Krisztian Nemeth delivered a standout performance for Hungary, scoring twice against Greece in their recent match, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win as Hungary fell 4-3. Despite the defeat, Hungary’s chances of qualifying for UEFA Euro 2016 remain strong. The Sporting Kansas City striker played the full 90 minutes in Athens, twice giving Hungary the lead in the second half at Karaiskakis Stadium. However, Greece responded each time and ultimately found a late winner in the 86th minute. Despite the loss, Hungary is still well-positioned to potentially reach the European Championship for the first time since 1972.
Hungary currently sits third in Group F of the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 4-2-4 record and 16 points, trailing Northern Ireland (21 points) and Romania (20 points). Direct qualification to Euro 2016 next June is granted to the top two teams from each group and the highest-ranked third-place team. As it stands, Hungary holds the coveted top spot among third-placed teams. Their automatic qualification hinges on the outcomes of upcoming matches:
- A Spain victory or draw against Ukraine on Monday.
- Either an Iceland victory or draw against Turkey OR a Latvia victory or draw against Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
If these results don’t go in Hungary’s favor, Nemeth and his national team will enter a two-legged playoff next month with the other seven third-placed teams. These playoffs will determine the final four spots in the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament.
The match against Greece was a back-and-forth affair. After both teams scored in the first half, Nemeth put Hungary ahead in the 54th minute, reacting quickly to a header at the far post to make it 2-1. Greece equalized again, but Nemeth responded emphatically. In the 75th minute, he unleashed a powerful shot that found the roof of the net, marking his third international goal for Hungary.
This game marked Nemeth’s 21st appearance for Hungary since his debut in 2010, with six of those appearances coming in 2015. This year has been particularly successful for the 26-year-old forward, especially with Sporting Kansas City. Nemeth was recently named Sporting Kansas City’s Newcomer of the Year. His impressive club season includes 15 goals and seven assists across all competitions. Notably, he shared the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Golden Boot award with teammate Dom Dwyer, scoring five goals, including a crucial equalizer in the Final which Sporting Kansas City won in a penalty shootout.
