You can’t help but feel sorry for Hungary. Having qualified for only their second European Championship since 1972, Marco Rossi’s men will face France, Germany and Portugal in Group F.
• Manager: Marco Rossi
• Current FIFA World Ranking: 37th
• Best European Championship finish: Semi-Finals (1964, 1972)
Hungary finished third at Euro 1964 before finishing fourth in 1972. However, they failed to qualify for the next ten tournaments. After reaching the Round of 16 in 2016, can Rossi’s side upset the odds this time around?
• Hungary’s Euro 2020 Squad
Goalkeepers: Peter Gulacsi (Leipzig), Denes Dibusz (Ferencvaros), Adam Bogdan (Ferencvaros).
Defenders: Gergo Lovrencsics (Ferencvaros), Endre Botka (Ferencvaros), Adam Lang (Omonia Nicosia), Akos Kecskes (Lugano), Attila Fiola (Fehervar), Willi Orban (Leipzig), Attila Szalai (Fenerbahce), Bendeguz Bolla (Fehervar).
Midfielders: Loic Nego (Fehervar), Adam Nagy (Bristol City), Laszlo Kleinheisler (Osijek), David Siger (Ferencvaros), Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union), Andras Schafer (Dunajska Streda) Tamas Cseri (Mezokovesd), Filip Holender (Partizan).
Forwards: Adam Szalai (Mainz), Roland Sallai (Freiburg), Nemanja Nikolics (Fehervar), Kevin Varga (Kasımpasa), Roland Varga (MTK Budapest), Szabolcs Schon (FC Dallas), Janos Hahn (Paks).
• Who Will Hungary Face in Group F?
The defending European champions are up first for Hungary, with a match against Portugal on June 15. Four days later, Rossi’s side come up against reigning world champs France on June 19.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Hungary face Germany in Budapest on June 23. But let’s face it – they could already be out of the competition by then.
• Hungary’s Star Player
Peter Gulacsi: The RB Leipzig goalkeeper kept 15 clean sheets in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season, as his side finished second behind Bayern Munich.
Gulacsi has earned 37 international caps since making his debut in 2014. He hasn’t always been Hungary’s number one, but he has arguably become their most important performer in recent times.
• How Far Can Hungary Go?
Unfortunately, Hungary have been drawn in the group of death. With three powerhouses of European football alongside them in Group F, Rossi’s men will almost certainly bow out before the knockout phase.