Euro 2024 - Hungary Qualifies For Third European Championship in a Row

Posted by World Wide Tickets And Hospitality on November 22nd, 2023

The Hungarian national team completed the Euro 2024 qualification with a home victory over Montenegro with a score of 3:1. In doing so, they finished top of their qualifying group unbeaten, with five wins and three draws. Hungary qualified for its third consecutive European Championship, unprecedented for the country despite its rich football history, which includes two lost World Cup finals.

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The national team managed to qualify with one round remaining in the group stage, however they did so by scoring a last minute own goal to equalize against Bulgaria, a disappointing result against the bottom finishers in the group.

Hungary produced a much better result against Montenegro in front of another packed house at Puskas. While Montenegro led in the first half, Hungary seemed to be in control throughout the match and eventually turned the score around to claim a 3–1 win.

While the general public is generally excited about the prospect of seeing their national team back at the Euros, there is also a small minority of skeptics who are trying to downplay the achievement.

It is true that Hungary's last three appearances at the Euros have come at the same time as the tournament's number of participants has increased from 16 (in place since 1996) to 24. This also provides context for why Hungary have been so successful in the competition. several times over the decades when the national team was ranked much higher in the world - for example, the first European Championship organized by the Soviet Union in 1960 featured only four teams from Europe. Still, victory in the qualifying group would lead to qualification even with a field of 16 teams.

Historic Achievements: Hungary's Euro Cup Journey

Additionally, in 2016, when Hungary managed to qualify for the Euro Cup for the first time in 44 years, they actually reached the round of 16 of the tournament, winning their group (even ahead of eventual winners Portugal).

To further understand the significance of this achievement, note that a number of countries with significant football history failed to qualify, despite 24 of UEFA's 54 countries (excluding banned Russia) reaching the tournament. Teams that did not qualify include Norway, who have one of the greatest talents of our time, Erling Haaland, in their team, Euro 2004 winners Greece, Sweden, Poland, Bosnia, as well as Wales or World Cup silver medalist Croatia, in depending on the team. The last round of Group D has not yet been played. Please note that there are still three playoff spots available in the tournament.

The most vocal opponent rooting against his national team was Laszlo Bartus, editor of the American Hungarian news site Amerikai Népszava. He was offended by head coach Marco Rossi, who calls on the people of the country to want the national team to fail. In his opinion piece, he argued that the National Team is just a propaganda apparatus of the Orban regime, and therefore it is quite reasonable to root against it. Hungarian football is against us, not for us, he wrote.

Euro 2024 - Dominik Szoboszlai Shines as National Team Captain

However, much to Mr Bartus's chagrin, he hasn't had many moments to savor Hungarian football's misfortune this year. In fact, the men's team remained unbeaten throughout 2023. Winning five and leveling three qualifying matches, and winning and leveling one international friendly each.

Hungary's overall unbeaten run now stands at 12 games, coinciding with Dominik Szoboszlai taking over the captaincy from the retiring Adam Szalai. Yes, Hungary have never lost a game since Szoboszlai became their captain.

His influence on the team cannot be overstated. In the match against Bulgaria, in which Hungary secured qualification, the team scored from two of his set pieces: Martin Adam headed a Szoboszlai free-kick into the net in the tenth minute, then Alex Petkov of Bulgaria headed an own goal into his own net. after Szoboszlai's free kick in the 97th minute was Hungary's last chance to equalize.  

Euro 2024: Decisive Moments Against Montenegro

Against Montenegro, he dribbled past three defenders before firing the ball into the bottom far corner to level the score again. Two minutes later he scored again (this time it was much easier for him: he went one on one with the Montenegro goalkeeper after a superb pass from Martin Adam). In extra time, Adam Nagy saved the ball after the Montenegro goalkeeper saved Szoboszlai's free kick.

The Liverpool midfielder has played a decisive role in all five goals scored by Hungary in the last two games. If there is any criticism of the team, it is that they rely too heavily on a few key players who are almost impossible to replace if they are sidelined due to injury or suspension. It's hard to imagine Hungary would have qualified if Szoboszlai had missed a few games.

Similarly, following an injury to centre-back Willi Orban of German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, Hungary conceded six goals in four qualifying matches. In their first four qualifying matches with Orbán in the backline, they only conceded one. In addition, some key players in the national team squad do not play regularly for their club teams.

Hungarian Stars on the Rise: The Backbone of Euro 2024 Qualification

They are Attila Szalai from German Bundesliga team Hoffenheim, Adam Nagy from Italian Serie B team Pisa and Adam Lang from Cypriot first division team Omonia. Meanwhile, English-born midfielder Callum Styles gets regular game time but does so with English third division side Barnsley. Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has received one of the biggest compliments any footballer could receive from a fellow professional.

The 23-year-old capped Hungary's successful Euro 2024 qualifying campaign by scoring twice in Sunday's 3-1 win over Montenegro, taking him to six goals in his last three appearances for his country. Teammate Denes Dibusz rightly equated the Reds' number eight with a certain Argentine legend who became Barcelona's all-time leading scorer and arguably their greatest ever player.

Speaking to Hungarian publication Index about Szoboszlai after his two-goal volley at the weekend, the goalkeeper said: You have the same feeling for him as when Lionel Messi was at his best at Barcelona a few years ago. Having made his decision, he entered the field and scored.

“He is an incredible player and a great leader who can lead the team on the pitch and add something extra to his game that will excite others, as well as being effective. After the Bulgaria game, I think he was also a little upset that, despite his chances, he didn’t manage to score. I think you can be happy with your result and performance today."

Bold Comparisons: Szoboszlai and the Messi Parallel

Comparing any player to Messi may seem extreme considering the 36-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, but even being mentioned in the same breath by Dibusz shows just how gifted Szoboszlai is.

He has distinguished himself for Liverpool since moving to Anfield in the summer and, as captain of Hungary, inspired the team to qualify for the European Championship for the third time in a row.

Where the 23-year-old is similar to the Argentine legend is his ability to get fans out of their seats every time he receives the ball within 30 yards or perhaps anywhere in the opposition half, with the prospect of a stunning moment of brilliance in the process creation. It's no surprise that Dibusz spoke so highly of Szoboszlai after Sunday's win, with the Reds midfielder's performance so outstanding that it earned him a perfect 10 from Sofascore.

As well as his two goals, he also won 13 duels, completed four of his five dribbles and all eight of his long passes, made three key passes and had 123 touches. Simply put, Montenegro could not cope with it. If he can continue to make the same impact for Liverpool over the next six months, the £60m player will quickly go down in history as one of Jurgen Klopp's greatest signings at Anfield.

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