Scotland hoping to reach knockout stage for first time at Hungary's expense at Euro 2024

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Scotland faces Hungary on Sunday in Stuttgart in their final Group A match. Both teams hope it's not their last game at the European Championship. Scotland is third in the group. It followed a 5-1 loss to Germany with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland. Hungary is last after losses to Switzerland and Germany. Kickoff is at 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). Here’s what to know about the match:

— Scotland is hoping to reach the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time. It has faint hopes of finishing second in the group but would need to beat Hungary and hope that Switzerland loses to Germany and that there’s a significant swing in goal difference. That is the second tiebreaker if teams are level, after head-to-head.

— Both teams still have a chance of making the round of 16 as one of the four best-performing third-place teams. Hungary needs a win to keep its hopes alive, while Scotland could even do so if it avoids defeat.

— Scotland hasn’t won a match at the European Championship since it beat Switzerland in 1996.

— The teams have never met in a competitive fixture.

— Kieran Tierney’s tournament ended when the Scotland defender was stretchered off with a hamstring injury in Wednesday’s draw against Switzerland.

— Scotland defender Ryan Porteous serves the second of a two-match suspension after being sent off against Germany.

— Hungary midfielder Callum Styles could make his first European Championship appearance. The England-born player has recovered from an injury sustained in a victory over Israel in Hungary's final warmup match.

— The teams have met nine times — all friendlies — with Hungary winning four and Scotland three.

— Hungary has reached the knockout stage three times.

— After finishing third in 1964 and fourth eight years later, Hungary had to wait 44 years to reach another European Championship. It topped its group at Euro 2016 but lost to Belgium 4-0 in the round of 16. Hungary failed to advance in the last edition despite draws against France and Germany.

“I don’t think we are feeling that pressure, we’re feeling kind of anticipation, what can be. Can we be that team that changes things, takes the next step? Because the best thing in football is proving people wrong and I don’t think a lot of Europe think we can make that step, and we’ve got full belief in the dressing room that we can.” — Scotland midfielder John McGinn.

“To get a result which leaves it in our hands going into the last game is where we wanted to be before coming into the tournament.” — Scotland defender Jack Hendry.

“At this point in a competition, in such a competition, there’s little to motivate. Because if you as a soccer player can’t find that motivation inside you, then you should change your job.” — Hungary coach Marco Rossi.

“We don’t have to think during the game about other results. We have to win the game and then we’ll start calculating. We just have to win and then we’ll have time to do maths.” — Hungary defender Endre Botka.

“The manager knows what these players are capable of and that’s what we want to do — go and create history. We think we’ve given ourselves a great opportunity and we know that we can take it.” — Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Scotland's Ryan Porteous is shown a red card by referee Clement Turpin after a challenge on Germany's Ilkay Gundogan during a Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Scotland's Kieran Tierney is stretchered off the pitch during a Group A match between Scotland and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Hungary's coach Marco Rossi gestures during a Group A match between Germany and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Scotland's manager Steve Clarke looks on prior a Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Scotland's Scott McTominay celebrates after Switzerland's Fabian Schar scored an own goal during a Group A match between Scotland and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa via AP)

Hungary's Dominik Szoboszlai (10) applauds on the pitch after a Group A match between Germany and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Scotland players react after a Group A match between Scotland and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Hungary's coach Marco Rossi reacts during a Group A match between Germany and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Hungary's coach Marco Rossi gestures during a Group A match between Germany and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Scotland's manager Steve Clarke reacts during a Group A match between Scotland and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Scotland's manager Steve Clarke looks on prior a Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Scotland's Andrew Robertson, front, duels for the ball with Germany's Joshua Kimmich during a Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, Donald Trump, took the stage Thursday evening for a debate that offered an unparalleled opportunity to define their unpopular presidential rematch.

