The path was relatively easy to trace in group 3 of League A of the League of Nations after the draw was known: there was an outstanding favorite, yes, but going down to League B. That was the theoretical role that played Hungary, given that the weight it would have throughout the six games was the possibility of taking points or not from Germany, England and Italy in the race for first position. In an instant, everything changed.
The “You don’t know what you’re doing” chant that sums it up: Southgate’s England suffer their worst home defeat in nearly a century
The Magyars started by winning in Budapest against England but then lost to Italy in Cesena and not even the draw at home with Germany made the possibility of qualifying any more than a dream in the coming calendar. If even Hungary had already been great, in the following two games they became giant with a 4-0 win against Wolverhampton against the British and another victory in Leipzig against the Germans. At the entrance of the last round, the predictable ranking was reversed: England, defeated finalist of the last European Championship after reaching the semifinals of the World Cup, was last and relegated to League B; Germany, a chronic candidate to win it all, had only one victory in five games; Italy, the reigning European champions who failed to qualify for Qatar and seemed to be at the end of the cycle, had a chance of qualifying; and Hungary only needed a draw.
Hungary beats Germany and is one step away from the final four, Italy wins and sends England down in the Nations League
“It had been decades since a representative of Hungarian football had reached the top four in any competition. On the other hand, there is an important player [Ádám Szalai] who will perform the last challenge for the selection. And the atmosphere could reach its peak if we win the group. It is a feeling that we would love to experience. We have to be humble and try to give 110%. That is the attitude that the fans appreciate, even if we don’t win. We have to respect the Hungarian shirt.” The Hungarian national team, Marco Rossi (Italian trained since 2012 in the country who came to the national team in 2018) stood out. “Marco Rossi has done a great job. He made an important European Championship and leads the group of the League of Nations. The classification would be important especially for the youngest, because they could gain experience in prestigious competitions”, said Roberto Mancini, European champion who was left without a place in the World Cup.
Adam Szalai was emotional before his last game as captain of Hungary ???????????? pic.twitter.com/WWsoisJHzw
— International Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) September 26, 2022
At the beginning, the atmosphere in the Puskas Arena also affected the game without being able to push Hungary forward, unlike what happened with Italy, which began to have greater control of operations and put the two full-backs with great offensive projection to create many imbalances. . Even so, the opening goal from the Transalpinians would have a lot of Hungarian demerit in the mix, with Gnonto pressing well in the first phase of construction, the second ball to bounce off Raspadori and the striker to open the scoring. At Wembley, in a historic but goalless encounter, England had a slight rise with Harry Kane coming very close to a Van Basten moment.
???????? Raspadori and Dimarco send Italy to #NationsLeague endings! ???? pic.twitter.com/NnZxt4Sas9
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) September 26, 2022
Hungary were losing but anything but defeated, with Donnarumma making two fabulous saves in a row, the last of which was Adam Szalai alone in the box, before Di Marco increased it to 2-0 on the best offensive play with Cristante assisting. after starting to pass through Rasapadori and Barella. Still losing, and with Callum Styles having a devilish tackle that managed to dismantle the opposing defensive structure, Hungary did not give up, created opportunities but always hit a wall called Donnarumma, which returned to the Euro-2020 level to secure qualification.
Absent from the 2022 World Cup, the European champion ???????? Italy will fight for a title in 2023: they are in the Nations League Final Four for the 2nd time in a row pic.twitter.com/T4Awk41dtc
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 26, 2022
In England, 35 minutes of second-half madness brought a comeback (albeit called off) with both just and unexpected at Wembley with Six goals that dictated the tie: Gündogan scored the first penalty goal, Havertz doubled up with a fantastic angled kick, the English came from behind in just over ten minutes through Luke Shaw, Mason Mount (another great goal) and Harry Kane from the penalty spot but Havertz He took advantage of an error by Nick Pope and made it 3-3 in the 87th minute.
England
The Pope is no longer German, but the Pope is still
The English played even better today, but did not count on the disastrous performance of their goalkeeper, and finished the group without a win.#UNL #NationsLeague #ENGGER #RatersGonnaRate pic.twitter.com/mfuKZavals
— GoalPoint (@_Goalpoint) September 26, 2022
- minute 1 Hungary in the Final Four (11), Italy (9), Germany (7) and England in League B (3)
- Minute 27. Italy goal, 0-1 by Raspadori. Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (7) and England in League B (3)
- 45 minute. Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (7) and England in League B (3)
- Minute 52. Italy goal, 0-2 by Di Marco. Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (7) and England in League B (3)
Italy makes it 0-2 and is getting closer to the Final Four!#sporttvportugal #NAÇÕESnaSPORTTV #ligadelauefanacion #leagueofnations #connectednations #Hungary #Italy pic.twitter.com/Ekf1s1fnUr
— SPORT TV (@SPORTTVPortugal) September 26, 2022
- Minute 52. Goal by Germany, 0-1 by Gündogan (gp). Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (9) and England in League B (2)
- Minute 67. Germany goal, 0-2 by Havertz. Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (9) and England in League B (2)
HAVERTZ TAKES A RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT????#sporttvportugal #NAÇÕESnaSPORTTV #ligadelauefanacion #leagueofnations #connectednations #England #Germany #Havertz pic.twitter.com/2wnNDdRv7q
— SPORT TV (@SPORTTVPortugal) September 26, 2022
- 72nd minute. England goal, 1-2 by Luke Shaw. Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (9) and England in League B (2)
- 75th minute. England goal, 2-2 by Mason Mount. Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (7) and England in League B (3)
- Minute 83. England goal, 3-2 by Harry Kane (gp). Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (6) and England in League B (5)
INCREDIBLE ROTATION????
England scores 3 goals in 12 minutes and makes the score 3-2!#sporttvportugal #NAÇÕESnaSPORTTV #ligadelauefanacion #leagueofnations #connectednations #England #Germany #LukeShaw #MountMason #HarryKane pic.twitter.com/lNf56spery
— SPORT TV (@SPORTTVPortugal) September 26, 2022
- Minute 87. Germany goal, 3-3 by Havertz. Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (7) and England in League B (3)
WHAT A CRAZY GAME! ????
Germany tied the game 3 minutes from 90′! #sporttvportugal #NAÇÕESnaSPORTTV #ligadelauefanacion #leagueofnations #connectednations #England #Germany #Havertz pic.twitter.com/uAu6DaYEyn
— SPORT TV (@SPORTTVPortugal) September 26, 2022
- 90 minute. Italy in the Final Four (11), Hungary (10), Germany (7) and England in League B (3)
Source: Observadora
