Why Scott McTominay vs Dominik Szoboszlai will decide Scotland's Euro 2024 fate in 'win or bust' Hungary scenario

Tam Courts reckons Scotland will make history if Scott McTominay can outshine Dominik Szoboszlai on Sunday night.

The former Honved boss believes the two English Premier League stars are key to their respective nation’s hopes going into the final Group A game in Stuttgart. Manchester United stalwart McTominay was Scotland’s talisman in qualifying and got their goal in Wednesday’s draw with Switzerland. He will be up against Liverpool playmaker and Hungary skipper Szoboszlai and Courts believes that whoever makes the greater impact can go a long way to deciding the massive clash. And he is keeping his fingers crossed it will be McTominay who will be celebrating.

The former Dundee United boss said: “There are a lot of parallels between the two teams. The Scotland team is massively reliant on McTominay while Hungary are equally dependent on their skipper Szoboszlai. McTominay’s runs late into the box will be important.

“When the game becomes open, which I think it will, Scotland has to make those counter attacking moments work, like they did in getting the goal against Switzerland. Our set plays will need to be a little bit better too, because there isn’t much between the teams so it will come down to these moments on the counter or the set pieces.”

Hungary know it is win or bust against Steve Clarke’s side after losing their first two games, while victory should see Scotland qualify from the group stages at major tournament for the first time. Courts added: “Hungary don’t look like a team who have great rhythm or are looking really confident in what they are doing just now.

“I thought Scotland were under-par again against Switzerland. I still felt we looked a bit anxious on the ball. Maybe that was natural after what happened in the first game. They were definitely better than we had been against Germany and I am hoping we will be better again tomorrow. I thought tactically against Germany that Hungary looked quite strong.

“They also troubled Germany on a few occasions as well. They looked dangerous on the counter attack and Szoboszlai had a couple of chances. His set pieces were also dangerous and will be against Scotland.

“Scotland were quite open against Switzerland and that is a worry. Szoboszlai on the counter could be their biggest threat. Hungary are really resilient at the back. They are well-organised and a lot of their players play for some big clubs in big leagues. There is a lot of experience there. They all know their jobs and their strength is in the collective.”

Hungary boss Marco Rossi and Scotland counterpart Clarke have both built their teams up. Rossi has taken some big scalps on the way and will fancy their chances against Scotland and give themselves a chance of pipping Clarke’s men for a spot in the last 16. But Courts believes Clarke and his team can and will create history.

He added: “When you look at Hungary over the last five or six years under Rossi, there are a lot of similarities with ourselves. Rossi and Clarke have been in charge for roughly the same amount of time. Hungary has beaten some big nations and done really well over that period. But I am feeling very positive. I fancy Scotland, I really do.

“The remit is really clear for us – it is win or bust. The players have shown enormous character after the Germany game. We let ourselves down in that game. It was the showpiece game and we didn’t perform anywhere near the way we know we can.

“So to bounce back against Switzerland was good. The team under Steve Clarke have shown they can put in performances against the best and what a great chance they have to win on Sunday and get into the latter stages.”