World Cup qualifiers 2026: Hungary-Portugal, the likely lineups
Reduced by the mocking draw in Ireland (from 2-0 to 2-2, with the Irish equalizing goal on 93′), Hungary must block Portugal if it does not want to lose as of now the chance to qualify directly for the World Cup finals. The match scheduled at Budapest’s Puskas Arena is also important for the Lusitanians, who after the rounded 5-0 infliction at home on Armenia want to put a first mortgage on the qualification discourse.
Without Roland Sallai, who was sent off against Ireland, the Hungarian national team’s head coach, Italy’s Marco Rossi, must rethink the attack, with Varga likely the only forward in a 4-1-4-1 with a defensive imprint. The Ferencvaros striker himself is aiming in any case for the fifth consecutive match, between club and national team, with at least one goal on the scoreboard.
As for Portugal, coach Roberto Martinez is heading toward the confirmation of the’eternal Cristiano Ronaldo, 40 years old in February and fresh off a brace against the Armenians, while Joao Felix could be a solution from the bench, with Gonçalo Ramos taking his place in the offensive sector.
Probable lineups
HUNGARY (4-1-4-1): Dibusz; Kerkez, Lang, Orban, At. Szalai; Styles; Fiola, Nagy, Szoboszlai, Bolla; Varga. C.t. Rossi.
PORTOGAL (4-3-3): Diogo Costa; Dalot, Antonio Silva, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes; Cristiano Ronaldo, Goncalo Ramos, Pedro Neto. C.t. Martinez.
