Austria v Hungary preview: Gabor Kiraly set to make Euro history
Tuesday 14 June 2016 17:02, UK
Goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly will make history on Tuesday as Hungary kick of their Euro 2016 campaign against Austria in Group F.
The legendary stopper will become the oldest ever player to feature at a European Championships at 40 years old and 75 days, overtaking Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaus' previous record of 39 years and 91 days.
Kiraly featured in ten of Hungary's 12 qualification games, including both play-off legs against Norway where Bernd Storck's men sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory, and the manager had no concerns about including the goalkeeper in his final 23-man squad.
"I've always told him that age isn't important for me," Storck told the UEFA website. "I don't care if a player is young or old, he has to be good. Gabor is good - he's outstanding. He radiates confidence and is a goalkeeper with an incredible aura and charisma. He will help us be successful at the Euros."
Austria last appeared at a European Championships in 2008 where they qualified as hosts, but have come storming into this year's competition with an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
They won nine and drew one of their games to reach the tournament in France - bettered only by the perfect 10 out of 10 from England - and have been tipped as dark horses for the competition by Sky Sports pundit Matt Le Tissier.
But the squad aren't resting of their laurels and are aware of the threat Hungary will pose, and midfielder Alessandro Schopf wants an extra push from his team-mates to ensure a winning start.
"It will certainly be a difficult game for us," the Schalke man told the Austrian Football Association website.
"They're a compact opponent, defensively very well organised. In attack, they always create chances. We have to give 120 per cent or we won't win this game."
Team news
Leicester City's Christian Fuchs will captain Austria, with Bayern Munich star David Alaba also set to feature and team-mate Marko Arnautovic is hoping his fantastic form with the Bundesliga champions can help their campaign.
"He played at such a high level throughout the season and I hope he can perform at the same standard for us. He plays an important role in midfield, particularly because he brings a lot of experience to the table," the Stoke striker told the UEFA website.
The only injury concern for manager Marcel Koller is over striker Marc Janko - who was Austria's top scorer in qualifying with seven goals - but he is expected to be fit after recovering from a neck injury.
Krisztian Nemeth is a slight doubt for the Hungarians and his muscle injury could see him settle for a place on the bench.
There are also question marks over who will start as the lone striker, with Tamas Priskin and Adam Szalai the main contenders but fellow forwards Balazs Dzsudzsak, Nemeth, Nemanja Nikolic, and Daniel Bode will also be in contention.
Opta stats
Hungary are unbeaten in their last three games against Austria (W2 D1). Their only previous encounter in a major tournament was in the 1934 World Cup: Austria won 2-1 in the quarter finals.
Austria hadn't qualified for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup (Euro 2008 excluded, automatically qualified as co-hosts), also held in France. They failed to make it past the group stages.
This is Hungary's third appearance at the Euros, their first since 1972. Their best performance in a major tournament was as a beaten finalist in the 1938 and 1954 World Cup.
Austria have been knocked out in the group stages in each of their last three major tournaments (World Cup 1990, World Cup 1998, Euro 2008).
Austria's three games at Euro 2008 produced only four goals (1 scored, 3 conceded) and they only converted one of their 46 shots.
Hungary's only win to date at the European Championships came in June 1964 against Denmark (3-1 in the third place final). They have lost the other three games.
Hungary recorded the lowest goal difference in the qualifiers of all teams who made it to Euro 2016 (+2, play-offs excluded).
Koller is participating in his first major tournament as manager. He played two games for Switzerland at Euro 1996 (a draw against England followed by a defeat against Scotland).
Merson's predictions
I fancied Austria's chances heading into the tournament until Holland rinsed them in one of their warm-up games. Not sure if they've got what it takes to cause a real upset, but I expect them to get off to a winning start.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 to Austria (Sky Bet odds 4/1)
Betting
Austria are odds-on at 8/11 with Sky Bet to kick off their campaign with a victory over the unfancied Hungary, who are 17/4 to cause an upset and 13/5 to secure a draw. Hungary are among the biggest-priced outsiders in the tournament at 200/1 while Austria have attracted each-way interest at 40/1 following an impressive qualifying campaign.
Marc Janko is considered their main threat as 7/2 favourite in the first goalscorer betting, while Stoke's Marko Arnautovic is enhanced from 11/2 to 15/2 to net first in Sky Bet's Price Boosts.
