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Hungary get more than they bargained for

"We are exceeding all our expectations and dreams," captain Balázs Dzsudzsák said after a late goal against Iceland left Hungary top of Group F with four points.

Balázs Dzsudzsák with his post-match stetson
Balázs Dzsudzsák with his post-match stetson ©Getty Images

Flórián Albert, László Kubala, Lajos Détári, the Magical Magyars of Puskás; Hungary's class of 2016 have a lot to live up to. However, after 30 years in the international wilderness, few would complain about Bernd Storck's side's efforts so far: four points from two games putting them two clear at the top of Group F.

Patience, good organisation and well-timed goals from Ádám Szalai and substitute Zoltán Stieber earned them a win against Austria on matchday one, while a draw with Iceland was reward for dogged persistence against obdurate opponents and an attacking mindset. Storck had three strikers on the pitch in Marseille in the last ten minutes – very much out of character for a naturally cautious team.

You would not put Storck's squad shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest Hungary sides of the past, but their defensive prowess is worth noting – only five goals conceded in the last seven matches – along with their willingness to battle. After Saturday's Iceland game, left-back Tamás Kádár said: "I think we've got quality. People can see how hard this team works for success; we are all exhausted now. Everybody gave their best and we never stopped believing we could score."

Midfielder Zoltán Gera concurred: "We did enough to deserve at least a point. We could have scored at least three, but as we levelled the scores in the 88th minute we can be satisfied. I wasn't surprised that we had the ball most of the time. It would have been marvellous if we'd won, but we can be satisfied."

Sporting a stetson decorated in Hungary colours and a national flag around his waist in the post-match mixed zone, captain Balázs Dzsudzsák seemed a good deal more than satisfied, his team's four points meaning a draw against Portugal on matchday three would guarantee Hungary a knockout stage berth.

"We performed fantastically and in the end we scored to get a point," the forward said. "It is still unbelievable to be talking about things like this. We are exceeding all our expectations and dreams; we Hungarians came to the EURO knowing that just taking part was a dream. We are proving that our qualification was no accident, and we deserve credit because nobody would have thought we would be top on four points at this stage. Our aim is to stay disciplined and we will see what happens."