HUNGARY SEEK TO DEFEND V4 FUTSAL TITLES IN DEBRECEN

The 2018 'Visegrad Four' Futsal Nations Tournament – the 15th edition since the competition began in 2003 – is a competition held annually with the participation of the Hungarian, Polish, Czech and Slovak national futsal teams.

This time round one of the original four teams will be missing with Poland preparing for the European Championship being held at the end of January having edged past Hungary in a qualification play-off, so they are thus unable to participate. Their place will be taken by Croatia in the senior competition, whilst at Under-21 level the original four countries will face each other.

Hungary won the main tournament for the first time in autumn 2016, the Under-21s also triumphing in their tournament in Slovakia. Alongside experienced heads in the title-holders’ squad are a number of young players but talisman Zoltán Dróth is unavailable due to club duties in Kazakhstan.

“Our aim is to defend the title that we won for the first time in 2016. It’s important that the national team can once again compete at the highest level and also provide experience to young players on the international stage. The team has changed much since the 2016 title win in Slovakia; a number of young players have come through and only six of the 2016 squad are still part of the national team set-up”, head coach Sito Rivera explained to mlsz.hu.

Under-21 head coach Zsolt Fehér also talked of his squad having changed much since winning in 2016, but that on the other hand home advantage could play a role. “The players who are regulars for their teams in the national championship had a distinct advantage when the squad was named; I’m sure that our new-look team can be successful as we were in Slovakia. The teams are very evenly matched and I expect a close-run contest. Three very tough matches lie ahead of us” Fehér concluded.

Visegrad Four Futsal Nations Tournament 2018

22nd January

Poland U21 - Slovakia U21, 10.30 Hungary U21 - Czech Rep U21, 13.00 Croatia - Slovakia, 15.30 Hungary - Czech Rep, 18.00

23rd January

Poland U21 - Czech Rep U21, 10.30 Slovakia U21 - Hungary U21, 13.00 Czech Rep - Croatia, 15.30 Slovakia - Hungary, 18.00

24th January

Czech Rep U21 - Slovakia U21, 10.30 Hungary U21 - Poland U21, 13.00 Czech Rep - Slovakia, 15.30 Hungary - Croatia, 18.00

Hungary squad:

Goalkeepers: Marcell Alasztics (ETO FC), Dávid Mezei (Berettyóújfalu)

Outfield players: Richárd Dávid (ETO FC), Bence Klacsák (ETO FC) , Ádám Vas (ETO FC) , István Gál (Berettyóújfalu), János Trencsényi (Berettyóújfalu), Norbert Horváth (DFDSE), Ádám Hosszú (DFDSE) Imre Nagy (Nyírgyulaj), Attila Sánta (Nyírgyulaj), Milán Hajmási (Haladás), József Tatai (Veszprém), Ákos Harnisch (Bőny)

Hungary Under-21 squad:

Goalkeepers: Alex Cseresnyés (DFDSE), Marcell Vámosi (Ferencváros), Ádám Faragó (Debrecen)

Outfield players: Bálint Bognár (ETO FC), Ádám Szűcs (ETO FC), Kristóf Sáhó (ETO FC), Benedek Horváth (Ferencváros), Patrik Pál (DFDSE), Olivér Fekete (Aramis), Krisztián Nehéz (Csömör), Tamás Józsa (Csömör), Fülöp Víz (Csömör), Gergő Sipos (Haladás), Áron Gémesi (Dunakeszi), Domonkos Mányi (TF)