Head coach Marco Rossi during a pitch walk ahead of a Hungary media conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Hungary boss Marco Rossi has admitted that the World Cup qualifying campaign, which starts for his nation in Dublin on Saturday night, is a straight fight between the Hungarians and the Republic of Ireland for second place and a playoff spot.
While Ireland are aiming to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 2002, Hungary have waited four decades to reach that stage, and while confidence is relatively high in their camp after three successive appearances at the European Championship finals, Hungary also need to turn around some poor recent form.