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The Hungarian national football team lost 4-0 to the Netherlands in the fifth round of the UEFA Nations League in Amsterdam. Saturday’s defeat means that the team, who have not beaten the Netherlands for 40 years, will finish third in their group, meaning they will face a Group B runner-up in March and will almost certainly end up in the second pot when the World Cup qualifying groups are drawn in December.
The match was overshadowed by the fact that coach Ádám Szalai had to undergo immediate medical treatment in the sixth minute of the game, interrupting play for almost a quarter of an hour.
The former national team captain has since recovered and traveled back to Budapest with the team.
The biggest question ahead of Tuesday’s match against Germany is the mental state of the players after the shocking incident involving the former captain of the Hungarian national team.
Mental strength will be very important because the German team is much stronger,
meaning that a defeat like the one in September (the Germans won 5:0 in Düsseldorf) can only be avoided with one hundred percent concentration.
We would like to thank all involved in last night’s events for their extreme kindness and professionalism which made us feel that Ádám was treated the best possible way! Thank you very much @KNVB @OnsOranje @amsterdamumc @CruijffA @UEFA #NEDHUN
— MLSZ (@MLSZhivatalos) November 17, 2024
Although the Germans are undefeated and certain group winners, they are unlikely to take the meeting lightly, at least not after Saturday’s 7-0 win over Bosnia. Since the appointment of head coach Julian Nagelsmann just over a year ago, the national team has clearly been on the up, and this has not been hindered by the retirement of stars such as Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, and Thomas Müller after the Euro 2024 in the summer.
For the Hungarian team’s head coach Marco Rossi, it is a relief that Attila Fiola has served his suspension and is fit for action again, which will certainly benefit the defense in terms of determination and commitment. However, the absence of Bendegúz Bolla will limit the Hungarian coach’s options.
In the other match of the group, the Dutch, who are certain to finish second and thus reach the quarter-finals, will face the fourth-placed and winless Bosnians on Tuesday.
The first and second place finishers (Germany and the Netherlands) qualify for the first and second rounds of the quarter-finals next March, while the third place team (Hungary) will meet the second place finisher in Group B in the spring, and the team in fourth place (Bosnia) will be eliminated. The draw for the other rounds of the Nations League will take place on Friday. Of Hungary’s four possible opponents, two are known so far: Austria and Greece.
Via MTI; Featured image via MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt