Dhe “rescuer” marched into the team hotel in a hoodie, in blue and white sneakers and with a black mask: After days of crime about a false positive corona test and Austrian exit restrictions, the budding top star Dominik Szoboszlai joined the Hungarian national team – and the Magyars bristled with the decisive one Duel for participation in the European Championship and last place in the “German” group of optimism.
But then the big shock one day before the showdown on Thursday (8.45 p.m. / DAZN) against Iceland: Szoboszlai can be there, but coach Marco Rossi probably not, his test was positive. “He was immediately separated from the players and the members of the staff”, it said in a message from the football association MLSZ.
Preparation sensitively disturbed
The preparation for the important game in Budapest has been severely disrupted. The winner will take part in the final round, which has been postponed by a year and will partly take place in Hungary’s capital next summer. The last free place in the strong Group F with Germany, France and Portugal beckons.
For Szoboszlai, the game means everything. “The game against Iceland is the biggest of my life so far, even if I played against big teams in the Champions League,” said the 20-year-old top talent from RB Salzburg, who is courted by many top clubs. Sport Bild now reports that a move to RB Leipzig for more than 20 million euros is imminent in winter. But for Szoboszlai the topic is a long way off.
Currently only Iceland counts for the noble technician. “So often there was only one step missing. I don’t want that to happen again and leave the place as the winner, ”said Szoboszlai, who, like five other Salzburg professionals, had tested positive for the corona virus on Sunday. However, negative tests followed at Szoboszlai and the other RB professionals and finally the officially imposed travel ban was lifted. On Tuesday he joined the selection of Hungarians, the expectations of him are enormous, even the term “savior” is mentioned.
The Bundesliga-shaped team with goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, head of defense Willi Orban (both Leipzig) and captain and attacker Adam Szalai (Mainz 05) had to shake off all the turbulence of the past few days in order to achieve their own dream of the second EM against Iceland -To be able to participate one after the other.
The Icelanders, who also took part in the World Cup in 2018, prepared in Augsburg. FCA striker Alfred Finnbogason had the shortest journey and sees his team well prepared. “There is a lot of experience in the group, we can write history again. We are very excited to win the game, ”said the 31-year-old striker. The chances are 50:50, but: “We have a lot of self-confidence and believe in it.”
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