Macari: McTominay has had an exceptional season

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Former Manchester United and Scotland midfielder Lou Macari has hailed the impact Scott McTominay has made for club and country this season, ahead of a significant evening for the latter at UEFA Euro 2024.

McTominay is likely to be involved as Scotland take on Hungary in their final Group A match, knowing that a win in Stuttgart would likely to be enough to take them into the knockout stage of a European Championship for the first time ever.

That’s after the Tartan Army bounced back from a chastening 5-1 defeat to hosts Germany on opening night by picking up an important point against Switzerland on Wednesday – via a 1-1 draw – to keep their hopes of progressing well and truly alive entering Sunday’s 20:00 BST kick-off.

McTominay got the goal in the latter outing for Steve Clarke’s side, on the back of netting seven times in the qualifying campaign and a personal-best season’s tally of 10 for United in 2023/24, prompting deserved and expert acclaim from Macari during the latest episode of The Debate on MUTV.

The Reds legend is looking forward to cheering Scott and co on later, and believes the team has what it takes to make history for the nation.

“In the season, he did exceptionally well for us and for Scotland the other night, and for Scotland in general,” began Macari, who won 24 caps for the Tartan Army between 1972 and 1978, when discussing our no.39 with host Mark Sullivan. “He’s done brilliantly in that midfield.

“Watching the other night was completely different to the first game. The first game, Scotland started off so lackadaisical and they weren’t marking people. And every time Germany went forward, they looked as if they could score. The second game, right from the start, they were closing down, they were getting amongst people and playing the way a Scottish team, in my opinion, has got to play.

“Full of endeavour, full of heart, full of commitment and they got a decent result, and now all of a sudden everything’s turned round where a game against Hungary, which looked the [most] likely of the [Group A] opponents to play against and win the game, stands between Scotland and qualifying.

“I’m looking forward to the Hungary game because if they can do what they did [against Switzerland] then they can do it.”

MCTOMINAY SHARES MACARI’S BELIEF

Speaking to BBC Sport, Scott shared Lou’s sentiments in thinking that Scotland have a good chance of qualifying if they can play in the same manner as against Switzerland on Wednesday.

“If we keep going the way that we’re going, with that hunger and desire, and that belief that we can go and beat Hungary, then I’m pretty sure that we will do,” the midfielder expressed, shortly after the full-time whistle in midweek.

“This is what we play football for, these are the games where you’ve got to live or die on the pitch, you’ve got to go and do it and win.”