The debate provided Biden, the 81-year-old Democratic incumbent, the chance to reassure voters that he’s capable of guiding the U.S. through a host of challenges as he moved to sharpen the choice voters will face in November. Trump, 78, had the opening to try to move past his felony conviction in New York and convince an audience of tens of millions that he is temperamentally suited to return to the Oval Office.

Trump and Biden entered the night facing stiff headwinds, including a public weary of the tumult of partisan politics and broadly dissatisfied with both, according to polling. But the debate was highlighting how they have sharply different visions on virtually every core issue — abortion, the economy and foreign policy — and deep hostility toward each other.

The two candidates strode on stage and walked directly to their lecterns, avoiding a handshake.

The first question went to Biden, pressed to defend rising inflation since he took office, which he pinned on the situation he inherited from Trump amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden needed to clear his throat twice during his first answer, sounding hoarse, and Trump smirked as Biden started speaking.

The current president and his predecessor hadn't spoken since their last debate weeks before the 2020 presidential election. Trump skipped Biden’s inauguration after leading an unprecedented and unsuccessful effort to overturn his loss that culminated in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection by his supporters.

Trump has promised sweeping plans to remake the U.S. government if he returns to the White House and Biden argues that his opponent would pose an existential threat to the nation’s democracy.

Thursday’s broadcast on CNN, moderated by anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, marked the earliest general election debate in history. It’s the first-ever televised general election presidential debate hosted by a single news outlet after both campaigns ditched the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which had organized every matchup since 1988.

Aiming to avoid a repeat of their chaotic 2020 matchups, Biden insisted — and Trump agreed — to hold the debate without an audience and to allow the network to mute the candidates’ microphones when it is not their turn to speak. The debate's two commercial breaks offered another departure from modern practice, while the candidates have agreed not to consult staff or others while the cameras are off.

Trump and his aides have spent months chronicling what they argue are signs of Biden’s diminished stamina. In recent days, they’ve started to predict Biden will be stronger on Thursday, aiming to raise expectations for the incumbent.

Biden’s team too predicted that he would rise to the occasion, and expressed hope that Trump would be forced to address his positions they believe are anathema to voters.

“Joe’s ready to go. He’s prepared. He’s confident,” his wife, Jill Biden, told donors ahead of the debate. “You know what a great debater he is.”

Heading out of the debate, both Biden and Trump will travel to states they hope to swing their way this fall. Trump is heading to Virginia, a onetime battleground that has shifted toward Democrats in recent years.

Biden is set to jet off to North Carolina, where he is expected to hold the largest-yet rally of his campaign in a state Trump narrowly carried in 2020.

Miller, Price and Weissert reported from Washington.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during an interview in the spin room before a presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump in Atlanta, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Corey Lewandowski speaks with reporters in the spin room before a presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, hosted by CNN in Atlanta, Thursday, June 27, 2024.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., speaks with reporters in the spin room before a presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, hosted by CNN in Atlanta, Thursday, June 27, 2024.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, from fourth left, and current Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, greet President Joe Biden as Biden arrives at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Marietta, Ga., en route to Atlanta to attend the presidential debate. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks in the spin room before a presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump in Atlanta, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)

Stacey Abrams, former State House of Representatives Minority Leader, former State House of Representatives Minority Leader, center, greets President Joe Biden, right, as he arrives at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Marietta, Ga., en route to Atlanta to attend the presidential debate. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

First lady Jill Biden poses for photos with campaign volunteers and supporters at the Virginia Beach Democratic Coordinated Campaign Office on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Virginia Beach, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

President Joe Biden, second right, greets supporters, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Ga., before a presidential debate. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden, second right, greets supporters, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Ga., before a presidential debate. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden takes a photo with a child as he greets supporters, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Ga., before a presidential debate. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden, left, greets supporters, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Ga., before a presidential debate. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

FILE - This combination of photos taken in Columbia, S.C. shows former President Donald Trump, left, on Feb. 24, 2024, and President Joe Biden on Jan. 27, 2024. (AP Photo)