UEFA Euro Preview: Hungary’s Double Core Set to Make Waves as Switzerland Focuses on Teamwork

On June 15 at 21:00, Hungary will face Switzerland in the first round of Group A matches in the 2024 European Championship at Cologne’s RheinEnergieStadion.

Hungary, currently ranked 26th in FIFA, is making its third consecutive appearance in the UEFA Euro finals. After failing to progress from the group stage in the previous edition, the team enters this tournament with high expectations. Hungarian fans and pundits alike believe that Marco Rossi’s squad could be a dark horse this summer. Their optimism stems from an unbeaten qualifying campaign (5 wins, 3 draws), but questions remain about their confidence given their weakest group opponent, Serbia, is not at its peak.

The Hungarian national team is coached by Italian Marco Rossi, who typically employs a 3-4-2-1 formation. The team revolves around Liverpool star Szoboszlai. The now-captain missed the previous Euros due to injury but, alongside Freiburg attacker Roland Scholossi, will be key to driving Hungary’s attack.

Szoboszlai was substituted in the team’s final warm-up match against Israel due to a minor hamstring issue, but it was later confirmed to be nothing serious. Expect Rossi to field an Ottilo Schlossi, Orban, and Adam Lang central defense trio, with domestic league forward Varga leading the line after scoring 29 goals for Ferencváros last season.

Switzerland, ranked 19th by FIFA, had a challenging Euro qualification journey, finishing with a record of 4 wins, 5 draws, and 1 loss, securing second place in their group behind Romania. Given they entered the draw as a top-seeded team, avoiding powerhouses like France, England, and Spain, their qualification performance was underwhelming.

Murat Yakin, a former international player, took over as head coach following the departure of successful manager Vladimir Petković after the last Euros. Yakin’s debut major tournament, the 2022 World Cup, ended in a disappointing Round of 16 exit at the hands of Portugal.

Heading into this Euro, Yakin and his players face pressure, as Switzerland has advanced from the group stage in each of the past five editions, reaching the quarter-finals in the last one. The Swiss have remained unbeaten in four friendly matches in 2024, which should provide them with a calm mindset entering the tournament.

Switzerland usually lines up in a 4-2-3-1, with stars like Xhaka, Akanji, and Shaqiri expected to start. Burnley striker Amadou Onana will lead the attack, having scored seven goals in 15 international appearances. Embolo and Zakaria are both fit after injury concerns, while midfielder Zuber’s availability is uncertain due to a calf injury sustained in a friendly against Austria, preventing him from full training participation.

Both teams understand the significance of securing a victory in their opening match, which would give a significant boost to their chances of advancing to the knockout stages. Hungary, known for its attacking prowess, will aim to break down their opponents early, while Switzerland, with its experience and emphasis on teamwork, won’t go down without a fight. Saturday’s clash promises to be a fiercely contested encounter in Cologne.

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