The connection between Viktor Orbán and Hungary's national sports team.
Hungary's upcoming group match opponent in the Euro tournament may prove to be a tough nut to crack, surpassing Scotland in terms of difficulty. However, the Hungarian team is grappling with a disappointing performance in their first match, an outcome that neither Head Coach Marco Rossi nor the decision-makers in Budapest seem to have been thrilled about.
Marco Rossi, a 59-year-old Italian who has been head coach of the Hungarian national team since 2018, received some criticism following Hungary's 1:3 loss against Switzerland during the group stage's opening match. "I'm not one to blame others. I am the coach, so I take responsibility," said Rossi, who has earned a respectable standing in the country for his role in securing the team's second consecutive Euro participation. Despite the criticism, Rossi has managed to deflect some of the blame from his players, enjoying a positive reputation in the nation.
The Hungarian national team's most recent resurgence in sports isn't solely the achievement of Rossi, although he has played a significant role in maximizing results from a somewhat unknown player pool. In his home country, Rossi did not gain much recognition, which prompted him to make the move to Honved Budapest, effectively paving the way for his role as national coach.
At the same time, new talent was emerging on the field, some of whom also dared to venture overseas. Dominik Szoboszlai and striker Barnabas Varga, for instance, made their youthful moves to Salzburg and Eberau, respectively, in hopes of receiving better training in Austria. These moves were not embraced by the National Association or other authorities in Budapest.
Another factor that has benefited the national team, although it could be controversial, is the reliance on naturalized players such as Willi Orban, Milos Kerkez, Marton Daradi, Loic Nego, and Callum Styles. Without this influx from outside sources, the current resurgence may not have been possible.
Willi Orban, the footballer, has other preoccupations. Hungary's Prime Minister Orbán, who shares the same name, is currently occupied with the political situation in his country and the European Union. Tensions between Budapest and Brussels over migration and the rule of law are high, with Orbán being criticized by the EU for his migration policies and his government's approach to the rule of law. In response, the Hungarian government accuses the EU of meddling in its internal affairs, and these political tensions could potentially overshadow the football tournament, which is taking place across several European cities, including Budapest.
In the Buda Pést Castle District, specifically at the Karmeliterkloster where Viktor Orbán, Hungary's Prime Minister since 2010 for the second time, has favored and protected football players, primarily those with exemplary behavior. Roland Sallai, who started his professional football career with the Orbán-supported Puskás Akadémia before moving to SC Freiburg in 2018, is one such player. However, Szoboszlai's breakthrough in the Premier League with Liverpool makes it difficult for Orbán to ignore him.
Lately, it appears that Orbán has shown less interest in football compared to a few years ago. The party chief of Fidesz, who used to frequently kick a ball or appear as an enthusiastic fan on the main stand, no longer seems to be as invested in football as before. Although Orbán was once a football player for FC Felcsút, the predecessor club of Puskás Akadémia, Fidesz's grip on the reins has loosened. In the most recent European Parliament elections, the Fidesz-KDNP alliance recorded 44.8%, down from 52.6% in 2019. Meanwhile, TISZA, led by Orbán's most prominent challenger Péter Márgyas, achieved 29.6% in their first participation. Márgyas is a center-right politician, making it less viable for Orbán to portray him as a major threat from the left.
Disregarding the Euro 2021 national team, which was enthusiastically backed by the Minister-president and numerous fans, dressed in black, Rossi, a 61-year-old, has other worries. Back then, Hungary had the advantage of playing two home matches in their Puskás Aréna, Budapest, but barely managed to scrape by with a slim two-point lead. They tied with Germany in Munich, a game marred by the controversy over proposed rainbow lighting of the Allianz Arena.
In the group stage with Germany, Portugal, and France, Rossi wasn't selected for the team. However, he switched from his defensive playstyle. Initially, he opted for a back five and a tightly organized midfield, favoring counter-attacks through Szoboszlai and his offensive comrades. Given the abundance of offensive talents, Rossi decided to loosen the reins on these players, allowing them more creative flexibility. presently, Hungary plays more like Inter Milan, an Italian champion, rather than a struggling Serie A team. This means a back five is still in place, but with a looser rein on midfielders and forwards, providing them more tactical freedom.
Some even speculate that Rossi no longer adheres to the popular position play that made him famous but rather focuses on a free-flowing ball possession game, which is favored in certain regions of football. With this approach, the Hungarians aim to maintain contact with one another and develop effective combination play. Szoboszlai, the 23-year-old pivot, takes on almost every task while in possession of the ball. Unlike at Liverpool or Rasenballsport Leipzig, he is instrumental in driving from the back, with Nagy Adam and Schafer Andras lacking the necessary passing quality. Szoboszlai moves up front during attacks to utilize his shooting skills and support Sallai.
As to whether Hungary can showcase their new offensive flair against Germany, only time will tell. In their opening game, Switzerland thwarted Hungary's ball possession attempts, resulting in a routine 3:1 win over the Nati, and posed problems for the defense led by Leipzig captain Willi Orban with their positional agility. If Hungary fails to advance from the group stage for the second consecutive Euro, there will likely be outrage in the political hubs of Budapest. However, Rossi and Szoboszlai will still be bitterly disappointed. Hungary longs to recapture its previous glory days.
