HUNGARY’S Italian boss Marco Rossi has brought pride and success back to a nation whose glory days seemed gone forever less than a decade ago.
This is the third time in a row – and the second under Rossi – that the Magyars have qualified for the Euros.
The question now is whether they can transfer their form from recent Nations League campaigns into a major tournament.
They have more players doing well in the big leagues than they have for a long time, such as Freiburg forward Roland Sallai.
Whilst the hosts Germany will, of course, be a difficult match there is not a lot between the Hungarians, Switzerland or even Scotland as the rest of the group.
Roared on by a big travelling support, this could be their best chance of making a real impact on the international stage.
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Manager: Marco Rossi
One of five Italian coaches at Euro 2024, Rossi was granted Hungarian citizenship last year.
Key man: Dominik Szoboszlai
The golden boy of Hungarian football is also the team’s skipper.
But after a fine start at new club Liverpool, he was injured and then out of form.
Likely line-up
How they attack
Hungary adopt a 3-4-2-1 shape with two advanced midfielders playing in behind a more muscular type of striker.
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As they look to build their attack from the back Hungary remain patient with the ball as they look to draw opposition players out to press the ball.
They slow the tempo down to draw the opposition towards them.
They then switch to hitting more direct passes over the line or through the press.
Hungary are fairly flexible in their approach with two key players in particular given freedom to move in and out of position.
Milos Kerkez, of Bournemouth, will typically play as a left wing-back but he has the freedom to move into the channels.
And Liverpool star Szoboszlai will be one of the two advanced midfielders but expect him to roam all over the pitch.
Hungary will be slower and more patient in the build-up in the initial phase of the game they will then move through the gears.
Deeper players pile forward to support the attack and get into positions beyond the ball to break through.
How they defend
Hungary look to split their defensive structure.
Near the opposition goal, they will work to press and try to regain possession of the ball high up the pitch.
During this phase, the rest of the defensive block drops to be medium to deep to deny the opposition space.
Because the defensive structure for Hungary is split, if the opposition are able to play through the initial press then they can find spaces that they can play in to hurt the rest of the Hungarian back line.
While Hungary try to press aggressively in the middle areas to regain possession, they struggle at times with their positioning.
This can leave the opposition space around the press that they can easily attack into.
Prediction
Hungary are predicted to have a slight edge over their closest Group A rivals Scotland and Switzerland.
Because of that, many believe the Hungarians will finish second behind hosts Germany, which would pit them against the runners-up of Group G – likely to be holders Italy.
Hungary were expected to finish bottom of Nations League Group A3 in 2022.
But instead shocked their more high ranking opponents, beating England home and away and drawing 1-1 with Germany at home.
Latest odds
Hungary are joint twelfth favourites to be crowned Euro 2024 champions.
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The sit with 80/1 odds, alongside Serbia, Austria, and Switzerland.
Glam fans and Wags
From a professional tennis player to a stunning Hungarian model, here’s the Wags making their tournament debuts this week.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
