Hungary v Scotland
Friday, 25 October 2024
Scotland v Hungary
Tuesday, 29 October 024
The Scotland Women’s National Team will face Hungary in the first round of the UEFA Women’s European Qualifiers Play-off as they bid to secure a place at next year’s finals in Switzerland.
Pedro Martinez Losa’s side secured top spot in their qualification group earlier this week after a 1-0 victory over Serbia ensured they would finish the campaign undefeated and would therefore be seeded in today’s draw in Nyon.
As one of the seeded teams, Scotland will play in Hungary first in the two-legged play-off on Friday, 25 October before the return leg in Scotland on Tuesday, 29 October.
Should Scotland progress through the first round against Hungary they would compete against the winner of the Montenegro v Finland tie in the Play-off second round with a place at UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 awaiting the victor.
Scotland have played Hungary three times in the past three years, winning both fixtures in qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against them and drawing 0-0 in the most recent meeting at the 2022 Pinatar Cup.
Goals from Erin Cuthbert and Martha Thomas secured a 2-0 victory in Hungary in September 2021, in what was Pedro Martine Losa’s first fixture as Head Coach of Scotland.
An injury time Rachel Corsie winner then secured the three points at Hampden in October that year after Hungary had equalised following Christy Grimshaw’s opener.
Reaction to the draw
SWNT Head Coach Pedro Martinez Losa: “Hungary are a young team, a team that we have played before in the qualification campaign for the World Cup. They are a team that has been developing in recent years, improving their levels.
“We expect every team to believe they have a chance – they will be very prepared for their first game at home and will be very competitive away.
“The three matches we have played against them recently give us confidence, though time moves quickly in terms of developing teams’ competitiveness. I am sure we will find a different Hungary, very competitive and prepared, but we are also confident that we can be competitive against any opponent.
“We have had five wins in a row in our campaign and while at some moment this run will finish we want to keep it going as long as we can.
“Momentum is very important – life is about momentum. Football is about using the energy of the fans and being able to impact the opponent as much as we can.
“We have had this experience before of being in a play-off to qualify, which gives us confidence and the right mentality for the team. That experience will help us to be calm in the right moments and have belief in ourselves. Now we have to do it again and I am sure this time it will be different.
“We know who our opponents would be if we win the first round but we don’t look too far ahead. We have learned how the day-to-day is important and that the next day is the most important.
“We have the confidence and the belief we can do it. We are a very tough opponent that probably nobody wanted to draw.”
How the play-offs work
Round 1 will be played between 23 and 29 October, and round 2 between 27 November and 3 December.
The seven round 2 winners will join hosts Switzerland and direct qualifiers Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain in the 16 December finals draw in Lausanne.