The Hungarian Football National Team have started their preparations for Euro 2024 in Germany, starting in 10 days. The majority of the players called up convened last Monday, 27 May at the team’s headquarters in Telki, Hungary. The handful of players who still had some club obligation gradually joined as well, with recent Swiss Cup winner Bendegúz Bolla being the last to join the rest on Monday, 3 June.
The first of the two international friendlies ahead of Euro 2024 was played last night, 4 June, against Ireland.
The Irish, unlike Hungary, failed to qualify for the European Championship this year.
That date is already a solemn one for Hungarians, given it is the anniversary of the 1920 Trianon Treaty, and now there is another reason to have ill feelings about it as well.
The Irish National Team beat Hungary 2–1, ending the 14-game unbeaten run by Marco Rossi’s side, which has been ongoing for over a year. While Hungary created more chances than their home side opposition in the first half, Ireland took the lead with a header from Norwich City striker Adam Idah after a defensive error by Willi Orbán and Ádám Lang.
The same duo redeemed themselves shortly after. Captain Dominik Szoboszlai took a long-range shot after a free kick, and the ball got deflected high up in the air after a block. However, Orbán was still able to head it to the far post, where Lang pounced on the opportunity to put it away. The first half ended in 1–1.
Similarly to the first half, Hungary was the more active side offensively after the break as well, with little result. A quick counterattack after a Hungarian corner was what doomed Szoboszlai and his teammates in the 92nd minute. Troy Parrott of the Dutch team Excelsior converted a clear one-on-one chance against Dénes Dibusz, although the Ferencváros goalie, who came in as a substitute for Péter Gulácsi at halftime, nearly made the save.
This certainly was not an impressive performance by our boys.
They still have the chance to make amends even before the big tournament starts, as they have one more friendly game against Israel. That will be played on their home turf, in Debrecen, Hungary, on 8 June. Then, the ‘main event’ will commence.
Hungary are playing their first group game at Euro 2024 against Switzerland on 15 June in Cologne, Germany.
The Swiss won their respective international friendly, by a 4–0 margin against Estonia.
Hungary will then face hosts Germany on 19 June and Scotland on 23 June, with both games being played in Stuttgart.
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