Although the Hungarian team played better in the second half, Breel Embolo's goal decided Switzerland's 3:1 victory.Continue reading
The case and condition of Barnabás Varga, who suffered serious injuries, was the main topic of local press after Hungary beat Scotland 1-0 in the Group A match of the UEFA Euro on Sunday evening. News also broke yesterday, that the Hungarian striker will be discharged from hospital on Wednesday at the earliest following surgery.
Kevin Csoboth’s goal in the 100th minute meant that the Hungarian national football team finished third in the four-team group that also included the hosts and Switzerland, and still have a chance of progressing.
Kevin Csoboth in the center. Photo via MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd
However, the German press focused on the 68th minute of the match, when Barnabás Varga collided with the Scotland goalkeeper, after which he was treated on the pitch for several minutes and then transferred to a local hospital. It later emerged that the 29-year-old had suffered multiple fractures to his cheekbone and a concussion, and was taken to hospital for surgery, and will not be able to play in the tournament if Hungary progress.
In its report, Bild quoted Dominik Szoboszlai as saying that help was slow in arriving on the pitch.
“Everyone could see that there was a big problem. In such cases seconds count and although I have no control over it, something has to change. We have to react faster, much faster, because we know that every second counts in a situation like this,” the Hungarian captain emphasized.
Team captain Dominik Szoboszlai pulls the stretcher onto the pitch. Photo: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák
Die Zeit gave almost exclusive coverage to the incident involving Barnabás Varga’s injury, pointing out that the Ferencváros striker’s number 19 jersey was “the center of attention” as the Hungarian players celebrated with their fans.
Barnabás Varga’s jersey in the hand of András Schäfer. Photo via Facebook/MLSZ – Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung quoted posts on social media sites by Hungarian national team players, including Roland Sallai, Willi Orbán, Péter Gulácsi and Attila Szalai, but also noted that French football star Antoine Griezmann, among others, wished the injured Hungarian striker a speedy recovery.
Varga ❤️
— Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann) June 23, 2024
“Barni suffered a concussion in the collision and lost consciousness,” the website of the striker’s club, FTC, quoted team doctor Gergely Pánics. He suffered multiple fractures to the skull, several large and small bones in his face were broken and some were dislocated. “He will be kept for two days after the operation and if all goes well, he will be discharged on Wednesday,” underlined the doctor, who declined to comment on the activities of the medical staff on duty at the stadium.
Hungary’s national football team have clinched third place in Group A of the European Championship, and their progress will be decided today.
In addition to the top two, the top four out of six third-placed teams at the end of the group stage will progress to the last eight.
Led by Marco Rossi, some members of the Hungarian national football team’s professional staff and Endre Botka, representing the players, visited Barnabás Varga in the hospital in Stuttgart. The visitors conveyed the good wishes of the entire team to the striker, according to a report by the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ).
Via MTI; Featured image via MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák