Hungary is in the midst of preparations for the upcoming major event. And the 2016 round of 16 finalists are right to do so, because with Portugal, France and Germany, a really tough group awaits the selection of Italian head coach Marco Rossi.
Cyprus will be a completely different opponent in the “Szusza Ferenc Stadium”, because the boys from the Mediterranean island are actually a football dwarf. So the motto is: warm up for the real thing. A resounding victory is the order of the day.
The underdogs, on the other hand, are using the upcoming match as preparation for the current World Cup qualifiers, where they want to present themselves well. So far, the year 2021 has been relatively promising. Whether they can defend themselves against the European Championship starters, however, remains to be seen.
It is therefore not surprising that the bookmakers’ odds on Hungary against Cyprus are clearly in favour of the home side. However, betting on the home side is hardly worthwhile.
Prediction & Live Odds for Hungary vs. Cyprus
Are the last 16 finalists of the last finals already prepared for the upcoming big event? Coach Marco Rossi’s team has been drawn into a really tough group and will have to pull out all the stops to avoid being completely outclassed. A slip-up would be fatal in the penultimate test. It is much more important to boost their self-confidence.
Since the home side, who are favoured, have been extremely accurate so far in 2021, we expect them to quickly set the course for victory. For a bet on a home win at half-time and at the end of the match (1/1 HT/FT), Hungary vs Cyprus offers odds of up to 2.20. ✅
Hungary – Statistics & current form
Hungary secured their place in the Euro via the Nations League playoffs. Since two strong opponents, Bulgaria and Iceland, were defeated there, this team can definitely be considered competitive.
In the group stage of the European Championship, however, three completely different calibres await the Rossi team, which is why reaching the last 16, as they did five years ago, seems extremely unlikely. With Hungary vs. Cyprus, however, a bet on the two-time World Cup finalists is almost inevitable.
Still unbeaten in 2021
In the current calendar year, three World Cup qualifying matches were played, in which seven points were earned. The start of the international year thus went according to plan, with the 3-3 draw against Poland in particular earning international recognition.
The 40th-ranked team in the FIFA World Ranking also showed stability in the pre-season, conceding only one defeat. The team, which is usually very compact, has kept its own clean sheet in five of the last nine competitive matches.
The fact that they have always scored at least three goals in their last three matches also speaks for the hosts.
Warm-up for big event
The upcoming opponent is not a real yardstick for the soon to be serious event, but it could certainly boost self-confidence. A success for the favourites is to be expected in any case, and ideally the coach would like to see a resounding victory. Against other football dwarfs like Andorra and San Marino, who are, however, one step below the next sparring partner in terms of quality, this has worked out excellently recently.
On balance, the betting odds rightly point to clear advantages for the home team in Hungary against Cyprus. We expect Mainz striker Szalai and his colleagues to make everything clear quickly. The tested bookmaker Bet365 offers excellent odds for a corresponding bet.
Predicted line-up of Hungary:
Dibusz – Fiola, Lang, Szalai – Lovrencsics, Kalmar, Nagy, Kleinheisler, Hangya – Nikolics, Szalai
Cyprus – Statistics & current form
By their standards, the Cypriots have been compact, hard-hitting and unpleasant this season. It is no coincidence that the underdogs only lost 1-0 against Croatia and even managed a win against Slovenia.
Nevertheless, we almost feel compelled to make a prediction against the guests in Hungary vs. Cyprus, who may have performed well recently, but will most likely lose out against a European Championship starter.
Shutting up at the back
A new coach has been on the sidelines since February and his impulses have paid off so far. Defensively, the team has switched to a five-man backline, allowing only one goal in the last three games. Last year, the team only conceded one goal.
The team’s strategy in the coming game will be to concede as little as possible at the back and to possibly launch a counterattack or two up front. But only time will tell how seriously the team from the Mediterranean island will take the upcoming match, because the next competitive match is in September. It is not inconceivable that something like a “holiday feeling” will set in for the underdogs.
Two wins in 14 games
It is hardly surprising that success is not exactly on the agenda. In last year’s Nations League, the team suffered numerous defeats against supposedly equal opponents such as Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.
There is also a big question mark over the team’s attacking prowess, as the number 100 in the FIFA World Ranking has failed to score seven times in its last nine competitive matches. Accordingly, a bet against the visitors is only logical for Hungary vs Cyprus.
Probable line-up of Cyprus:
Michail – Antoniou, Sotiriou, Laifis, Kousoulos, Ioannou – Pittas, Kastanos, Artymatas, Papoulis – Sotiriou