EURO2020 Hungary-France aftermath: How fans cheered for Hungary – PHOTOS, VIDEOS
Yesterday the Hungarian team has played a wonderful match against the reigning world champions France in the Puskás Aréna. Attila Fiola’s sensational first-half run and finish gave a superb hope for Hungary but Antoine Griezmann equalised from close range midway through the second period resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Didier Deschamps, France coach told UEFA: “I’m satisfied – I’m not overjoyed with the result, but I’m satisfied.
We didn’t lose, we do have a point to add to the three we have in the bag already. I think this still leaves the door open for us to have a little bit of leeway for the third game.”
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- MTI
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- Photo: MTI/Zoltán Máthé
Hungary’s head coach Rossi had decided to retain the same 3-5-2 formation as against Portugal with just one change, Loic Nego coming in for Gergő Lovrencsics at right wing-back and Attila Fiola staying in a less familiar position on the opposite side.
Endre Botka, Willie Orbán and Attila Szalai again comprised a compact, three-man defensive line in front of goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi with László Kleinheisler, Ádám Nagy and András Schäfer providing another line of protection in midfield and Roland Sallai and captain Ádám Szalai looking to be involved in counter attacks upfront.
Hungary was combative from the outset but France certainly were not shirking any challenges either and many people’s tournament favourites soon started to show their class.
EURO2020: This is how Hungary prepared to face world champion France today
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- Photo: MTI/Tamás Vasvári
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- Photo: MTI/EPA/Pool/Tibor Illyés
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- Photo: MTI/Tamás Vasvári
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- Photo: MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry
Didier Deschamps, France coach said: “We had a lot of opportunities in the first half but unfortunately weren’t able to find the back of the net.
We had a lot of shots – a couple of them were on target and we hit the post. I think there very good pieces of play, especially in the first half.”
The France captain said the following about the match to TF1: “In this sort of match, it’s difficult when your opponents go ahead.
They [Hungarians] were well organised and put their hearts into it with the help of the crowd.
We’re disappointed, we wanted three points, but we have to stay positive.”
Fiola turned the game entirely and sensationally on its head, the Fehérvár defender receiving a long, cross-field pass on the left wing, exchanging passes with Sallai inside him, then surging into the France penalty area and slipping the ball inside Hugo Lloris’s near post to spark incredible celebrations both on and off the pitch.
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France finally managed to breach Hungary’s tiring defence, Mbappe’s low cross from the right half-cleared by Orbán, only for Griezmann to sweep the ball into the net barely ten metres from goal.
The relief on French faces was all too evident but instead of inspiring an epic onslaught on Gulácsi’s goal, that cathartic equaliser led to a collective becalming as both sides seemed to succumb to the 30-plus degree temperature in which they had been baking for more than an hour.
Loïc Négo, Hungary wing-back told UEFA: “We worked hard. After the defeat to Portugal, we knew that we had to pick ourselves up, and do it against the best.
We worked, we analysed the details, big and small. We’re happy, but there’s a little frustration because we felt the three points were within our reach.”
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- Photo: MTI/Tamás Kovács
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- MTI
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- Photo: MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry
The Hungarian team has put up a valiant fight against the reigning world champions and the match ended in a famous draw for Hungary with a chance to win in their final group match against Germany on Wednesday.
Marco Rossi also spoke to M4 Sport, saying: “When I first met the squad, I told the guys that whoever is in the national team should bust a gut.
Heart is the most important thing in football. If someone plays for the national team, it’s even more true.”
