Austria vs Hungary a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
June 15, 2016
1,618 Views
- It’s fair to say that yesterday delivered our first real shock of Euro 2016
- It may not have been on the scale of the upcoming England vs Wales but these two nations are steeped in rivalry on and off the pitch and Hungary as underdogs would have loved nothing more than getting one over their former partners of Empire rule
- The Austro-Hungarian Empire is just a footnote in history as is the magical magyars of the 1950’s but this generation of Hungarian players would have made history of their own with their win over Austria
- But it was Austria who started the brighter with Bayern Munich’s David Alaba rattling the post within just 30 seconds of the kick off
- Hungary may not have had the household names but people watching would have certainly recognised Gabor Kiraly in goal and Zoltan Gera in Midfield
- A combined age of 77 between the two of them but that experience was vital as they time and time again got the better of whatever Austria could throw at them
- Marc Janko was a constant threat but he never quite the opening he needed to cause Hungary any real problems
- While Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic was somewhat under par, much was expected of him yesterday but he failed to live up to the promise
- It was definitely a case of the collective being greater than the superstar, Hungary were well rewarded for their endeavor where as Austria almost turned up expecting the win and relying on Alaba and Arnautovic to deliver the goods
- Hungary got their reward on 68 minutes when Adam Szalai slotted in Laszlo Kleinheiser’s pass. A well worked move saw Szalai given enough time to slide the ball into the net and send the large Hungarian crowd behind the goal wild
- Austria then went in search of an equaliser but the day went from bad to worse when Aleksandar Dragovic was sent off for a second bookable offence just minutes after the Hungarian goal
- And with three minutes to go the Hungarian’s managed to add insult to injury with Zoltan Stieber’s sublime chip over Robert Almer doubling Hungary’s advantage and securing the points
- That win has blown the group wide open with Hungary now sitting pretty at the top
- Next up they face Iceland, while Austria are going to have to find a positive result against Portugal
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