Even though Hungary will play in Germany in the third consecutive biggest exhibition of the Old Continent, it is obvious that the "light cavalry" team is eagerly awaiting the start. The head coach of Hungary, the Italian Marco Rossi, was the first of all 24 participants of Euro 2024 to announce the preliminary list on May 14.
The "Light Cavalry" were drawn in group A, and they will play their first game on June 15 in Cologne against Switzerland, four days later they will try against the hosts in Stuttgart, and in the same city on June 23, their participation in the group will end against Scotland.
Hungary secured its place by winning the group with Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania and Bulgaria, and against the "Sokol" it appeared pale and victorious in Podgorica, without a chance or a shot on target (0:0), while at the "Puskas Arena" reversed with an offensive in the sequel (3:1)
The Hungarians, mostly thanks to coach Rossi, are a great competitive team, so even the draw in Podgorica was not accidental - they finished the qualifying group without defeat (five wins and three draws). This generation of Hungary, with the great Dominik Soboslai, is getting closer to the European elite, we remember the great victories against England in the League of Nations - in Budapest 1:0, and sensationally at "Moline" in Wolverhampton the "light cavalry" humiliated Gordi Albion - 4: 0. Then, however, in order to win the group, they lost the decisive game against Italy (1:0) on their home field.
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Hungarians also remember a great period of failure, because they did not play in European championships from 1972 to 2016. And Rossi has an excellent choice, goalkeepers Denes Dubus (Ferencvaros) and Peter Gulaci (Leipzig), in defense Vili Orban (Leipzig), Atila Salai (Freiburg) and experienced Marton Dardai (Hertha), in the midfield are Andraš Šefer (Union Berlin), Miloš Kerkez (Borrnmouth), Calum Stiles (Southampton), but is a real force in attack with Liverpool attacker Soboslai and Freiburg forward Roland Shalai.
The Hungarians, in contrast to the two World Cup finals, have not shined in European championships throughout history. They only have bronze in 1964, when they were defeated by the host Spain after extra time (2:1) in the semi-finals, and in the match for third place they defeated Denmark (3:1).
The rivals in the group are still up to their standards, although they did not beat Šavjcarska in the last six competitive games - four defeats and two draws, but they played the last game back in 2017. They haven't even met Scotland for a long time, but they became a nightmare for Germany - a draw and a victory in the League of Nations, in the last game in September 2022 at the "Red Bull Arena" in Leipzig, with a goal by Adam Salai, who in the meantime ended his career.
At the previous Euro, Hungary was in a group with Germany, and at the "Alijanc Arena" they twice led to a draw - 2:2. At that time, the Hungarians almost passed the "hell" group, where France and Portugal were still there, so a slightly easier draw than in 2021 might bring them a passage to the round of XNUMX.
It would not be a sensation, on the contrary - Hungary also played in the second phase in 2016 in France, with a weaker team than now. It was stopped by Belgium in the round of 4 - 0:XNUMX.
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