Callum McGregor laments Scotland’s missed chance to advance to the knockout stage at a European Championship, a feat never achieved before by the team.

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Kevin Csoboth’s decisive goal in the 100th minute sealed Hungary’s victory in Stuttgart, leaving the Tartan Army and their supporters pondering what could have been. Despite strong backing from the fans throughout the Group A matches, Scotland failed to secure a win and bowed out of the competition without making a significant impact.

Acknowledging the disappointment felt by the nation, McGregor empathizes with the fans but offers a perspective on setbacks, emphasizing the importance of enduring challenges to progress in the long term.

Reflecting on the match, McGregor expressed his disappointment, stating, “We had high hopes and expectations for this tournament, believing this could be the breakthrough moment. The players gave their all, but in football, sometimes luck doesn’t fall in your favor, as was the case tonight.”

While recognizing that the drawn match wasn’t sufficient for Scotland to advance, McGregor explained the team’s approach, saying, “We knew we had to aim for a win, putting everything on the line. Unfortunately, we were caught on the counter-attack, resulting in a goal that, in the end, was inconsequential.”

Addressing Scotland’s absence from top competitions for a considerable period, McGregor highlighted the learning curve associated with such disappointments, noting, “We are constantly evolving, and setbacks help us gauge our level. Despite our belief and confidence in securing a victory, Hungary presented a tough challenge and capitalized on a crucial moment that we, unfortunately, did not seize.”