Hungary v Portugal preview: All to play for in Group F showdown
Thursday 23 June 2016 07:37, UK
Portugal face Hungary in their final Group F contest in Lyon on Wednesday needing a win to guarantee their progression to the last 16 of Euro 2016.
Fernando Santos' side arrive at the Stade des Lumieres in third place in the standings, two points adrift of their opponents, who currently top the table.
Portugal have drawn both of their two matches so far in the tournament, against Iceland and Austria, with captain Cristiano Ronaldo missing a penalty in the closing stages of the latter game.
However, despite the pressure being on Santos and his players heading into Wednesday afternoon's showdown with Hungary, the Portugal boss is confident his team are playing well enough to make it all the way to the final on July 11.
"We played really well against Austria without scoring and we have to continue with this attitude," Santos said.
"We made Austria, who are ranked 10th in the world, look like a small team.
"Sometimes, I get the feeling that we are ashamed about being ugly, or not being pretty. If we have to be ugly and that brings us efficiency, we have to be ugly. I'm ugly by nature and I don't mind being even uglier.
"I am only going back to Portugal on July 11 and I am going to be welcomed with a party."
Hungary, meanwhile, know they must stop Ronaldo - who has yet to score so far in France - if they want to get the better of Portugal.
Defender Mihaly Korhut, though, is hoping the Real Madrid forward's struggles in front of goal continue in Lyon.
"Regarding Cristiano Ronaldo, he has played many games and scored many goals during many matches in different competitions like the Champions League and also in the Spanish league," said Korhut.
"So no wonder he is tired. And maybe this is what makes him a little bit nervous. You can see that he misses certain chances.
"We hope he will miss the chances he will have during our match as well. We hope he doesn't give a hard time to our goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly."
Team news
Santos is hoping to have Danilo available after a back problem ruled the Porto midfielder out of Saturday's goalless draw with Austria, but he confirmed that Andre Gomes and Raphael Guerreiro are doubtful.
The Portugal manager must also decide whether to again pick winger Ricardo Quaresma, who started that stalemate in Paris.
Hungary boss Bernd Storck should be able to select Attila Fiola from the start after the right-back dropped down to the substitutes' bench in his side's 1-1 draw with Iceland on the weekend.
However, there is still a question mark over the fitness of Lech Poznan winger Gergo Lovrencsics.
Match stats
This will be the 11th meeting between these two sides; Portugal are yet to taste defeat against Hungary winning seven of the previous 10 (D3).
Hungary have failed to score in each of their last three matches against Portugal and haven't found the net in 328 minutes of action while Portugal have scored 10 goals in that time
These sides have met just once previously at a major tournament; Portugal beat Hungary 3-1 at the World Cup in 1966, in the only match that tournament top goal scorer Eusebio failed to find the net for Portugal.
Portugal are unbeaten in their last nine competitive fixtures (W7, D2), all seven of their wins in that run came by a single goal.
If Ronaldo plays, it will be his 30th game at a major tournament with Portugal, more than any other player; he has scored nine goals in his previous 29 appearances.
This is Hungary's first appearance in the EURO since the introduction of the group stage, however they have failed to progress to the knockouts in their last three World Cup appearances (1978, 1982 & 1986).
Portugal have never failed to make it out of their group at the European Championships, reaching the knockout stage in all six of their previous EURO finals participations.
Merson's prediction
People tell me Cristiano Ronaldo is a better player than Diego Maradona, but I watched him against Austria and that's rubbish. Maradona is 100 times better. Ronaldo looks great when he's playing for Real Madrid battering other teams 9-0 every week but when you ask him to carry a team on his shoulders, he can't do it. People tell me he was unlucky because his penalty hit the post - but luck should not come into it when you take a penalty. Portugal have to win this or else there is a real risk of them going out. I think they'll nick it.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 to Portugal
Betting
Portugal are Sky Bet's 2/5 favourites for the victory despite a disappointing start to Euro 2016, with a third successive draw given a 100/30 chance.
Hungary go up against odds of 8/1 and are rated England's most likely last-16 opponents at 4/6 to finish second.
Fernando Santos' men are just 4/9 to win the group as leaders Iceland are 29/10 to beat bottom side Austria (11/10).
Cristiano Ronaldo heads the first goalscorer betting at just 2/1, while he is enhanced from 3/1 to 4/1 to bag a brace in Sky Bet's Price Boosts.
