Play-offs: take two
Nick Bidwell lists the top reasons to watch the rearranged Euro 2020 play-offs
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Sizzling Szoboszlai
RB Salzburg attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is, to put it simply, the most accomplished young player to come out of Hungary in many a long year. This all-or-nothing clash is an opportunity to grab the spotlight for the elegant playmaker, who only turns 20 at the end of October. Hungary coach Marco Rossi confidently predicts that the teenager will be a world-class performer in two or three years.
2 Bulgaria’s fab full-backs
In the line-up put together by coach Georgi Dermendzhiev, Bulgaria look the strongest in the full-back department. On the left, Ludogorets’ Anton Nedyalkov combines grit, resourcefulness and experience while on the opposite flank, newlynaturalised Brazilian Cicinho – also a key figure for domestic champions Ludogorets – offers all the flamboyant attacking qualities you would expect from someone of his South American background.
3 Hungary’s Bielsa
The Italian Marco Rossi, Hungary’s boss for the past two years, is a proud adherent of the Marcelo Bielsa coaching philosophy, having played under him at Mexican side Club America. He places a premium on quick passing, high, intense pressing and dominating possession, and while it does not always work out with Hungary’s limited squad, the Magyars are well-drilled and courageous.
4 Bulgarian exports
Foreign-based players have a vital role to play in Dermendzhiev’s side. Much is expected of two attack-minded 23-year-olds: midfielder Bozhidar Kraev, currently in Denmark with Midtjylland, and Cagliari forward Kiril Despodov, who was excellent on loan at Sturm Graz last season. Vice-captain Georgi Kostadinov plays for Arsenal Tula in Russia, while centre-back Vasil Bozhikov, skipper of Slovakians Slovan Bratislava, will also feature prominently.
5 The Leipzig core
It’s Hungary’s good fortune that they can count on not one but two players from leading Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig to keep clean sheets. Keeper Peter Gulacsi, all total composure and efficiency, is one of the most secure No.1s in the Bundesliga, while centreback Willi Orban has all the attributes of a defensive fulcrum: physically powerful, two-footed, a good reader of the game and comfortable on the ball, as well as a considerable threat at set-pieces.
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Romania’s new generation Semi-finalists at last year’s European U21 Championship, Romania have a fine crop of young talent coming through. The list includes Rangers midfielder Ianis Hagi, Reading striker George Puscas, wingers Dennis Man and Florinel Coman, midfield enforcer Alexandru Cicaldau and centre-back Ionut Nedelcearu. Outstanding young keeper Andrei Ionut Radu has just joined Parma on loan from Internazionale, after an impressive year at Genoa.
2 Iceland’s golden oldies
In contrast, Iceland’s spine is packed with thirty-somethings who were expected to throw in the towel some time ago. But remarkably, the likes of keeper Hannes Halldorsson (36), defenders Kari Arnason (37) and Ari Skulason (33), and midfielder Emil Hallfredsson (36) are still going strong. Coach Erik Hamren initially wondered if the group still had the competitive fire burning in them, but they remain determined to reach their third tournament in a row.
3 Radoi’s tough choices
Parachuted in late last year after
Cosmin Contra was sacked, Romania coach Mirel Radoi’s biggest dilemma is blending youth with experience. Local critics are already accusing him of having too much faith in old hands like Dragos Grigore and Alin Tosca. A particularly thorny dilemma for Radoi is his choice of goalie, with the highly-experienced Ciprian Tatarusanu – currently a back-up at Milan – competing with the highly-rated Radu and Silviu Lung Jr. of Turkish side Kayserispor.
4 Iceland’s new hope
After spending much of last season on the sidelines with a complicated ankle injury, 23-year-old AZ winger Albert Gudmundsson has been showing no signs of rustiness in the early part of the new campaign. Indeed, in a Champions League qualifying victory over Viktoria Plzen, he was the player who turned the tide, coming off the bench to score twice in extra-time. A full international since the age of 19, he already has a hat-trick for his country, versus Indonesia in January 2018.
5 Mitrita: heads or tails?
Maverick attacking-third ace Alexandru Mitrita should, in a perfect world, be Romania’s trump card. The 25-year-old New York City FC winger or number ten fizzes with ball skills, imagination and match-winning class. But he can also be something of a liability, unwilling to track back and too selfish in possession. His coach in New York, the former Celtic manager Ronny Deila, finds him exasperating, but he could be a match-winner.