Hungary's last hope in Group F was to overtake Croatia, third in Group B with two points.Continue reading
Marco Rossi will remain the head coach of the Hungarian national football team. He shared his thoughts with fans in a lengthy Facebook post after the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) announced his stay.
“The next task facing the Hungarian national team is to successfully compete in the UEFA Nations League and the FIFA World Cup qualifying series, which will be led by Marco Rossi with the full support of the MLSZ and the presidency”, announced Sándor Csányi, President of MLSZ, who had a meeting with the head coach on Wednesday and assured him of the unbroken confidence of the federation.
The Hungarian team lost 3-1 to Switzerland and 2-0 to hosts Germany at the UEFA Euro 2024, and although they beat Scotland 1-0, they failed to reach the last eight.
The Italian head coach, who also has Hungarian citizenship and who has been the subject of several articles suggesting he could leave his post, thanked the team for their support and said that after reflecting on the lessons of the European Championship, he will start preparing for the autumn’s Nations League matches in a few weeks.
Photo: Facebook/MLSZ – Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség
Rossi has been at the helm since the summer of 2018 and last year, for the first time since 1985, the team qualified for a major tournament for the first time after finishing unbeaten at the top of their European Championship qualifying group.
“Maybe it is time to clear things up,” the Italian head coach began his social media post. “Those who say – or write – that we have failed at this European Championship are obviously not objective and, unfortunately, I must say they are in bad faith,” he wrote. Rossi stressed that he never told the press that he was leaving his post, only that he needed to rest and clear his mind.
“I would have appreciated it if someone had said, as I have done in the past, that apart from Kevin’s goal in the 100th minute, every dubious situation has gone against us at this European Championship. But that is the way it is,” noted the 59-year-old coach, who thanked his players for their effort, which he said was unfortunately not enough this time and “must be increased and improved in the future.”
“Thank you to the technical and professional staff who did a wonderful job! Thank you for the support of the MLSZ! Especially thanks to all the fans who cheered for us in Germany or anywhere else in the world! I would love to hug each and every one of you one by one,” the post reads.
Rossi concluded by saying that he has never run away from even the toughest challenges.
“I will not give up now, because what does not kill you makes you stronger! And we, all of us together, must be stronger than everything and everyone,” he emphasized.
Via MTI; Featured image via Facebook/Marco Rossi