HUNGARY STRIKER BARNABAS Varga is in a stable condition in hospital following a sickening collision with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn during tonight’s Euro 2024 game in Stuttgart.
Hungary won the game with a dramatic 99th-minute winner from substitute Kevin Csoboth to eliminate Scotland from the tournament. Hungary have finished third in Group A, and must wait until the end of the group phase on Wednesday to discover whether their record is enough to progress to the last-16 as one of the four best-ranked third-placed sides.
The game was overshadowed by a second-half injury to Varga, however, after he collided with Gunn’s elbow as the goalkeeper came out to clear a cross. Stewards surrounded Varga with a screen as he received medical attention on the pitch, and he was led away on a stretcher after an eight-minute stoppage.
Speaking after the game, Hungary coach Marco Rossi said Varga is in a stable condition in hospital. He will undergo surgery overnight for a fractured jaw, but Rossi said Varga is healthy and “under no risk.”
His team-mate Roland Sallai, who created the winning goal, said Hungary played the end-game for their team-mate.
“It was terrible to see Barnabas like that”, said Sallai. “Fortunately he is in a much better condition. He will probably need a minor operation but he is in a stable condition. We cross our fingers he can return quickly.
“Naturally it was a terrible incident and we were fighting for him in the last 15 or 20 mins and we wanted to win for him. This we dedicate to him.”
Steve Clarke meanwhile bemoaned the non-award of a second-half penalty to his side.
Stuart Armstrong went down in the box following a tangle with Willi Orban, who had already been booked. The referee waved away Scotland’s claims and the VAR did not intervene.
“A 100% penalty”, said Clarke. “Someone somewhere has to explain to me why that’s not the penalty. I have other words but I am not going to use them.”
Clarke said his side did not create enough chances relative to their 60% share of possession, but said they did create enough to score one goal. Scotland had four shots, but none of them were on target.
“We gave it everything”, said Clarke. “Can’t fault the effort. It was a very tough game against a good opponent. It was always going to be decided by first goal, you could see that after the first half an hour. When we opened up at the end to chase the win we felt we needed, we got caught on the counter.
“It was a one-goal game. The first half was what it was, we dominated the ball but didn’t create enough. We did create chances when we opened up, but couldn’t find the composure to put the ball in the net. But that’s the way we are.”
Heart says Munster, Head says Leinster!
They’re at home and are currently on better form. I think Munster would need a ligind-esq performance full of pashun and the likes to win it. Not saying they can’t though. When it comes to emotional underdog victories Munster are second to none
The Leinster half back change makes a huge difference. Not sure I would have as much confidence with McGrath and Madigan but Sexton was really finding form and he knows how to play the Aviva more than anyone else. It’ll be bloody close. Tense. Paddy power has Leinster -7. Sounds about right
@Ewan, Heart says Leinster, head says Leinster….
When you match up the positions, there aren’t as many duals fighting for Irish starting spots as I thought. D Kearney V Earls, McGrath V Cronin (though his real competition is Healy). Interested how Scannel fares against Cronin, but Best is unquestionably first choice for Ireland. D Ryan V Toner. Stander V Heaslip must be the main match-up.
Sexton V Holland isn’t yet a contest, maybe it will be in a couple years. Murray V Reddan is no longer a contest. Murphy V O’Donnell would have been more interesting before the return of Sean O’Brien and emergence of VanDer Flier.
Ross – agree with some of that, but disagree strongly on one substantial point: Best is no longer clearly first choice for Ireland. He’s been a smashing player and senior figure for Ireland for years, and we are indebted to him.
However:
- he will be 34 in August, so we need to find some alternatives very soon indeed
- he played below his standards for most of the 6N
- he lead Ireland poorly in this past 6N
- his tenure as Ireland captain seems unlikely to extend into next season
- there are a handful of hungry, good, reasonably young hookers awaiting their chance: they wilL force it soon.
Maybe Rury Besht isn’t a great leader, but he’s an outstanding player. 34 isn’t the same for a hooker as it is for a winger. Not saying he’ll last to the World Cup, but he’ll definitely be there next season.
Also, out of curiosity, who’d you have as captain? I don’t think we have any great leaders right now. PS It’s a genuine question, I’ve no idea who’d be the right man. Heaslip wasn’t great in charge either and while a lot of people are calling for POM, I don’t think he should start when Stander and Heaslip are both fit.
I think Best has a season of international rugby left in him.
As for captaincy, it’s a very hard one – partly because we have relatively few natural captains, partly because we have also few players who are guaranteed to start.
Heaslip is a great player, and a fine leader as a number 2 – but simply not a good captain. It hampers him as a player, and he doesn’t seem to know how to be the principal leader.
POM is an excellent captain, but will he start? CJ is probably ahead of him right now, and back row competition is only going to get tougher.
Sexton is a de facto captain, but I don’t think piling additional pressure on him is helpful.
Murray would probably be my pick: miles better than any of his rivals for the shirt, experienced, clever, respected. It would be a step up for him, but he’s always been capable of that in the past.
Brian – I agree to an extent but Best will be first choice hooker heading to South Africa and for the November internationals. Although he’s near the twilight of his career, I’d be surprised if he’s not first choice for the next 6 nations. You mention promising young hookers but I was looking at that recently and it’s an area where I think the provinces are short. Cronin and Strauss are around 30 and there aren’t any other hookers who’ve come in to the frame for Ireland in the last few years. Who would you look at as a potential first choice hooker for Ireland in a few years?
Murray also has the “advantage” of not being his province’s captain. The IRFU have seemed pretty adamant in the past (BOD, POC) that the national captain not also have that provincial responsibility – although Best does still captain Ulster.
Two tickets for this tomorrow. Can’t wait. Want a Leinster win, but hopefully a tight exciting game.
And yet Leo you don’t give JVDF a crack of tommy O’Donnell.
Desperately looking for a bar in Playa del Carmen to show it… 6 people around 1 tablet is a scrum