Hungary boss Marco Rossi expects ‘difficult night’ from Northern Ireland

While Michael O’Neill’s men were busy securing their first ever away win in the competition with a 1-0 victory in Georgia on Friday night, Marco Rossi’s side suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Ukraine which has immediately put the pressure on in League B2.

“What we think about is the next match,” Rossi said. “What happened against Ukraine is gone, finished. We are here to look forward to another opponent with a totally different style.”

Rossi will be making his second visit to Windsor Park as an opposing coach, having overseen a 1-0 friendly win over Ian Baraclough’s Northern Ireland side in March 2022.

Only six of the Northern Ireland players who played that night are still in the squad after a period of great change, but although the faces are new, Rossi recognises many familiar traits.

“Northern Ireland have a lot of players who are coming from the English Championship and many people consider the English Championship the highest in Europe after the big five (divisions),” he said.

“We know the kind of character this championship has – there is great intensity, a lot of body contact, but they also have technical skills so I think it is quite a solid team with good individuals.

“It could be a difficult night for us. We have to start in a better way than against Ukraine. We come here without a point and we have to try to take them tomorrow, but it will not be easy.”

With both teams coming off matches decided by a single goal, the Italian added that he expects another close contest in Belfast.

He said: “Every match has a different history so we’ll see but Northern Ireland is quite solid in defence, and we defended well in the last matches, we didn’t conceded too many goals – of course it is enough to concede one and we experienced this against Ukraine.

“I don’t know how the match will finish, but I think both teams will pay attention to the defensive phase and there won’t be too many goals.”