Scottish football fans at home and abroad have crowded into pubs and fan parks to watch their side’s crunch Euro 2024 match against Hungary, which remains goalless at half time.
Scotland have made a solid start to the fierce clash, which has seen three Hungarian players shown a yellow card, but have yet to fashion a good chance in a half which saw their opponents go closest through a header from a free kick.
If the score remains the same, both teams are likely to be knocked out of the tournament.
Thousands of Tartan Army supporters descended on Stuttgart today bringing a wave of colour and noise ahead of one of the biggest games in their country’s history.
Scots drank with locals, sang football anthems and even put on a bagpipe concert as the pre-match atmosphere built up into a frenzy in the German city this afternoon.
A win tonight against their Group A rivals will almost certainly see the Scots progress to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time.
But a draw or a loss to the Magyars will mean the team crash out at the group stage once again, just as they did in 2021.
The pre-match atmosphere was building in Stuttgart earlier this afternoon with large groups of Scots invading the sun-soaked city dressed in tartan kilts and replica kits.
And the sound of bagpipes screamed through the streets as the army of fans put on a well-rehearsed show which ended up on a stage in front of thousands of adoring spectators.
Meanwhile the Scottish side, who will be hoping to become national heroes tonight, were serenaded by supporters with a stirring rendition of Flowers of Scotland as they left the team hotel.
In amusing scenes elsewhere, one fan grabbed a staff member’s megaphone and launched into a performance of a song paying homage to Diego Maradona.
The late Argentinian footballer single-handedly knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup with the famous ‘Hand of God’ goal before scoring what has often been described as the goal of the century later in the match.
The same fan continued the show by singing Scotland’s national anthem before being joined by dozens of beer-drinking compatriots.
Thousands of Hungary fans will also be in attendance tonight with their side facing an early exit after losses to host nation Germany and Switzerland.
The Tartan Army mingled well with the Hungarians in Stuttgart, adding to the positive write-up their fans have received throughout the tournament.
Scottish fans drank and sang with German supporters before doing the same with the Swiss in Cologne earlier this week.
Two fans earned plaudits after they were spotted holding an umbrella for an elderly man as the rain poured down at a fan park.
The moment has since been immortalised in a cartoon advert featured on German public transport.
But there is no love lost for the English, whose showdown against Slovenia on Tuesday will decide their Euros future, with members of the Tartan Army mocking the Auld Enemy with chants across Germany.
Scotland supporters even delivered some brutal and hilarious responses when asked to name their favourite English people as they partied in Stuttgart over the weekend.
Many were unable to come up with an answer. One simply said ‘Nobody’ while another, clad in an orange wig, hesitated for a second and simply walked away.
‘Basil Fawlty’ quipped one, referencing the hit BBC comedy ‘Fawlty Towers’.
Another name-dropped renowned TV host and reporter Gabby Logan, saying: ‘She’s beautiful and she’s married to a Scottish person [former rugby player Kenny Logan].’
One supporter chose Jordan Pickford and revealed he had split loyalties, explaining: ‘Jordan Pickford because I’m an Everton fan. But he’s got T-Rex arms.’
Paul Gascoigne also earned a mention with another supporter adding: ‘I reckon Gascoigne is the best English person you’ll ever see.’
A further Scot opted for Steven Gerrard due to his Liverpool loyalties. Alluding to the viewpoint of some Reds supporters, he then said: ‘Scouse not English!’
Earlier Scotland fans were left grappling a dilemma after being asked by Mail Sport whether they would trade Steve Clarke’s side making it to the knock-out stage, if it meant England would win Euro 2024.
Some Scotland supporters were insistent it would be a trade they would be unwilling to accept.
‘Oh, get tae f*** no way,’ one Scotland fan responded, with his friend adding ‘Even if we progress, you’ll never win it anyway.’
‘Never, ever, ever we’re still having to hear about ’66 for f*** sake’.
Another responded ‘Absolutely not, no, I’d rather jump in the river of Cleland.’
Others were more open to the prospect if it mean Scotland reach the knock-out stage for the first time.
‘Yeah, because that’s progress for Scotland,’ one responded when posed the question.
One member of the Tartan Army admitted they were relaxed about the prospect of England potentially winning the tournament, as they have other plans for the final in Berlin on July 14.
The supporters in question would go on to have something to cheer about as Scotland held Switzerland to a 1-1 draw to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive.
A point marked what could prove to be a vital turnaround in Scotland’s tournament, after they were suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat at the hands of the hosts in their opening game.
Scotland’s hopes of progressing from Group A now rely on them getting a result against Hungary at the MHP Arena this evening.
A victory would see Scotland reach the four-point target set out by Steve Clarke before the tournament and could see them progress beyond the group stage for the first time in their history.