Hungary 1-1 France
World Champions France had to settle for a point in Budapest on Saturday as they were held 1-1 by Hungary who put in a real shift to earn an unlikely draw.
Having beaten Germany in their opener, tournament favourites France had a great chance to book their ticket for the Euro 2020 knockout phase, but the Magyars went into a shock lead in first half injury time when Attila Fiola drilled home the opener. Antoine Griezmann levelled mid way through the second half and France pushed for a winner, but a combination of dogged defending, poor finishing and an assured performance from Hungary keeper Peter Gulacsi kept Les Bleus at bay.
The Euro 2020 betting odds have backed Didier Deschamps’ stars to add the European Crown to their 2018 World Cup win. But much like England, who were held by Scotland on Friday, the French have a little more to think about as the tournament progresses. Meanwhile Hungary showed enough to suggest they could give Germany a hard time when they meet next week, so their campaign is far from over.
Highlights of the game
In a highly frustrating first half for France, they played sensational football but missed some golden opportunities to glide ahead as most neutrals expected. They should have been in front when Everton wing back Lucas Digne sent over a perfect cross but for once Kylian Mbappe was off target as his header flew just wide.
On the half hour Karim Benzema had a great chance to score when a ball over from Griezmann was brilliantly laid off by Mbappe to Benzema, but the Real Madrid man scooped his shot wide with the goal at his mercy. Mbappe was in scintillating form and ready to use his electric pace to open up the Hungarian defence, in one superb passage of play he dropped his shoulder and skipped past his marker but then fired his shot wide of the far post.
It looked like being a matter of time before France would score and the goal eventually came, but at the wrong end of the pitch!
Wing back Attila Fiola played a one two with Roland Sallai and burst past Benjamin Pavard before finishing low to Hugo Lloris’ right, to send the packed crowd at the Puskas Arena wild and the Magyars into the break with a lead. It was Fiola’s second goal for his country, and what a time to get it!
Didier Deschamps brought Ousmane Dembele on and he showed just why, when he ran at the Hungary defence before hammering his shot against the upright. France had played some intricate football but it was a classic piece of route one football which dragged them back into the game. It was captain Lloris who took the matter into his own hands when he launched a long ball up to the edge of the Hungary area, Mbabbe collected and ran to the bi-line before pulling the ball back and when it fell to Griezmann he made no mistake, firing home to level.
Hungary kept battling and Sallai forced a save from Lloris when his low shot was deflected towards the corner of the net, but France looked the more likely to get a winner and Peter Gulacsi was on hand to make a great stop to deny Mbappe.
Key Statistics
By the break Lloris only had once save to make and that also applied to his opposite number Gulacsi, but while France had seven shots in total to Hungary’s two, crucially one of those Hungary shots ended up in the net!
France had 70 per cent possession and created so many chances but they had it all to do in the second half after Fiola’s strike ended Les Bleus’ run of six games and 527 minutes without conceding a goal.
Griezmann’s leveller was his seventh goal at the Euros, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Michel Platini have scored more. By the end of the game France won the shot count by 15 to five and four the three on target, but Hungary fought all the way and deserved their point.
What’s next?
Group F continues on Saturday evening with the meeting of two juggernauts when Portugal face Germany at the Allianz Arena; and then there’s plenty of top action to come as the group stages near a climax. Keep it here at SBOTOP for all the latest Euro 2020 news as Italy meet Wales on Sunday, and then on Monday Group B comes to its conclusion as Denmark, Russia and Finland all battle to join Belgium in the Round of 16.
Next Wednesday, June 23rd, Group F concludes when Les Bleus play Portugal and Hungary seek another point and their first win, against Germany.
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