How TWO points could see Scotland squeeze into Euro 2024 last 16 – every scenario to escape Group A laid out

Steve Clarke has always maintained that four points is the target for his Scotland side to ensure they make history and reach the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time.

And the national team boss will be fully focused on getting the victory against Hungary in Stuttgart in their final Euro 2024 Group A game on Sunday night to achieve that goal. But Scotland never really does it the easy way, do they? So what if they don't reach four points? Well, three points has been enough since UEFA expanded the European Championships and opened up the route to the knockout stage to the four best third placed teams.

Sadly, three points isn't a tally Scotland can now reach as they sit on one point from their opening two games following a thumping loss to hosts Germany followed by that spirited Switzerland draw in Cologne. So that leaves Scotland with three possible final points totals: Four points, two points or the single point they are currently on if they lose to Magyars. Victory would see them through and defeat would see them exit the tournament. But what if they drew and ended up in two points? Surely two points wouldn't be enough to qualify. Well, actually it might. But it could mean a tortuous wait for the Tartan Army until all groups have completed. And if there's a nerve-wracking way of doing it, Scotland usually chooses that route!

In short, if Scotland finish on two points then they would need the third placed team in at least two of the other six groups to finish on the same total or less. And right now there is hope on that front with three chances. Undoubtedly the best chance is in GROUP B. Croatia and Albania currently have one point each from the draw they fought out and they face big guns Italy and Spain respectively in their final game of the section which they'll be expected to lose.

GROUP C offers another opportunity. Serbia are bottom with just one point and face Denmark in their final game while Slovenia currently occupy third spot on two points and are up against England in their match on Tuesday. The Three Lions will be odds-on to win that and Scotland will be hoping the Auld Enemy could do us a favour and hit Slovenia's goal difference which is currently at zero while Scotland are -4 (that's where the Germany drubbing was a huge blow).

GROUP F has also presented a potential avenue for progression after the Czech Republic and Georgia played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday. That has left both sides with just a point from their first two matches ahead of their final games against Turkey and Euro 2016 champions Portugal respectively. But those final games take place on Wednesday and could mean an agonising wait.

But a victory for Scotland against Hungary would cut out any of the nerves and leading bookmaker Coral are seeing strong support from punters for Scotland to qualify for the last 16.

Steve Clarke's side are 6/4 to reach the knockout stages of the tournament and are 13-8 to beat Hungary and earn a victory which is likely to be enough to see them reach the next stage of the competition. “This is arguably Scotland's biggest game for decades and patriotic punters are confident they can pick up the win against Hungary and qualify for the last 16 of the tournament,” said Coral’s John Hill. "Hundreds of thousands of bets will be placed on the Scotland vs Hungary game and we expect over 95% of those will be for Scotland to prevail."