Tomasz Mortimer’s Hungary v Portugal preview: Hungary to play on counter backed by vociferous home support

Our Matchday Squad journalist will be covering Hungary throughout Euro 2020

Hungary go into Tuesday’s game in a spirited and confident mood. Well, as confident as you can be playing the holders.

Hungary know they’re massive underdogs in this game, but there is a belief in the squad that they can get something against Portugal, especially with the help of a vociferous home support behind them.

Setting up in a 5-3-2, Marco Rossi’s side are the sort of team that can cause Portugal problems. Sitting in a low block, Hungary will look to counter at every opportunity by playing through the technically able midfield and up to the big Adam Szalai and the diminutive Roland Sallai alongside him.

However, without star man Dominik Szoboszlai and his like-for-like replacement Zsolt Kalmar, there’s no doubt that their approach that served them so well against Poland in March will be blunted somewhat.

If Hungary are to get anything here, they need to score first. If they can do that, they can hold on – their defence stewarded by Willi Orban is excellent, as is their goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.

Goals, though, are not their forte, and if Hungary go 1-0 down they could be in for a long afternoon. I am predicting a 1-1 draw in the game.

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