Hungary v Belgium background
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Article summary
Hungary have beaten Austria and held Iceland and Portugal at UEFA EURO 2016; can they now account for Belgium and make their way to the quarter-finals?
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Hungary have defied all expectations to make it to the last 16 of UEFA EURO 2016 and will look to cause another upset when they take on Marc Wilmots's highly-rated Belgium in Toulouse.
Previous meetings
• The sides have met 12 times, with eight Belgium wins, two for Hungary and two draws.
• Belgium and Hungary have not met in a competitive fixture since the 1982 FIFA World Cup when they drew 1-1 in Elche, Alex Czerniatynski's late equaliser taking the Red Devils through to the second phase at their opponents' expense.
• Their only other competitive encounter was the third-place play-off at the 1972 UEFA European Championship, with Belgium's Paul Van Himst scoring the winner in a 2-1 success for the tournament hosts.
• Their only clash of the past 20 years was a November 2009 friendly in Ghent, which Belgium dominated 3-0 with goals from Marouane Fellaini, Thomas Vermaelen and Kevin Mirallas.
EURO facts: Hungary
• Hungary come into this game unbeaten in three UEFA EURO 2016 outings (W1 D2). This is the first time a Hungarian team – club or international – have played a competitive fixture in Toulouse.
• This is Hungary's first EURO finals since 1972 and their first major tournament since 1986. Only four countries competed at the two EURO final rounds the Magyars reached – in 1964 and 1972.
• Hungary got to the final of the 1938 and 1954 World Cups, losing to Italy (in France) and West Germany (in Switzerland) respectively.
EURO facts: Belgium
• This is Belgium's first match in Toulouse; the only previous Belgian side to have played in the city were Club Brugge KV, who drew 2-2 with Toulouse FC in the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League group stage.
• This is Belgium's first UEFA European Championship since they co-hosted UEFA EURO 2000 with the Netherlands – and their fifth EURO in total.
• The Red Devils' biggest achievement was advancing to the final of EURO '80, where they lost 2-1 to West Germany in Rome.
• The sole previous Belgian team to have played a competitive game in Nice won 1-0 against Northern Ireland at the 1951 FIFA Youth Tournament for Under-18s.
Coach and player links
• Former team-mates:
Roland Juhász and Romelu Lukaku (RSC Anderlecht, 2009-11)
• Belgium's Jason Denayer (21) and Kevin De Bruyne (25) both celebrate birthdays on 28 June, two days after this match.
• Juhász won four league titles, a Belgian Cup, a Belgian Super Cup and took part in the UEFA Champions League with RSC Anderlecht.
• At 40, Hungary’s Gábor Király is the oldest player ever to appear at a EURO.
• One of Eden Hazard's younger brothers, Kylian, currently plays in Hungary for Újpest FC.