Iceland take on Hungary in the third match of Group F, at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Hungary will look to win their sixth consecutive match against Iceland, who stood strong against a strong Portugal attack, and held on to a 1-1 draw. In their first ever European Championship, Iceland will look to take three points off a strong Hungary side, which recorded an easy 2-0 victory over Austria in their opening match of Euro 2016.
As the teams gear up for this Group F encounter, let’s take a look at the five players to watch out for in tomorrow’s clash.
1) Gylfi Sigurdsson
The former Spurs man, Gylfi Sigurdsson will be key for Iceland in this match, after he led the side with six goals and three assists in the Euro 2016 qualifiers. The Swansea man is brilliant with his passing from midfield and has the vision and skills to provide deliveries to his team-mates.
Sigurdsson also has the ability to score some delightful free-kicks, and will look to threaten Hungary’s goal. If he gets time and space on the ball, he can be dangerous with his shots from distance, and will also support the defence when Hungary attack.
In a team where the collective is more important than the individual, Sigurdsson stands out and will be vital for Iceland if they are to make a mark in Euro 2016. He will be ready to guide Iceland in this match, and inspire them to the knockout stages.
2) Adam Nagy
The young midfielder turned 21 yesterday and is one of the exciting prospects in Hungarian football. He plays for Ferencvárosi TC, and has already won 7 caps for the national side. He hadn’t even made his debut at club or international level till last year but in a short time, he has become a key player for his club and country.
Along with Zoltan Gera, he will be crucial in the midfield battle against the likes Sigurdsson. For someone who still is learning, Nagy has good tactical sense and is known to make crucial interceptions in front of the defence.
His versatility allows him to play either as a midfielder or as a defender. Bernd Stork is expected to play the same formation 4-1-4-1 as he did in their opening match, and Nagy will be the link between defence and the forwards. He is definitely a player to watch out for.
3) Aron Gunnarsson
Iceland’s captain will anchor the midfield and be the driving force of this inspired side. The 27-year-old, who plays for Cardiff City, will be a crucial link between the attack and defence of his side.
He was credited with Cardiff City’s first ever goal at the English Premier League, in a 3-2 win against Manchester City. The defender did not start too often for Cardiff this season, but with his intensity and determination to lead Iceland further in this tournament, Gunnarson is the perfect man to lead Lars Lagerback’s side.
He will be looking to guide his side to maximum points against Hungary, and push for what-would-be a historic top 2 finish and qualification for the knockouts. Along with Sigurdsson, the two Iceland players will be crucial to their team’s chances.
4) Zoltan Gera
At 37, the veteran midfielder will look to end his international career on a high, with a good showing from his team at this year’s Euro. He has been one of Hungary’s finest players for more than a decade now, and Hungary will depend on him to control the game from midfield.
He showed his class in the English Premier League, representing the likes of Fulham and West Bromwich Albion, where he became a cult hero, and currently plays for Hungarian club, Ferencvaros.
He was a part of Hungary’s squad which had a disappointing Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and finished sixth in their group. Hungary football and Gera have come a long way since then, as they are on the verge of qualifying for the last 16.
The experience of Gera, combining with the youthful Hungary players will give the team balance, and could potentially make Hungary a team to look out for in the knockout stages of the tournament.
5) Laszlo Kleinheisler
Laszlo Kleinheisler was the man-of-the-match in Hungary’s opening game against Austria, and can prove to be important for them in today’s match against Iceland too. The 22-year-old Werder Bremen man was impressive in the match and was a threat to the opposition defense with his pace and passing.
He assisted Szalai’s opening goal for the Hungarians, and Lars Lagerback will rely on him to set up goals for his team. The Werder Bremen star also managed to find Balazs Dzsudzsak through on goal but he missed the chance and had a poor game against the Austrians.
Today’s match will be exciting, especially in the midfield with Hungary’s Laszlo, Nagy and Gera battling out against the likes of Sigurdsson and Gunnarsson. Whichever team can come out on top in this midfield battle is likely to get maximum points in this crucial encounter.
