Hungary v Norway background
Friday, November 13, 2015
Article summary
Hungary will look to put an end to a five-game run without a home win against Norway as the sides' UEFA EURO 2016 play-off concludes in Budapest.
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Hungary are without a win in their last five home games against Norway as the sides meet in their UEFA EURO 2016 play-off decider. However, following their first-leg victory in Oslo, they require only a draw to clinch qualification for France next summer.
Previous meetings
• László Kleinheisler scored on his debut as Hungary won 1-0 in the first leg in Norway.
• In the last Budapest encounter between the teams, Norway beat Hungary 2-0 in a November 2012 friendly. Håvard Nielsen and Mohammed Abdellaoue scored the goals.
• Hungary's home record against Norway is W3 D3 L2, but they are without a victory in their five most recent home matches with the Nordic side (D3 L2).
Form guide
• Hungary are unbeaten in their last four competitive home games (W2 D2); Norway have lost two of their last three away from home.
• Norway were defeated in their only previous EURO play-off, missing out on a place at UEFA EURO 2004 with a 5-1 aggregate reverse to Spain.
• Norway also lost their sole FIFA World Cup play-off, 2-0 on aggregate to the Czech Republic, to sit out the 2006 finals.
• Hungary are featuring in a UEFA European Championship play-off for the first time. They contested the 1998 World Cup play-offs but crashed out 12-1 on aggregate to Yugoslavia.
Disciplinary
• Hungary's Zoltán Gera is suspended following his booking in the first leg. Roland Juhász is available again after serving a one-game ban in Oslo.
Trivia and links
• Only once has a side recovered from a first-leg defeat to win a EURO play-off, the Netherlands beating Scotland 6-0 after a 1-0 defeat to reach UEFA EURO 2004. No side has recovered from losing the first leg at home.
• Norway came third behind Italy and Croatia in Group H; Hungary finished behind Northern Ireland and Romania in Group F. Hungary missed out as the best third-placed team overall after Turkey's late winner on the final matchday.
• Norway's only previous EURO finals, UEFA EURO 2000, ended in a group stage exit. They did register one of the most memorable results in their history at that tournament, however, Steffen Iversen's header earning a 1-0 victory over Spain.
• Hungary have not figured at a major final tournament since the 1986 World Cup. They were semi-finalists in the 1964 and 1972 UEFA European Championships.
