Hungary come into Euro 2024 because the darkest of horses.
That is their finest shot at a deep match run in many years, with a beloved coach, a well-drilled unit, and sprinkles of stardust.
The Magyarok are on a 14-game unbeaten streak stretching again to September 2022. Their final match, the 2022-23 Nations League, noticed them beat England twice – together with a 4-0 trouncing at Molineux – defeat Germany as soon as, and end second in a bunch additionally containing reigning European champions Italy.
Headlines will naturally gravitate in the direction of Liverpool‘s Dominik Szoboszlai, however look out for goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and defender Willi Orban, long-time servants of the RB Leipzig revolution, in addition to Freiburg winger Roland Sallai, scorer of implausible targets.
Oh, and, er, Callum Types, a Bury lad and Barnsley full-back who has by no means performed his membership soccer exterior England, does not communicate Hungarian, and solely discovered that his grandmother was from there in 2020.
Here is all the things it is advisable to learn about Hungary, together with how they certified for the match, their historical past within the competitors and who to look out for.
Hungary are unbeaten since September 2022 and their perception has not been larger in many years
Dominik Szoboszlai is the important thing title however he’s backed by a number of seasoned Bundesliga stars
Callum Types, left, is one to observe contemplating he was born in Bury and performs for Barnsley
Who’s the supervisor?
Marco Rossi (2018-present)
Marco Rossi is an adopted Hungarian at this stage. No, actually – he took an oath of citizenship final 12 months and was congratulated by the prime minister Viktor Orban. The story of how he obtained right here is outstanding.
In 2011, Rossi discovered himself in a buddy’s restaurant in Budapest known as Millennium da Pippo. He was virtually able to give up teaching after seven years of frustration within the Italian decrease divisions, but it surely simply so occurred that his restaurateur pal knew the proprietor of Honved, one in every of Hungary’s most iconic golf equipment.
Rossi known as the membership’s sporting director after some encouragement and a 12 months later he was named as their supervisor. In his second stint on the membership, in 2017, he delivered Honved their first league title in 24 years and the following 12 months Hungary got here calling. Now he has managed the third-most video games of any supervisor of their historical past.
He led Hungary to Euro 2020 however they completed backside of the group of loss of life containing France, Germany, and Portugal. All the identical, they gained plaudits for bloodying a few noses, snatching attracts from France and Germany in pulsating video games they had been unfortunate to not win. Certainly, they had been simply minutes away from making the final 16 earlier than Leon Goretzka broke their hearts.
With a extra beneficial group this time – and a reunion with Germany – Rossi has a superb likelihood of elevating his legacy additional. May a 3rd consecutive ‘Hungarian Sportspeople of the 12 months’ award await?
Marco Rossi has been accountable for Hungary since 2018 and is an adopted citizen of the nation
A coincidence in a Budapest cafe led him to handle in Hungary and now he’s a nationwide hero
Who’s their star man?
Dominik Szoboszlai (40 caps, 12 targets)
There isn’t any disgrace in going for the plain title right here.
The Liverpool midfielder is Hungary’s captain and was their hero in qualifying, producing 4 targets and 5 assists as they went unbeaten. Given license to roam in a ‘free function’, he’s already one in every of their most skilled internationals aged 23.
He signed off the qualifying marketing campaign in type with two targets in a 3-1 win over Montenegro, nutmegging one defender and wrong-footing one other in a sensational slalom for the primary. After single-handedly turning the sport on its head, he downed a conventional Hungarian shot of Palinka and celebrated with followers within the stands.
What Hungary have in Szoboszlai is a talismanic determine who can do something. He is a wonderful all-round contributor, a keen runner, and glad to muck in with the soiled defensive work. However, crucially, he has these moments of magic in his locker which may show so essential in match soccer the place there aren’t any second probabilities.
In qualifying towards Bulgaria final 12 months he positioned a 25-yard free-kick within the prime nook out of nowhere and groups will likely be on pink alert for that dead-ball skill.
Managed Rossi compliments him extremely: ‘His finest talent, for certain, is his shot. I have been in soccer for greater than half a century, and I’ve to say that I do not bear in mind greater than 5 gamers within the final 50 years which have a shot like him or who’re higher than him.’
Szoboszlai scored within the 92nd minute to assist Hungary qualify for Euro 2020 earlier than lacking the match resulting from harm. Count on fireworks now he is match and hungry.
Szoboszlai is Hungary’s captain and persistently delivers within the massive moments for them
The Liverpool midfielder is industrious and has the star high quality wanted in match soccer
How did they qualify?
Hungary certified from Group G with a robust document – 5 wins, three attracts, and no defeats, with 16 targets scored and solely seven conceded.
That mentioned, it was hardly probably the most daunting group, consisting of Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania, and Bulgaria. Failure was not an choice.
Of their making an attempt moments, Hungary pulled although. They got here from 2-0 right down to salvage some extent away at Lithuania and compelled a 97th-minute personal purpose to seize a 2-2 attract Bulgaria.
Whereas they began serenely, holding three clear sheets of their first three video games, issues grew extra chaotic in the direction of the tip. Hungary picked up pink playing cards towards Serbia and Bulgaria and holding their self-discipline is one thing to be careful for.
Beating Serbia residence and away was no imply feat and scoring as many as Italy in qualifying suggests firepower is not a problem.
When you assume this group is all about Szoboszlai, assume more durable. Ferencvaros ahead Barnabas Varga scored simply as many targets (4) whereas Sallai smashed in a half-volley from exterior the field towards Serbia in a riposte to Szoboszlai’s wonder-goals.
The Magyarok had been unscathed in qualifying however they had been handed one of many simpler teams
Roland Sallai scored a wonderful half-volley towards Serbia and is not any stranger to particular targets
Fixtures (all UK time)
Heading into a bunch with Germany, Switzerland, and Scotland, Hungary have a greater likelihood of creating it by than final time round.
Final time, some third-placed groups made it to the final 16 with simply three factors, whereas 4 factors has at all times been sufficient because the new format arrived in 2016.
Hungary vs Switzlerland – June 15, 2pm, Cologne
Germany vs Hungary – June 19, 5pm, Stuttgart
Hungary vs Scotland – June 23, 8pm, Stuttgart
Hungary need revenge towards Germany, whose late equaliser knocked them out of Euro 2020
Event historical past
2020 – Group stage
2016 – Group stage
1976-2012 – Didn’t qualify
1972 – Fourth
1968 – Didn’t qualify
1964 – Third
1960 – Didn’t qualify
Rossi’s males have certified for his or her third consecutive Euros and so they have a superb likelihood of creating it to the final 16
Odds to win the trophy
Confirmed 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Peter Gulacsi (RB Leipzig), Denes Dibusz (Ferencvaros), Peter Szappanos (Paksi FC)
Defenders: Botond Balogh (Parma), Endre Botka (Ferencvaros), Marton Dardai (Hertha Berlin), Attila Fiola (Fehervar), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth), Adam Lang (Omonia Nicosia), Willi Orban (RB Leipzig), Zsolt Nagy (Puskas Akademia), Attila Szalai (Hoffenheim), Loic Nego (Le Havre)
Midfielders: Bendeguz Bolla (Servette), Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union), Krisztofer Horvath (Kecskemeti), Laszlo Kleinheisler (Hajduk Cut up), Mihaly Kata (MTK Budapest), Adam Nagy (Spezia), Andras Schafer (Union Berlin), Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool), Callum Types (Barnsley)
Forwards: Roland Sallai (Freiburg), Martin Adam (Ulsan HD), Barnabas Varga (Ferencvaros), Kevin Csoboth (Ujpest FC)
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