Preview: Hungary vs. Andorra - prediction, team news, lineups

Hungary welcome Andorra to the Ferenc Puskas Stadium on Wednesday evening for the final World Cup 2022 qualifier of this international break.

The sides sit fourth and fifth in Group I, but the hosts are fighting for the second qualification spot with Poland and Albania, whilst Andorra have only San Marino for company at the bottom of the group.

Match preview

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Hungary were one of the surprise packages of Euro 2020. Given zero chance of progressing as the underdog in the Group of Death, they continuously punched well above their weight.

They started by holding reigning champions Portugal for 84 minutes, before drawing against the two most recent world champions - having led a total of three times against France and Germany - and were six minutes plus added time away from knocking the Germans out and progressing to the round of 16.

However, despite their heroics, they enter this match on a six-game winless run, stretching back to a narrow win over Cyprus in a June friendly.

Their loss at home to England was somewhat understandable, but the 4-0 scoreline less so, and that was followed up by a disappointing 1-0 defeat away at Albania.

Marco Rossi will have to hope that his team can remember how to play against smaller sides if they are to continue their battle for a qualification spot in this group, as their opponents are about as small as they come.

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Andorra's win over lowly San Marino last week - coming courtesy of a brace from centre-back Marc Vales - was their first win in all competitions since 2019.

It also amounts to just their fourth competitive win of all time since their debut on the international stage in 1996.

One of those, however, was against Hungary - in 2017, a Marc Rebes goal produced a shock 1-0 victory for Els Tricolors during qualification for the last World Cup.

Manager Koldo Alvarez was there for that game, having been in the job for more than a decade, and will be sure to remind his players of the occasion, whilst ignoring the fact that they would have to repeat the feat away from home.

An away victory four years ago - once again at San Marino - is the only time they have managed to produce one in their history.

Team News

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Hungary's first-choice goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi was substituted at half time against Albania, after a clash of heads with striker Bekim Balaj, and will play no part in Wednesday's game, with Denes Dibusz likely to continue to deputise.

The Magyars were boosted by the return of star man Dominik Szoboszlai to the squad, though, after being forced to miss the Euros through injury, and he will continue in support of target man Adam Szalai, in a probable 3-4-2-1 formation.

The defensive absences of Loic Nego to COVID-19 and Gergo Lovrencsics to an ankle injury saw Rossi utilise Endre Botka as right-wing-back against Albania.

Andorra will have both Marc Pujol and Jordi Alaez available, after they served their suspensions during the defeat to England at the weekend.

Alvarez may return to a 4-4-2 - having switched to five at the back in an attempt to keep England out - which would likely see Jordi Rubio return to the bench.

Hungary possible starting lineup:
Dibusz; Botka, Orban, At. Szalai; Botka, Schafer, Kleinheisler, Fiola; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Ad. Szalai

Andorra possible starting lineup:
Gomes; San Nicolas, Lima, Llovera, Cervos; Martinez, Vales, Vieira, Rebes; Pujol, Alaez

We say: Hungary 2-0 Andorra

Hungary's recent blip should be just that on what has been a steady show of improvement in recent times, and they will surely have enough to comfortably see off Andorra.