SCOTLAND 0-1 HUNGARY: Substitute Kevin Csoboth scored in the 10th minute of added time after a concerning injury to his team-mate Barnabas Varga
They pressed for the goal that would earn them a place in history, but in the end Scotland were knocked out of Euro 2024 by Hungary’s desire to win it for Barnabas Varga.
Inspired by the sickening injury suffered by their forward which left players in tears, Hungary broke in the 10th minute of added time to win it through substitute Kevin Csoboth’s cool finish.
In terrifying scenes, Varga had earlier been taken to hospital after he collided with the arm of Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn, leading to Hungary’s players desperately beckoning medical staff onto the pitch and screens being pulled up to shield him from supporters.
Thankfully Varga had regained consciousness by the time Hungary were back in the same goalmouth celebrating their victory in front of those same fans after the game. Manager Marco Rossi later confirmed he had fractured a cheekbone, but he was “healthy”.
For Scotland there is only another failure to reach the knockout stages in what was their 12th major tournament, with Euro 2024 joining a roll of dishonour made up of eight World Cups and four European Championships.
The devastated Scots – who pleaded for a penalty late on when Stuart Armstrong was caught in the box – would have had a slim hope of progression had they held on for a draw, but their defeat extends their sorry 70-year run.
Captain Andy Robertson apologised for the defeat, and said: “We knew we had to win this game, and they’ve hit us on the counter-attack. It could have gone either way, but that’s football – that’s how it goes. It will take a long time to get over this one.
“We had a lot of possession, first half, without doing anything with it. We had to find that cutting edge and go for it a wee bit more. We did go for it, but we got sucker-punched.”
Up to 100,000 Scottish fans were said to be in Stuttgart for their biggest game in a generation, with the city creating extra fan parks and viewing areas to satisfy demand.
There was an intent to the Scots in the early stages with John McGinn to the fore as they controlled possession.
But too often things would break down in front of goal, with specialist coach Austin MacPhee furious after two poor Robertson deliveries from free-kicks.
Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai was faring better though, and he cleverly clipped a delivery to the back post that Willi Orban headed against the top of the bar.
The Tartan Army finally saw a shot in anger early in the second half as Che Adams blazed over from range.
Then all thoughts turned to the health of Varga as he lay motionless in the penalty area after Szobozlai’s free-kick after colliding with Gunn.
Visibly distressed, Hungary’s players angrily urged the medics, who were slow to enter the pitch, to attend to the Ferencvaros forward.
Szoboszlai was shown on the big screen in tears and fans were left shocked as sheets were lifted up to shield Varga from view as he was taken off.
When the game resumed Armstrong was appealing for a penalty, but the game was tilted toward the Scotland goal in the closing moments.
Szoboszlai brought a save from Gunn from an angle, and then substitute Csoboth hit the post.
He would soon have his moment though, slotting home from the impressive Sallai’s cross after a fast break to spark Hungarian delirium and leave Scotland shattered, and that long run extended.
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