Ireland’s overall strength is considered below average in international football. Currently, the team is ranked 60th in the FIFA World Rankings and 28th in Europe. In terms of squad, Ireland recently announced their squad for the September World Cup qualifiers. In goal, they have Brentford’s Caoimhin Kelleher and Southampton’s Gavin Bazunu, both relatively reliable. In midfield, Jason Knight from Bristol City and Jack Taylor from Ipswich will take on the organizational roles. The attack has ample personnel, with eight forwards called up. The return of Ogbonna adds depth, making the overall squad younger. In terms of recent form, Ireland has remained unbeaten in their last four competitive matches, with two wins and two draws. However, it should be noted that these matches were against weaker teams such as Luxembourg and Bulgaria, so the value of these victories should not be overestimated.
Hungary’s football team has shown a clear resurgence in international football in recent years. Their strength can be considered as upper-mid-level among European second-tier teams, with potential to challenge traditional strong sides. Currently, Hungary sits at 38th in the FIFA World Rankings with 1500 points, and 21st in Europe. Regarding the squad, the latest World Cup qualifying roster is led by Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, including European-based players such as Bournemouth defender Attila Szalai and Union Berlin midfielder Kevin Schade. In terms of recent form, Hungary won 2-1 away against Azerbaijan in their most recent international friendly. However, their overall recent performance has been poor, with just one draw and three losses in their last four competitive matches.
Analysis: On paper, the two teams are not far apart in strength. Looking at recent form, although Ireland has remained unbeaten in several matches, most of those games were against weak teams and are not highly credible. Hungary, on the other hand, has performed poorly recently but their matches were against strong teams such as Germany, Turkey, and the Netherlands, which can be considered “honorable losses.” Additionally, Hungary has several players active in top-five European leagues. Considering these factors, they are favored to avoid defeat on the road in this match.
Recommendation: Draw or Away win
