With a 2-2 draw in Bulgaria, our national team has mathematically secured its qualification for the European Championship in Germany!
The Hungarian national football team played in Bulgaria in the penultimate round of the 2024 European Championship qualifiers, in Sofia.
In a tight encounter, the visiting Hungarians took the lead in the 10th minute with a goal from Ádám Martin, but the home side equalised midway through the half. In the 37th minute Hungary had a man advantage and it looked like the Bulgarians would quickly be down to nine, but with the help of VAR the referee called off the second sending off. In the 57th minute, Kerkez received his second yellow card and Hungary were also down to 10.
In the 79th minute, the Bulgarians turned the game around from a penalty and our team needed at least a point to secure a place in Germany. Zsolt Kalmar came on in the 82nd minute. Just when it looked as if the score would not end in Hungary's favour, Petkov flicked a free kick into his own goal in the dying moments of extra time to make it 2-2!
With the draw, the Hungarian national team secured their place at next year's tournament in Germany, and will be playing in their third consecutive European Championship after 2016 and 2021.
From our current squad, Attila Fiola started twice and came on as a substitute once in the qualification series (he was not invited to the squad due to injury), Zsolt Kalmár came on as a substitute four times (before August as a Dunaszerdahely player, then in the autumn as a Vidi player). Among our former players, Loic Nego, Bendegúz Bolla, Ádám Lang, László Kleinheisler and Kevin Csoboth played in the qualifiers, with Nego still receiving an invitation from our team for the majority of the matches.
Hungary will close the qualifying series on Sunday at 15:00 when they host Montenegro at the Puskás Arena. The draw for the qualifying groups for the European Championship will be made on 2nd December.
The Hungarian national team qualified for the European Championship from Group G with the following results:
Hungary - Bulgaria 3-0
Montenegro - Hungary 0-0
Hungary 2-0 Lithuania
Serbia 1-2 Hungary
Hungary - Serbia 2-1
Lithuania 2-2 Hungary
Bulgaria 2-2 Hungary
Congratulations! Go, Hungary!
Author: David Rechnitzer
Magyar