Hungary's Mr Versatility Szoboszlai to stay in midfield

Hungary boss Marco Rossi has insisted there is no chance of Dominik Szoboszlai lining up at right-back in Saturday's night’s opening World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.

The 24-year-old playmaker has been employed as a makeshift defender by Liverpool manager Arne Slot this season with great success, but he will not reprise the role in Dublin as Rossi’s men attempt to end their 40-year wait for a trip to the finals.

The Italian said with a smile: "I don’t think so, to be honest. We will employ him – I do not like this word 'use'. You cannot 'use' persons. We will employ him.

"We will employ him in the position which is more comfortable for him and more useful for us."

If Ireland’s wait for a return to global football’s top table is lengthy – the team last qualified in 2002 – Hungary have not made it since 1986, although Rossi says he is not feeling the pressure of trying to end that drought.

He said: "To be honest, I know how important is this match, how important are these qualifiers for Hungary, for the fans, for, we can say, almost everybody in Hungary.

"But like I mentioned, I think it was July of seven years ago, you cannot have more motivation than 100%, and that motivation I had since the first time that I sat on this bench, so I think that cannot be increased."

Rossi’s men lost 2-1 in Dublin in a June 2024 friendly and have since been relegated from Nations League A after a play-off defeat by Turkey.

They are nevertheless ranked 22 places above Ireland by FIFA and boast a squad rich in talent, most notably that of schemer Szoboszlai, who is accompanied by Liverpool team-mate Milos Kerkez.

With Portugal hot favourites to win the group, both Ireland and Hungary are aware they may have to fight it out for the runners-up spot, all the while knowing Armenia will be poised to capitalise on any slip-ups.

Rossi said: "In our group, Portugal are on another level, even if we will try our best in every match that we will play. But of course looking at the second place, I think that the fight could be between us and Ireland.

"I am expecting a match that tomorrow will be balanced and will be probably decided by episodes and we have to do everything in order to to bring these episodes on our side."

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