International match Germany – Hungary: Pal Dardai – “The Hungarian team is like a machine”

The German national soccer team meets Hungary on Friday (September 23, 2022) in Leipzig. It is the penultimate group game for both teams in the Nations League, there could be a preliminary decision about group victory. Pal Dardai is an excellent connoisseur of Hungarian football. In an interview, the 46-year-old explains the sporting boom in his home country.

Pal Dardai, the Hungarian team is currently playing big in the Nations League. Two wins against England, a remarkable draw against Germany. Why is the team so strong at the moment?

Pal Dardai: First of all, a big compliment to the entire leadership of the Hungarian FA, to the coaches and the entire staff for building football in Hungary. After I managed to qualify for the European Championship as national coach together with Bernd Storck, the team had to be replaced because it was simply too old. Now there is a generation change, which the current national coach Marco Rossi has done very well. The crew works like a machine, like an Italian catenaccio. She is very good with the back five. If you try to go through it with only football games – impossible. You have to take the lead against Hungary, otherwise it will be very difficult.

Hungary line up with three RB Leipzig players – Willi Orban, Dominik Szoboszlai and Peter Gulacsi – who are currently not doing well in the league. Will this affect the national team?

Darday: No, the break in the Bundesliga is a win-win situation for RB Leipzig and the players. There is a good atmosphere in the national team at the moment. The three of them had an optimal training camp, so they are now coming to Leipzig – a full stadium, a good atmosphere. That will help. The Hungarians can also get a draw again in Leipzig, maybe even an away win. We know that Lothar Matthäus also managed to do that with the Hungarians in Kaiserslautern. The top teams suit the Hungarians. They are good, they can counterattack, possession of only 35 percent doesn’t bother anyone.

Hungary’s central At 34, striker Adam Szalai is by far the oldest in the team. He gets little playing time at FC Basel. He was also a little criticized for his performances with the national team. Nevertheless, coach Rossi is holding on to him. Is that right?

Darday: Adam is the extended arm of coach Rossi. Roughly like Thomas Müller at Bayern Munich. He moderates the whole game. When do we get on, when do we drop off? He is very disciplined with set pieces, both offensively and defensively, and can always play along. The teammates are looking for him to win the ball. He is looking for the switching game, he is fouled, gets standards out. The way he works for the team up front – unique.

(Editor’s note: Adam Szalai will resign from the Hungarian national team after the games against Germany and Italy. This was announced by the Hungarian Football Association via Twitter.)

Will it be an even game against Germany on Friday?

Darday: I’m not being snooty when I say Hungary should win. Germany didn’t find a remedy against Hungary for 70 minutes in the first leg. Only then did they start playing behind the chain with long balls. In terms of individual quality, Germany is a thousand times better. But there are days when things are tough, then you have to make it together. And when it comes to this together, Hungary is better. Since we are a machine.

The Dardai family is a football family, and their three sons are also football professionals. How are you going to spend Friday night?

Darday: We’ll split up this time. I was invited to the game by the Hungarian FA and I wanted to go with my wife, but my son Marton is playing with the German U21 national team against France in Magdeburg almost at the same time. So we can’t do that at the same time. So my wife will go to Magdeburg and I to Leipzig.

When will we see one of your sons in the Hungarian national team?

Darday: That is not my decision. The kids are big enough. I raised them so that they also have great respect for Hungary, but their home is Germany or Berlin, that’s where they were born. They speak perfect English, German and Hungarian. You have to decide that yourself. For Marton, the German U21 national team is the best thing that can happen to him. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt their image to play for the Hungarian team either.

Are there men’s evenings at the Dardai home where everyone watches football together?

Darday: Very few, but they exist. It’s very difficult to do that because everyone is into football. Sometimes one of the sons comes and brings his buddies with him, so we can have a barbecue and watch football together.

Your time at Hertha BSC recently came to an end after 25 years? How do you feel about it today and what are your plans?

Darday: Football is a business, you have to accept that. I accepted it. Everything okay. I am not one to offer myself everywhere. There were some offers. There was nothing for me yet. I need something where I can say: I want this, I can do this, I will do this. Now I’m home. I am retired (laughs). I’ve had seven surgeries on my right ankle, I’m really struggling with that.

…and if the Hungarian association gets in touch?

Darday: That’s not my goal. I was already the Hungarian national coach. All well and good. National coach is another matter again. That’s what you do when you’re 60 to 70 years old. I don’t have the feeling right now that I absolutely have to lead a training session tomorrow. At the moment I just feel very good the way it is right now.

Jens-Martin Mickler will conduct the interview.