Burkina Faso
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Hungaryvs.Kosovo

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 March 2024, 21:43
Kosovo will travel to Budapest on Tuesday to meet Hungary in an international friendly at the Puskas Arena.

The hosts got the better of Turkey in a friendly last time out, while their visitors prevailed in a trip to Armenia on Friday.

Match preview

Hungary return to action at the Puskas Arena on Tuesday with the aim of making it back-to-back wins in a pair of international friendlies in March and extending a fine run of form across all competitions.

Indeed, the Magyarok have gone unbeaten in their last 13 outings, dating back to a UEFA Nations League defeat to Italy in November 2022, picking up eight wins and playing out five draws since.

That streak included a successful Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, in which Marco Rossi's team booked their place in the upcoming tournament by topping their group, collecting 18 points from eight matches with the bid culminating in a 3-1 home win over Montenegro in November, with Dominik Szoboszlai turning the game on its head with a second-half brace before Adam Nagy added a third in injury time.

Ahead of the commencement of the continental competition in June, the Magyarok returned to action for the first time in 2024 at home to Turkey in a friendly on Friday, and they extended their hot streak with a 1-0 victory in Budapest, as Szoboszlai made the only difference from the penalty spot early in the second half.

Now playing their final game before the June warm-ups and commencement of the Euro 2024 group stage in under three months, Hungary will bid to keep building momentum with a third straight win at the Puskas Arena on Tuesday.

Their visitors, meanwhile, will also aim to make it consecutive triumphs in their March international friendlies, having prevailed on their travels last week after an unsuccessful Euro 2024 qualifying bid last year.

Aiming for a first appearance at the continental tournament in their history, the Dardanet fell short, finishing fifth in their group with 11 points from 10 matches, having rounded off the bid in impressive fashion with consecutive triumphs over Andorra and Israel and a draw with Switzerland before suffering a home defeat to Belarus in the final round of fixtures.

The end of that campaign triggered a change in management, as Franco Foda stepped in to replace Primoz Gliha, and his tenure began with their first fixture of 2024 last week as the Dardanet travelled to Armenia for an international friendly.

Milot Rashica put his nation ahead in the 25th minute of that contest, and Kosovo stood strong to see out the victory in Yerevan, with their sights now set on taking an impressive scalp in Budapest on Tuesday before the beginning of the UEFA Nations League in September.

Hungary friendly form:

W

Hungary form (all competitions):

D

W

D

D

W

W

Kosovo friendly form:

W

Kosovo form (all competitions):

L

W

W

D

L

W

Team News

Marco Rossi has a strong Hungary squad at his disposal for Tuesday's friendly, although he is unable to call on key defender Willi Orban, who was forced to withdraw due to an injury concern picked up before their win over Turkey.

In his absence, Botond Balogh, Adam Lang and Attila Szalai should continue in a back three after their clean sheet on Friday in front of RB Leipzig stopper Peter Gulacsi.

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai is the talisman and captain for the the Magyarok, having netted 11 goals in his 39 caps thus far, and he will likely join Roland Sallai in support of a lone striker, with Barnabas Varga again hoping to get the nod having already scored four times in his eight Hungary caps.

Kosovo should also field a similar starting XI to the one from their friendly triumph last week, with Milot Rashica bound to continue on the wing in their 4-2-3-1 shape having netted his 12th international goal in their win over Armenia.

The attack will be spearheaded by talismanic front man Vedat Muriqi, who has netted 26 goals in his 52 caps for the Dardanet, while Edon Zhegrova and Florent Muslija should again complete the forward line.

Captain and Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani was an unused substitute last time out but should come in from the outset on Tuesday, while Burnley's Arijanet Muric will continue between the sticks.

Hungary possible starting lineup:

Gulacsi; Balogh, Lang, Szalai; Nego, Nagy, Schafer, Kerkez; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Varga

Kosovo possible starting lineup:

Muric; Vojvoda, Rrahmani, Aliti, Paqarada; Loshaj, Berisha; Zhegrova, Muslija, Rashica; Muriqi

We say: Hungary 3-1 Kosovo

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

7 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal's wait for Champions League glory goes on as they suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the semi-finals to Paris Saint-Germain. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich at the end of the month after finishing the job in the French capital at home to Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final clash this evening, winning 2-1 at the Parc des Princes and advancing 3-1 on aggregate. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou claimed talking about Tottenham 'does crazy things to people', including former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Leeds United are reportedly interested in Everton striker Beto as they prepare for life in the Premier League. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur travel to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt at Aspmyra Stadion for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie on Thursday night. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United welcome Athletic Bilbao to Old Trafford for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie on Thursday night. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea take a whopping three-goal advantage into the second leg of their Conference League semi-final at home to Djurgardens IF at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night. 7 May 2025 talksport.com One time England manager Peter Taylor is continuing his management career into his 70s by accepting a new job. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed their starting lineups for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, and Ousmane Dembele has only been named on the bench for Les Parisiens. 7 May 2025 talksport.com A familiar voice will be missing when Paris Saint-Germain host Arsenal on Wednesday night as Rio Ferdinand is in hospital. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain tonight in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, live on talkSPORT. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal's last hopes of winning a trophy were extinguished by Paris Saint-Germain who beat the Gunners 3-1 on aggregate to seal a place in the Champions League final. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that James Maddison will miss the rest of the season with the knee injury he sustained in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final with Bodo/Glimt. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United teenager Bendito Mantato has reportedly signed a new deal at Old Trafford until June 2029. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit of Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo, with Liverpool cooling their interest in the Cameroon international. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be aiming to make it eight wins from nine in all competitions when they make the trip to St Mary's to face already-relegated Southampton on Saturday afternoon. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Betis chief executive Ramon Alarcon has suggested that his club will find it difficult to sign Manchester United attacker Antony on a permanent basis during this summer's transfer window. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Bayern Munich legend Bastian Schweinsteiger said Harry Kane must win a Champions League to be considered a club great. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Liverpool should release Trent Alexander-Arnold from his contract early, but only for the club's sake. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Miami have reportedly ended their pursuit of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth have reportedly made a verbal offer to sign Nantes defender Nathan Zeze this summer. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Fiorentina striker Moise Kean. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In a fascinating precursor to next week's cup final, AC Milan and Bologna will clash in Serie A's Friday night kickoff, with the visitors needing maximum points at San Siro. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Round 35 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig kicks off with a clash between Fenerbahce, who are clinging to a slim title hope, and Istanbul Basaksehir, who remain in contention for a European place. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly received a boost in the race for Brentford attacker Bryan Mbuemo. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona centre-back Inigo Martinez will allegedly be fit for Sunday's El Clasico against Real Madrid. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit condemned Real Madrid's classless behaviour against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ayr United are set to face Partick Thistle at Somerset Park on Friday evening in the second leg of their Scottish Championship playoff quarter-final. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Huddersfield have offered David Wagner their vacant manager's job, six years after the German left the club. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho has insisted that he is "happy" at Old Trafford amid suggestions that he could leave the 20-time English champions during the summer transfer window.