Rossi: It's difficult for everyone - there is huge sadness

Rossi's team led twice and even after Ireland equalised for the second time, were still in position to qualify for the play-offs, but a winning goal in the 96th minute meant their opponents snatched that play-off berth from them in the cruellest of ways.

"It's difficult in this situation now, for everyone - there's huge sadness... I can't really find the words," Hungary Men's head coach Marco Rossi began Sunday's post-match press conference. "I'm very sorry for the defeat... for the players, for the fans, we didn't deserve to leave this match like this, but we conceded another goal in second-half added time, just as we did in Ireland. We knew they'd pass the ball forward, so the match became about physicality and we couldn't compete with them in that respect. At half-time, when we were 2-1 up, I told the players we should try to get a third goal, because we couldn't rely on a one-goal lead. We created a lot of chances, but unfortunately we didn't succeed in taking advantage of the situation, and then in the end what happened, happened. All I said to the guys for now is that I can't blame them for anything and that they did what I asked them to. It's hard to think about the future now, but the team spirit in the national team is strong and we'll be able to start again when that moment comes; this is also part of our job."