With a spiral of positive results and unshakeable confidence in its team, Hungary dreams of already getting one foot in the door towards the round of 16, this Saturday (3 p.m.) against Switzerland.
Decryption in three questions with two men born in Hungary, former players and internationals who have become well-known coaches here: Tibor Balog and Gabor Bukran.
1. What form?
Hungary arrives launched in Germany. Their defeat in preparation against Ireland (2-1, June 4) is the only one in their last sixteen matches. “The team is confident and in a good spiral, says Tibor Balog (58 years old, 37 caps). The atmosphere in the country is in any case optimistic. There are a lot of hopes.”
EuroStars 2024: Dominik Szoboszlai, wings spread
The only recent annoyance: the slight injury to Dominik Szoboszlai, captain, star and playing master of the team, who should however be able to hold his place. “It’s probably a bit of misinformation to confuse the issue, smiles Balog, who regains all his seriousness when he talks about the in-depth work carried out by the Hungarian federation in recent years. It has expanded, professionalized, and offers a framework and beneficial conditions for selection. Like the new national stadium (Editor’s note: Puskas Arena, built in 2019 and which hosted Euro 2020 matches). Even against smaller nations like Kosovo at the end of March, the stadium was filled with 65,000 spectators.”
2. What style of play?
Since the summer of 2018 and the taking office of Italian coach Marco Rossi (59), Hungary has improved tactically. “The three-way defense, with two pistons on the sides, has been a constant since 2020,” analyzes the Belgian-Hungarian Gabor Bukran (ex-Charleroi).
”Rossi looked more for players capable of adapting to his preferred system than the other way around. He has his ideas”, adds Balog.
The selection of Hungary
His team falls back to five behind when losing possession and often uses Varga’s strengths, up front, very well to reconvert. A 3-5-2 or, more recently, 3-4-2-1,”But without concrete however, insists Balog. Apart from Szoboszlai, there is no big star in the squad. The great strength of Hungary is the collective.”
Bukran agrees: “The number 1 asset is solidarity. The organization. Enthusiasm.”
Rossi, who knows the Hungarian championship perfectly having been champion with Budapest Honved FC in 2016-2017, managed to combine experience and youth. “Gulacsi and Orban, who play together at Leipzig, are the defensive bosses. On the left, remember the name of the young Kerkez (Bournemouth). It is very promising. And in front, there are Sallai and Varga…”
3. What ambition?
Clearly, Germany and Switzerland are favorites for the first two places in Group A, but Hungary intends to play spoilsport and advance to the round of 16. “Since four of the eight third-place finishers will pass, that must be the goal. Afterwards, it will be a bonus”, our two interlocutors agree.
The first match, this Saturday against an alternating current but theoretically superior Switzerland, will already greatly influence Hungary’s third consecutive Euro.
The probable compositions
HUNGARY (3-4-2-1): Gulacsi – Szalai, Orban, Lang – Bolla, Styles, Nagy, Kerkez; Sallai, Szoboszlai – Varga. SWITZERLAND (3-4-2-1): Sommer – Rodriguez, Akanji, Elvedi – Widmer, Freuler, Xhaka, Ndoye – Shaqiri, Okafor – Amdouni.
