Euro 2020 Qualifiers: Croatia vs Hungary – tactical analysis

As the international break is underway, we are back to the Euro 2020 Qualifiers where Croatia welcomed Hungary. This was the game in which many expected Croatia to bounce back to the winning habit after dropping important points against Azerbaijan in the previous match where they drew. The home side gained a three-goal lead in the first half, ending the game early ad bagging an important win. Therefore, the clash was decided very quickly due to the one-team show that Croatia displayed last night.

Although Hungary did not show much and never really had the chance to come back to the game, the match still had some interesting points to discover. This tactical analysis will investigate how Croatias tactics achieved the soul-crushing victory against Hungary.

Lineups

Croatia deployed their usual 4-3-3 formation where Borna Barišić and Tin Jedvaj had the task to provide the width and push up. Thus Domagoj Vida and Dejan Lovren were the central defenders who had to deal with the opposition striker. After the defensive department, there was Marcelo Brozović at the base of the midfield while Ivan Rakitić and Luka Modrić played as eights in the half-spaces. On the wings, Ante Rebić and Ivan Perišić occupied the wide areas to stretch the opposition last line and posed a threat to the full-backs. Bruno Petković was the lone striker.

Hungary chose to line up in a 4-1-4-1 shape. Although there were some important absences, coach Marco Rossi sent the best possible starting XI. Of course, RB Leipzigs goalkeeper, Péter Gulácsi was in the goal. Ahead of him, Willi Orban and Tamás Kádár started. Gergő Lovrencsics and Mihály Korhut had a difficult job to contain the dangerous Croatian wingers. In the midfield three, Máté Vida was the defensive midfielder and László Kleinheisler and Dávid Holman were more advanced. Roland Sallai and Balázs Dzsudzsák were on the wings while Ádám Szalai was the lone striker. One of the main questions was how will Hungary prevent Croatia from taking advantage of their dangerous players.

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