National team preparing in Telki for World Cup double-header

National team head coach Bernd Storck announced on Friday the foreign-based players who will be part of the squad for the two next week, the majority joining up with the rest of the squad on Sunday in Telki as the team begins preparations for their final two World Cup 2018 qualification matches.

With Ádám Szalai missing out through injury, Tamás Priskin suspended and Nemanja Nikolić continuing to focus on his club career at Chicago Fire, Storck has named three – all home-based – strikers, Dániel Böde and Márton Eppel, and a newcomer in Diósgyőr’ Roland Ugrai. Attila Fiola and Balázs Dzsudzsák are also unavailable for the Switzerland match having picked up yellow cards against Portugal, but will be available for selection against the Faroe Islands.

“We travel to Basel on Wednesday afternoon for Saturday evening’s game against Switzerland. We return to Hungary on Sunday for our final qualification match, at the Groupama Aréna on Tuesday evening against the Faroe Islands” said head coach Bernd Storck.

There was one late addition to the squad, Paks left back János Szabó joining the squad in Telki on Sunday evening after being drafted in as Vasas’ Szilveszter Hangya pulled out due to illness. Home-based players arrived at the training base earlier in the day, but a number of the foreign-based players will be arriving on Monday, with Barnabás Bese due to arrive following club side Le Havre’s Ligue 2 match on Monday evening.

“It always feels good to be part of the national team squad; nothing is more important for a footballer than this” said Mihály Korhut, speaking to mlsz.hu. “Although it’s already certain that we won’t be at the World Cup the two matches are highly important for us. We’d like to cause Switzerland some problems, especially as we felt hard-done-by in the home reverse against them. Three points are a must against the Faroe Islands if we want to keep third place in the group. It’s also important that we once again give our supporters something to shout about, as they really have given us fantastic backing throughout the qualification campaign”.

Hungary squad to face Switzerland and the Faroe Islands:

Goalkeepers: Péter Gulácsi (RB Leipzig), Balázs Megyeri (Greuther Fürth), Ádám Kovácsik (Videoton) )

Defenders: Barnabás Bese (Le Havre), Richárd Guzmics (Csenpien) Tamás Kádár (Dynamo Kyiv), Mihály Korhut (Hapoel Beer-Sheva), Attila Fiola (Videoton), Ádám Lang (Dijon), Endre Botka (Ferencváros), János Szabó (Paks)

Midfielders: Ákos Elek (Kairat Almaty), Pátkai Máté (Videoton), Ádám Nagy (Bologna), Dávid Márkvárt (Puskás Akadémia), Roland Varga (Ferencváros), Zoltán Stieber (DC United), Balázs Dzsudzsák (al-Wahda), Gergő Lovrencsics (Ferencváros), Roland Sallai (APOEL), Dániel Nagy (Újpest)

Forwards: Márton Eppel (Budapest Honvéd), Dániel Böde (Ferencváros), Roland Ugrai (Diósgyőr)