Federal captain Marco Rossi called the last step the most difficult after the Hungarian national football team pulled off a 2-2 draw in the qualifying He's very happy, but he can't celebrate unselfconsciously.

    "Yes, the last step is always the hardest to take"

- answered the MTI's suggestion by the specialist who also holds Hungarian citizenship.

"We on the bench thought the game was practically over when we equalised. It just seemed unreal. But this is typical of us, we cannot achieve anything without suffering. This time we suffered all the way to the end. I'm happy that we're at the European Championship, but the way we did it was amazing and so full of tension and stress that it's hard for me to experience this moment," our national team captain told M4Sport .

"At that time, the stress and tension are too great, everyone is nervous. But in the end we did an amazing thing, we got out with one lap to go. We are at the European Championship for the third time in a row. When I took over the management of the national team, I never thought that we would do it twice in a row, and this time directly from the group. Thanks to the players, the association and the staff. I dedicate this success to my wife, son and daughter who have always supported me. I am grateful to the good God and to Hungary".

"I am proud of the players. It's hard for me to enjoy this moment because it involved so much suffering.  

For the players, for me, for all Hungarians who love the Hungarian national team, because not everyone does. There are many Hungarians who love the national team much less than I do, and it would be good if they were ashamed!

Nevertheless, I want to say that I am extremely grateful to everyone, to all the players, because they put an amazing effort on the table. With mistakes, but regardless, they did not give up today, just like in the past. I am grateful to the football association, the president, he made history by making it to the European Championship for the third time in a row," said Marco Rossi.

Evaluating the entire series, the 59-year-old specialist called the fact that the national team did not win in Montenegro crucial, because in his opinion, some luck was needed in Podgorica for the 0-0 draw. He added that, overall, the luck factor was in balance, and he mentioned the current clash in Bulgaria as an example, because even though the goddess Fortuna helped us in the end, we had many chances to score goals before that.

The Hungarians will host the Montenegrin national team at the Puskás Arena on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the final round of the qualifying group, and by scoring points they will also secure their first place in the top five.

"We prepare for every game in the same way, it will be no different against Montenegro. Getting out doesn't change anything. Of course

we want to enjoy the meeting, but at the same time we want to show that we deservedly qualified for the European Championship"

- said Rossi, who, referring to the match in Sofia, explained that the national team had many chances to score a goal, but the Bulgarian goalkeeper made a great save, while we conceded two goals without Dibusz even touching the ball during the match.

Civilek.info / MTI / Mandiner

Cover photo: Marco Rossi, the captain of the Hungarian national football team, at the press conference after the match between Bulgaria and Hungary in the ninth round of the European football championship qualifiers, in Group G, at the Vaszil Levszki National Stadium in Sofia on November 16, 2023.
The meeting ended in a 2-2 draw, the Hungarian national team qualified for next year's European Championship. MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry