Zoltán Gera: We need to make this point count

In the COVID-enforced absence of head coach Marco Rossi and his assistant Cosimo Inguscio, former Hungarian international playmaker and current U21 national-team coach Zoltán Gera stepped in to lead the Hungarian national team against Serbia.

"We played very well in the first half, creating chance after chance, while the Serbs scored from their only opening," Gera said. "We dominated in this period, we created situations, and then at half time we discussed the need to continue attacking aggressively in order to pressurise the opponent into making mistakes. This was successful at first, but as time went on, the team tired and more opportunities came the way of our guests. I think this is completely normal against a team like Serbia because their players possess very serious quality".

"In the last 15 minutes, the match was hectic and the game was stretched, so opportunities arose for both sides. It would have been unfair if we had lost, because I think overall we were closer to victory than the Serbs and, apart from the last few minutes, we created more chances. One point should be appreciated and the fact that Serbia haven't been able to win against us in either of the two matches is definitely an achievement. The players were disappointed after the match, because they also felt that we had created enough to have won," Gera admitted.

For the first time in his career, Nemanja Nikolic captained his national team, rising to the occasion by playing well and helping the team with a great assist.

"It was a fantastic feeling to be team captain," said the MOL Fehérvár striker. "Ádám Szalai was very much missed in the dressing room, but I tried to give my best and perform his role as well as possible. It was a fantastic feeling to take to the pitch against Serbia as team captain; it really was a really wonderful moment for me. I’m sorry we didn’t win because we would have deserved the three points. We didn’t find our rhythm in the first ten minutes but we played very well for the rest of the half and the team calmed down after the goal and produced some nice football. We had shots, corners and then at the end of a training-ground routine we scored a very good goal, for which it was a special pleasure for me to be able to provide the assist. We had four or five key players missing from the squad but we showed that we are still a competitive team without them. We were disciplined, we went into every challenge aggressively, and although we were tired by the end, I take my hat off to the team for their performance! In three days, another important match awaits us, but I'm confident that we'll successfully negotiate that hurdle and secure first place in our Nations League group".