Hungary has a record of unpredictability

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 16

Hungary has a record of unpredictability

Lurking behind Hungary’s reputation as one of football’s traditionally great nations is its present flair for unpredictability.

Nowhere is that trait more in evidence than in the European side's two star players, Tibor Nyilasi and Andras Toroscik. It has been said that Nyilasi and Toroscik are the only players who would not look out of place alongside the likes of Puskas, Hidegkuti, Bozsik and Kocsis — players who made Hungary the world’s top-rated team during the 19505.

When the mood takes them, they can be a deadly duo. Sadly, they are better known as “the terrible twosome,” a reminder of their fall from grace in Argentina in 1978. Both were sent off within seconds of one another as Hungary lost its opening world final match against the host nation, 2-1, and were automatically suspended for

the second group match against Italy. The dispirited Hungarians were thrashed, 3-1, and although Nyilasi and Toroscik returned for the final game, they went down by the same score against France. Both hope to erase those memories when Hungary begins its 1982 challenge against El Salvador in Elche on June 15. Ironically,' the next match, 12 hours later, will be against Argentina, the holder.

But it is Hungary's third Group 3 game, against Belgium, which might determine if it qualifies for the second round in Spain. Argentina is expected to dominate the section, leaving the Hungarians and Belgians, runners-up to West Germany in the 1980 European championship, to battle for the second qualifying place. The nation was in a jubilant mood when Hungary reached the final stages for the eighth time by topping

its European group, which contained England, Romania, Switzerland and Norway. But doubts are now starting to creep in.

Istvan Budai, the State Secretary for Sport, sounded far from confident when he said recently: “Reaching the finals was a relative success and very pleasing, but there is nothing very rosy about Hungarian football in general.

“We have not made much progress, and must realise that the level of our qualifying performance will not be enough in Spain,” he said. Mr Budai might have had Hungary’s losing group performances against England in mind. The first, a 3-1 loss in Budapest, brought a hail of criticism with it. But before the second encounter,

the England coach, Ron Greenwood, sounded a note of caution, saying that Hungary was “a weird team, so unpredictable.” England won that match, 1-0, and with it a place in Spain. However, Hungary could still match the best if its manager and coach, Kalman Meszoly, can persuade Toroscik and Nyilasi to add some much-needed determination to their skill. Toroscik, in particular, seems to find the thought of 90 minutes of effort somewhat distasteful. In the last qualifying match against England at Wembley — although Hungary’ was already assured of a place in Spain — Toroscik appeared content to float around the edge of the action. His performance led one

commentator to say he should have paid to get into the stadium like the rest of the spectators. With Nyilasi missing from the mid-field through injury, Hungary went down with only a relative newcomer, Sandor Sallai, appearing unwilling to stamp England's World Cup passport.

If a little bit of Sallai’s competitiveness rubs off on his cultured colleagues, Hungary will be no easy touch in Spain. One man who hopes to ensure that is the case is the coach, Meszoly. The 40-year-old Hungarian, noted for his lively approach to the game, is a former world-class player himself. He appeared 61 times for Hungary in the 19605, and at two World Cup finals. Hungary reached the

quarter-finals both times. In the 1966 final in England he dislocated a shoulder against Brazil in Liverpool. But the big defender returned to the pitch with his arm in a sling and from the penalty spot scored one of the goals in Hungary’s 3-1 win.

Meszoly was a centreback who, before the concept became widespread, was conscious of the fact that defenders could make a contribution to, and initiate, attacks, and his approach to his job with the national team has been aggressive.

Meszoly has been praised for guiding a team which is not on a par with its illustrious predecessors to the top of its group at the expense of Rumania and England.