Page 10 - Soccer360 Issue 106

S360 PREDICTION | 19TH PLACE NICKNAME: MAGYARS
HUNGARY
In the past few years Hungary have become a significant force once more and an unbeaten qualifying campaign sees the Magyars as one of the teams to watch this summer. Ian Waterhouse asks how far they can go.
EURO APPEARANCES: 4
EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 0
FIFA RANKING 26TH
MAGYARS MAKING WAVES
Hungary possess a side packed full of reliable if not spectacular players, but together they make a strong and extremely well drilled side. As we have seen in the European Championships before in the notable cases of Denmark in 1992 and
in particular, Greece in 2004, that can sometimes be a winning recipe, so if they can be spot on tactically there is no reason why they can’t have a special tournament. That isn’t to say that the squad is lacking in star quality. A strong spine of Peter Gulacsi in goal, RB Leipzig teammate Willi Orban
in defence, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield and the dynamic Roland
Sallai up front - together with no glaring weaknesses throughout the squad makes them a tricky proposition for anyone. Under the impressive leadership of long-serving head coach Marco Rossi, they are a team that many expect to go deep if they can firstly navigate Group A in which they will face Germany, Scotland, and Switzerland. With some tight games expected, it won’t be straightforward but what Hungary
have shown constantly over the past few years is that they don’t fear anyone and
that mentality has brought some standout results. Hungary have now qualified for the last three European Championships in a
row and have done so more convincingly
on each occasion, this time topping their group with an unbeaten record. It is the first time since the 1980s the Magyars have had such a solid pattern of making it into major tournaments, although a place at the World Cup still eludes them. Could the golden days of Puskás and co return?
PROBABLE STARTING XI
ADAM
SZOBOSZLAI
THE COACH:
MARCO ROSSI
In charge since 2018, Marco Rossi was far from a household name when appointed but has turned Hungary into a very strong and tactically astute side over the space of the last six years. He earned significant credit for the team’s performances in a daunting Euro 2020 group, and has firmly established the Magyars in the top tier of the Nations League. Whoever they come up against this summer, he’ll have a plan.
KEY PLAYER:
DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI
This is a Hungary side full of hard workers
and willing runners, but Dominik Szoboszlai offers that extra elegance and he is the
one his teammates look to most often for attacking inspiration. The skipper had a largely impressive first season in the Premier League with Liverpool, and he’ll look to add to his growing reputation by taking his national team deep into Euro 2024.
THEIR BEST THREE EUROS
1964
1972
2016
3RD
4TH
13TH
UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD:11 W:2 D:4 L:5
KERKEZ NEGO
LANG
GULACSI
SALLAI
NAGY SCHAFER
SZALAI
ORBAN
FACTFILE
POPULATION:
9.68 million
EURO FINALS APPEARANCES: 4
BEST FINISH:
Third place (1964)
MOST MEMORABLE EUROS MOMENT: A thrilling 3-3 draw with Portugal in 2016.
HOW THEY GOT TO EURO 2024: Unbeaten winners of their group with five wins and three draws.
LAST EUROS APPEARANCE: 2020 - Knocked out at the group stage, but impressed against France, Portugal, and Germany.
MOST CAPPED PLAYER: Balázs Dzsudzsák (109)
LEADING INTERNATIONAL SCORER: Ferenc Puskás (84)
HOW TO FOLLOW:
FERENC PUSKAS
VS SWITZERLAND VS HUNGARY VS SCOTLAND JUNE 15TH JUNE 19TH JUNE 23RD 9:00AM | EST 12:00PM | EST 3:00PM | EST
8
SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024
GROUP A - UEFA EURO 2024