Hungary team guide

Three-time winners at Under-18 level, hosts Hungary will be looking to improve on their recent U19 record – and hope home advantage will help.

In 2008, Krisztián Németh's goals propelled Sándor Egervári's side through qualifying and into the finals in the Czech Republic, where they suffered after a semi-final defeat by Italy. The following year much of the same squad achieved a bronze medal at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, but qualification for the U19 finals has not been repeated since.

Now they are back in the mix as hosts and striker Gergely Bobál, top scorer in Hungary at domestic U19 level, fears nobody, saying: "The Spanish, Portugese, Belgian and German teams seem to be our biggest rivals, but regardless of who we have won against – or lost to – in the last year, no team has seemed unbeatable."

Recent friendly results
27/05/2014 Hungary 4-2 England
14/05/2014 Hungary 4-1 Ukraine
23/04/2014 Hungary 5-2 Turkey
10/04/2014 Hungary 2-1 Cyprus
08/04/2014 Hungary 1-0 Cyprus
06/03/2014 Hungary 4-0 Finland
04/03/2014 Hungary 1-0 Finland
14/11/2013 Hungary 1-4 England
14/10/2013 Hungary 1-4 Spain
12/10/2013 Hungary 3-3 Portugal
10/10/2013 Hungary 2-0 Slovakia

Key players: Krisztián Tamás (defender, AC Milan), Zsolt Kalmár (midfielder, Győri ETO FC), Gergely Bobál (forward, Budapest Honvéd FC)

Coach: Géza Mészöly
Date of birth: 25/02/1967

Son of the great Hungarian defender of the 1960s, Kálmán Mészöly, Géza played for, among others, Vasas SC at home and LOSC Lille in France before moving into coaching. He enjoyed his biggest successes with Újpest FC, leading them to second place in Hungary's First League in 2004 and 2006. He has been U19 coach since 2012.

Team records

UEFA European Under-19 Championship best
Semi-finals: 2008

Honours in UEFA youth competitions
UEFA Junior Tournament
Winners: 1960
Runners-up: 1976

UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Winners: 1984

Other honours
FIFA Junior Tournament
Winners: 1953