Hungary
Preview
Hungary were ranked second in Group 6 but faced stiff competition for one of the two qualifying berths, battling with favourites Spain, plucky N. Ireland and a vastly improved Rep. of Ireland.
After László Balint short stint, György Mezey returned to the national team as manager in the time for the campaign for Italy’90. Mezey had of course been head coach also under Mexico’86, before leaving for Kuwait. Hungary’s 1988 campaign hadn’t been a particularly good one, and Mezey was re-appointed in order to bring back hope for another World Cup. The Hungarians were well used to the world stage tournament at the time, having been qualified for every World Cup since 1978. Would it be a fourth in a row? Read more . . .
Results
Despite almost full control throughout, Hungary can only get a narrow win. The visitors are playing very defensively (and disciplined), and Hungary have a hard time finding the openings. Vincze had been vying for a start, but came on to grab a late winner. The match also has some interesting tactical ploys from Mezey, as he switches to a 3-4-3 formation at half time.
Line-up (4-1-2-1-2): P Disztl – Sallai, Nagy, Mészöly (Dajka h-t), Sass – Garaba (c), Kozma, G Bognár, Détári – Kiprich, Hajszán (Vincze 82).
Friendly
15.11.1988
Greece
Lagonidis (3′)
Tsaloukhidis (51′, 53′)
3–0
Hungary
This was Mezey’s attempt to establish a team after being hit by suspension on several key players. It is a crushing defeat, albeit to a good home side. The team is a mix of experience and new features, and debuts are handed to midfielder Csucsánszky and forwards Fischer and Balog, who would all feature during the qualifiers.
Line-up: P Disztl (c) – Máriási, Pintér, Mészöly (Bordás h-t), Sass (Keller 59) – E Kovács, Kozma, Csucsánszky, Vincze (Fischer h-t) – Kiprich, Hajszán (T Balog 79).
Mezey had been without half his first team due to a domestic bribery scandal, and they had conceded a late, late goal to drop a costly point. Four of the players in the starting eleven would never again feature during the qualifiers.
Line-up (4-4-2): P Disztl (c) – Kozma, Csuhay, L Disztl, Keller – Kékesi, E Kovács, Csucsánsky, Vincze (Fischer 72) – Kiprich (Pintér 88), T Balog.
Team News
György Mezey resigns from his position as manager for the national team after the match in Malta. Not primarily because of the poor result, but because of a clause in his contract that permitted him to leave if he felt he couldn’t work freely. The domestic investigation that had banned many of his players made him trigger this clause. On the 30th December, Bertalan Bicskei (current Honvéd manager) is appointed new manager for Hungary.
Despite being the team creating the more opportunities, it is a bit of a lacklustre performance by the Hungarians in their first match under new manager Bicskei. Chances are few and far between. Détári is deployed in an unusually deep midfield role with limited success.
Line-up (4-1-3-2): P Disztl – Kozma, Sass, L Disztl, Z Bognár – E Kovács – Détári, Gregor (Boda 78), Hajszán – Kiprich (c), Mészáros (G Bognár h-t).
An impressive first win under their new manager, with goals from Détári, E Kovács and Z Bognár. Debut for left-sided midfielder Csehi.
Line-up (4-1-3-2): P Disztl – Kozma, Keller, L Disztl, Z Bognár – E Kovács (T Balog h-t) – Détári (Csucsánszky 81), Sass (Csehi 79), Gregor – Kiprich (c) (Fischer 53), Hajszán.
It was obviously a huge disappointment to drop yet another point against the group minnows, and the Hungarian chances for qualifying now were hanging by the thread. They could even have lost after a second half display that could’ve been seen as too ambitious, disrupting the balance in the team. Despite this, they hit the bar through forward Boda in injury time.
Line-up (4-4-2): P Disztl – Kozma (Kiprich 74), L Disztl, Z Bognár, Keller – G Bognár, E Kovács, Détári (c), Sass (Fischer h-t) – Boda, Hajszán.
Against a more or less full strength Italy, a relatively intact Hungary went on to concede three second half goals. Hungary never stood a chance against an opponent too strong, too slick and too rampant. Only Détári could keep with the level of the home players.
Line-up (4-4-2): P Disztl – Kozma, L Disztl, Balog, Keller – Zsinka (Gregor 60), Z Bognár, Détári (c), Vincze (Hajszán 66) – Fodor (G Bognár 76), K Kovács.
This was Hungary’s first ever defeat against the Irish, and it happened at a crucial time. The visitors were often boys against men, and the road to Italia ’90 now seems a long one. Hungary had no answer to the Irish long-ball tactics, and Cascarino inflicted all sorts of problems on their backline.
Line-up (5-4-1): P Disztl – Kozma, Z Bognár, L Disztl, Garaba, Keller – Mészáros (Vincze 72), Fitos, Détári (c), Csehi (G Bognár 67) – Boda.
The away side is generally outfought throughout most of the match, but still somehow manage to get a win. There is little to be excited about in terms of attacking play, and yet two individual performances mean they score two goals. N. Ireland deserved a lot more, and as so often before Hungary do not thrive when needing to get stuck in.
Line-up (4-4-2): P Disztl – Sallai, Keller, L Disztl, Limperger – E Kovács, G Bognár (Z Bognár 85), Détári (c), Sass – Fischer (Hajszán 90), K Kovács.
Line-up (4-4-2): P Disztl – Sallai, Z Bognár, Pintér, Keller (Boda 72) – G Bognár, Róth (Kozma h-t), Détári (c), Vincze – Kiprich, K Kovács.
17 May 1988 Hungary – Austria
Reserves
Hungary: Andrusch,Kozma,L Disztl,Keller,Esterhazy,Varga
Austria: Konsel,Schottel,Stoger, Werner, Hasenhuttl