'DON'T come home too soon'.
It's every Scotland fan's biggest fear - immortalised in Del Amitri's 1998 World Cup song.
Those same fears came bubbling back to the surface right now after Scotland's 5-1 opening day Euro 2024 humbling against Germany - but the draw with Switzerland puts a different complexion on things ahead of Sunday night's massive clash with Hungary.
The Scots - as we all must know by now - have never qualified from the group stage of ANY major tournament.
It's a record Steve Clarke and his squad are desperate to do something about - and they've given themselves a genuine chance of making it.
Disgusted shoppers slam supermarket after spotting turkey two weeks out of date
With a whopping SIXTEEN teams from the 24 sides which enter the competition able to find their way into the knockout stages, our chances have never been greater.
The 5-1 humbling was a body blow but we're not done yet and here's how the qualifying equation works now for Scotland.
What do Scotland need against Hungary to qualify in third place?
- Last Wednesday's result means Scotland are sure to kick off against Hungary with their chance of qualification still LIVE
- A win SHOULD be enough against Hungary to finish in third.
- But there are no guarantees.
- A big win against Hungary, and a big Swiss defeat against Germany, could even see us leapfrog the Swiss into SECOND, although our goal difference is currently four goals worse.
- Teams who finish in the top two spots are assured of a spot in the knockout rounds
- The FOUR third placed teams with the best records across the groups will also progress
What are our chances of getting through with four points?
- There's no guarantees, particularly as our goal difference is poor.
- But since the tournament went to 24 teams, no team has EVER failed to qualify with four points.
- We're in Group A and play first so other teams would know what they need to beat our tally of points and goal difference.
- We currently sit third in the table of teams slated to finish third in their groups, behind Slovenia and Albania, but three teams have yet to play their second match.
- There's a very slim possibility of a draw against Hungary being enough - but no team has ever qualified for the last 16 with TWO points
- Here's the current list of third placed teams ahead of Saturday's games
Who and where would Scotland play if they finish second in the group?
- Scotland can no longer win the group, but finish second in Group A and Scotland would face the Runners-up in Group B
- That could be a meeting with holders Italy or our old foes Spain.
- The other two options in that group are Croatia or Albania
- The match would take place in Cologne in Berlin's Olympiastadion on Sat 29 June with a 5pm kick-off
Who and where would Scotland play if they are one of the top four third place finishers in the group?
- Finish in one of the top four third place teams and Scotland would face the Winners of either Group B, E or F
- Group B has Spain, Croatia, Italy and Albania
- Group E has Belgium, Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine
- Group F has Turkiye, Georgia, Portugal and Czechia
- The final classification depends on which groups the best third placed teams come from
- There's three possible fixture dates and venues
- We could play Spain/Croatia/Italy/Albania in Cologne on Sunday June 30
- OR we could play Belgium/Slovakia/Romania/Ukraine in Munich on Tuesday July 2
- OR we could play Turkiye/Georgia/Portugal/Czechia in Frankfurt on Monday July 1
What are the tie-breakers if teams are level at the end of the group stages?
- Points
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Wins
- If at the end of the group stage, two teams in the SAME group who are facing each other are level on all the above, a penalty shoot-out will be played
- Lower disciplinary points total
- European Qualifiers overall ranking - except if comparison involves Germany, where lots will be drawn
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
