout stages after their draw with Switzerland on Wednesday.
Billy Gilmour has warned upcoming opponents Hungary that Scotland are good enough to make history at Euro 2024. The Scots will give themselves a great chance of making it to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time ever if they win their final group A match on Sunday.
And their performance in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland has whipped up a renewed sense of belief among Gilmour and his team-mates.
“We believe we can go and do it now in the last game,” said the Brighton midfielder. “We've got a good enough group of players in there to go and make history.”
Xherdan Shaqiri’s superb long-range effort rescued a point for Switzerland, who went behind early on in Cologne. It was Scott McTominay who put Swiss backs against the wall with a deflected first-half strike, and the Manchester United man is just as optimistic as Gilmour.
“We had good moments with the ball, we were patient with it,” he said. “We pressed them at the right times. There are real positives to take into the next game.
“This is what you play football for – these are the games where you have to leave it all on the pitch. If we keep playing with that hunger and desire, and have that belief, we can go and beat Hungary. I'm pretty sure we can do it.
“We were very passive in the last game [against Germany]. We were slow, not reacting to anything. We know what we are capable of doing.”
Scotland’s best chance of making it to the knockouts is by finishing as one of the four best third-place teams. With only one point on the board so far, a draw in their final game may not be enough to qualify. And having won just once in their last 11 matches, the form book doesn’t look good.
However, Scotland’s Group A finale will come against a Hungary side who took no points from Germany or Switzerland. And Swiss manager Murat Yakin has fuelled Scottish hopes by admitting that Steve Clarke’s men were, in his experience, a trickier side to face than Hungary.
"If we compare the two teams, Scotland caused us more problems, especially in the first half,” Yakin explained. “It'll be a hard-fought game between Scotland and Hungary.”
Switzerland's qualification for the knockout stages is virtually assured, and they can snatch top spot for themselves if they beat Germany this weekend.
Shaqiri stepped up to the plate against Scotland, and the former Liverpool man has backed himself to do the same against the tournament hosts. “The big games were made for me,” he said. “I hope I will be remembered for that.”