2022-23 UEFA Nations League: England vs Hungary

England welcome Hungary to Molineux in a must-win match in Group 3 of League A in 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.

Victory would see England climb out of the relegation spot and potentially up to second if Germany fail to beat Italy elsewhere.

Hungary meanwhile can go top with a win if Italy fail to win away to Germany in Monchengladbach.

 

Team News

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Jarrod Bowen and Harry Kane will be amongst those looking for a recall to England’s starting line-up, having been benched for Saturday’s goalless draw against Italy.

Conor Gallagher will be looking for his first appearance of this international window, having failed to get on the pitch in any of England’s three matches so far.

Phil Foden (fitness) is a doubt after he withdrew from their three other matches in this international window due to a positive Coronavirus test.

Hungary have no fresh injury concerns to report ahead of this match.

 

Stat Attack

• England have lost just one of their last 16 meetings against Hungary in all competitions (W12, D3, L1).
• Hungary are winless in their last nine visits to England across all competitions (D1, L8).
• The Three Lions are looking to avoid consecutive defeats against Hungary in all competitions for the first time since a four-match losing streak between November 1953 – May 1962.
• England are looking to avoid going four matches without a win for the first time under Gareth Southgate’s reign, having last failed to win four matches in June 2014 when they failed to win five games in a row.
• Hungary’s two clean sheets in 2022 have both come against British Isle based teams – winning 1-0 away to Northern Ireland in March then 1-0 at home to England this month.

 

Prediction

Still sat bottom of the group following a progressive but largely boring goalless draw against Italy, England now have to come out and play with an all-out attacking style because they have just been too lethargic so far in attack.

Defeat here coupled with a win for Italy elsewhere would also mean deep relegation fears heading into two difficult final group matches in September, which is the last thing England need heading into the World Cup yet could serve as a tough resilience test for this squad going into Qatar.

Hungary meanwhile have established themselves as a stubborn team in this group to break down despite scoring just once in their three group matches so far, which makes me worry for England if the visitors opt to sit back and hit them on the break like they did in Budapest earlier this month.

A strong front-footed start is therefore absolutely vital if England are to get the opening goal but Hungary will be hard to break down, even despite their poor away record against the Three Lions so I can see patience proving crucial in this game.

Prediction: England 1-0 Hungary

Result: England 0-4 Hungary