National Teams

First qualifying loss

Croatia takes the
lead, Hungary takes
the points

24.03.2019.
Croatia takes the lead, Hungary takes the points
photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
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Zlatko Dalić's men suffered their first EURO 2020 qualifying defeat, succumbing to Hungarian hosts on Sunday night in Budapest.

HUNGARY - CROATIA 2:1 (1:1)
EURO 2020 qualifier, Group E.
Groupama Arena, Budapest.

Referee: W. Collum (Scotland)

Goals: 0:1 - Rebić (13'), 1:1 - Szalai (34'), 2:1 - Patkai (76')

Cautions: Dzsudszak (63'), Lovren (82')

Hungary: Gulacsi, Kadar, Orban, Barath, Lovrencsics, Patkai, A. Nagy, D. Nagy (40' Varga), Szoboszlai (65' Kalmar), Dzsudzsak (85' Bese), Szalai. Head coach: M. Rossi.

Croatia: Kalinić, Barišić (30' Leovac), Vida, Lovren, Jedvaj (77' Petković), Brozović, Modrić, Perišić, Rakitić, Rebić (67' Brekalo), Kramarić. Izbornik: Z. Dalić

Croatia national football team failed to score points in its second EURO 2020 qualifying challenge. Despite taking an early lead, the Budapest hosts were too high an obstacle.

Head coach Dalić returned Lovren, Jedvaj, Brozović, and Rebić to his starting lineup, and it was Rebić to finish off a Modrić and Kramarić move on 13 minutes.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

At the half-hour mark, Barišić was off due to injury, and minutes later, Hungary captain Dzsudzsak found Szalai, who beats Kalinić from a tight angle.

In the second half, Croatia continued to search for goalscoring opportunities, but it was Hungary that was finally on target. On 76 minutes, Patkai scrambled the ball in to make it 2:1 to the hosts. 

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

In other Sunday's encounter in Group E, Wales hosted Slovakia and celebrated a 1:0 win. Croatia now awaits the home tie with Wales, on 8 June in Osijek.

EURO 2020 qualifying, Group E:
1. Slovakia 3 (2)
2. Wales 3 (1)
3. Hungary 3 (2)
4. Croatia 3 (2)
5. Azerbaijan 0 (1)

24.03.2019., , Budimpešta
Referees: William Collum (SCO), David McGeachie (SCO), Stewart Graeme (SCO)
Fourth referee: Bobby Madden (SCO)
Hungary
2
Croatia
1
1Peter Gulacsi12Lovre Kalinić
2Botond Barath9Andrej Kramarić
4Tamas Kadar7Ivan Rakitić
6Willi Orban10Luka Modrić
7Balazs Dzsudzsak
63'
85'
18Ante Rebić
13'
67'
8Adam Nagy4Ivan Perišić
9Adam Szalai
34'
21Domagoj Vida
14Gergo Lovrencsics11Marcelo Brozović
16Mate Patkai
76'
3Borna Barišić
30'
18Dominik Nagy
40'
16Tin Jedvaj
77'
20Dominik Szoboszlai
65'
6Dejan Lovren
82'
Bench
12Denes Dibusz1Dominik Livaković
22Adam Kovacsik23Simon Sluga
3Mihaly Korhut14Filip Bradarić
5Paulo Vinicius8Mateo Kovačić
10Istvan Kovacs5Duje Ćaleta-Car
11Krisztian Nemeth15Mario Pašalić
13Zsolt Kalmar
65'
19Milan Badelj
15Daniel Gazdag13Nikola Vlašić
17Roland Varga
40'
20Bruno Petković
77'
19Norbert Balogh17Marko Rog
21Barnabas Bese
85'
22Marin Leovac
30'
23Filip Holender2Josip Brekalo
67'
Coaches
Marco RossiZlatko Dalić

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić and vice-captain Ivan Rakitić held a press conference regarding the EURO 2020 qualifier at Hungary.

Zlatko Dalić

"Croatia expects a tough match against a motivated opponent. However, we want to achieve a positive result as well. We are ready and we do not plan to modify our style of play, prepared to respond to everything that awaits us. Lovren, Brozović, Rebić and Jedvaj are back, Kramarić is fit. This is a 'must-win' match for Hungary, regarding their loss at Slovakia, where they had their chances. They will fight in front of home crowd, an we must stay patient and calm. Dzsudzsak and Szalai are among main Hungarian strengths, and it will require much more energy to defeat them. This is a tricky qualifying group, and we have to be at the maximum level" 

Ivan Rakitić

"We will give our best, even though we are aware that home supporters will make it very, very tough. Croatia has to have the upper hand, keep possession and try to attack. A quality preparation is required, and our coaching staff is working out all the details. Regardless of the starting lineup, it is important to know tactical set-up at every moment. A compact defence provides better attacking opportunities. Hungary will undoubtedly be ready for us, but we also have a major objective - to reach UEFA EURO 2020"

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foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
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