During a period when Germany dominated national football, it is easy to forget how well Hungary have competed previously. In 1972, Hungary finished fourth but did not qualify for the competition again until as recently as 2016.
The Hungarians will look to reach similar heights at Euro 2024, with unity between the fans and manager, Marco Rossi. The Italian-born manager has been at the heart of igniting the nation's passion for their football team again.
Compared to a haunting generation previously, when Hungary failed to even qualify for the Euros from 1972 until 2016, this side has shown an ability to play with a confidence and swagger that suggests they could be dark horses for the tournament.
Storming through qualification and painfully missing out on the Nations League finals shows their competitiveness since Rossi's appointment. Exiting Euros 2020 from a group of death, which contained Germany, France and Portugal, despite suffering only one defeat, was not something to be ashamed of.
There will be more hope that a group containing Germany, Scotland and Switzerland will give Hungary a more realistic chance of qualifying for at least the round of 16. There should be hope that they could even pull a surprise against the stuttering hosts, Germany.
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Rossi's chance to shine
"I no longer feel a burden, especially lately. Not because we feel we are at that level of glory, but simply because we have managed to get the football fans back on our sides."
This quote from Rossi, in January, reflects what an excellent job he has done both on and off the field. When the Italian was appointed they had been knocked out in the last 16 of Euro 2016 but there was not much optimism around the nation with an ageing team coming to its end.
However, since Hungary's manager was put in charge in 2018, it has been a steady upward trajectory for his side. The team's style of play has transitioned from a rigid back three to a more free-flowing attacking force.
Rossi had already had experience in Hungary from 2012, when he managed Budapest Honved. The 59-year-old finished third in the Hungarian top flight with a side that was by no means the most financially backed.
After a successful first spell, he came back to manage them and won the league with his old side in the 2016/2017 season, which earned him the national coach’s role. It was a well-received appointment but nobody saw the style of football that was to come.
Despite facing a nightmare group, Rossi’s side held their own claiming impressive draws against France and Germany and only exited Euro 2020 due to their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Portugal.
Despite Hungary not making the same stage they did at Euro 2016, there were more positives in their approach to games by playing an expansive, attacking, style of football.
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Strong qualification campaign
Hungary and Serbia would have been well-backed to qualify from a group competing with Montenegro, Lithuania and Bulgaria. The Hungarians topped the qualifying table with style going through the campaign unbeaten with five wins and three draws.
Alongside this Hungary performed impressively in the 2022 Nations League by doing the double over England and Winning away at Germany without conceding a goal. Missing out on the final to Italy does not distract from an impressive European campaign against tough opposition.
The Hungarians finished both top scorers and conceded the least goals in qualifying for Euro 2024. They also had two of the three top goal scorers in qualifying group G with Dominik Szoboszlai and Barnabas Varga scoring four goals each.
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Dominik Szoboszlai leads by example for Hungary
Despite Hungary's newfound ambitious style of play they will need to rely on their star performers. One headline player is Szoboszlai, who will lead his country in Germany for the first since being made captain in November 2022.
The Liverpool FC midfielder was an instant Kop favourite and was arguably his new club’s player of the season until January 2024. Suffering an injury halfway through the season did derail Szoboszlai’s form but he’s shown enough of his quality to show what an asset he will be for club and country for years to come.
Hungary’s captain has to be at his best to help his side navigate a difficult start in Cologne against Switzerland. With 12 goals in 40 appearances for his country, Szoboszlai will certainly be a goal threat.
Liverpool FC may pin him down to a particular role but the national team gives their leader more freedom to pop up in different areas. Rossi said he manages Szoboszlai by allowing him to move across the pitch.
“He is much more free to move all over the pitch and this is giving him more responsibility but he’s able to hold this kind of responsibility.
"He is not obliged to play on the right side or the left side, he can move all over the pitch and I think in our squad this is a huge advantage", Rossi stated.
After helping his country to Euro 2024 with four goals in the qualifying group Szoboszlai will be looking to be the different maker for his nation when the tournament begins.
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Predicted Line-up
Formation: 3-4-3
Gulacsi; Lang, Orban, Szalai; Nego, Nagy, Schafer, Kerkaz; Szoboszlai, Sallai, Varga
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The Group
Hungary will play in Group A against the hosts Germany, Switzerland and Scotland. They start in Cologne against Switzerland on Saturday 15th June at 2 pm which will be broadcast on ITV.
Four days later the Hungarians will play the hosts at 5 pm and be shown on BBC 1. The final fixture will be a feisty affair against Scotland on 23rd June once again being shown on BBC 1.
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Prediction
There is hope that Hungary will be able to pull off a surprise at Euro 2024 as they look to take their momentum and finish at least second in their group. Having only lost one game in their last 18 games, Rossi will be confident of getting results against Scotland and Switzerland and could pull a shock result against the hosts.
Therefore it would not be the biggest surprise if Hungary did top of Group A. They have shown they can compete with the so-called bigger sides by getting results from Germany and England which could bode well in the knockout stages.
Yet Hungary's hopes will be carried by the form of their captain who is expected to have an eye-catching tournament. One aspect that may cost them is their inexperience in midfield which may be bullied by more mature names that have been there and done it.
Nevertheless, Rossi will be taking his exciting side into a tournament when their one per cent chances of winning the competition could grow as the weeks go on.
