Our prediction for this Euro 2024 match:
Serbia
Match Time & Date:
07/09/2023
20:45
Prediction: 2-1
Hungary
All eyes will be on Stadion Rajko Mitic when Serbia and Hungary, the two neighbouring countries, square off against each other in the EURO 2024 qualifier. The Serbs are eager to overtake Hungary in top position in Group G, but keep in mind that the match will be played behind closed doors. All Darko Lazovic, Aleksa Terzic, Erhan Masovic, Mijat Gacinovic, Petar Ratkov, and Sasa Lukic have been ruled out with injuries, but Dragan Stojkovic can count on key players Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Filip Kostic, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic for Thursday’s showdown.
The Hungarians, on the other hand, aim to build on a 2-0 win over Lithuania, but given the number of top-class players in the Serbian squad, we predict that the visitors will return to Budapest with their hands empty. A man to keep an eye on in the away team will be new Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.
Highlighted Player (Predrag Rajkovic):
Predrag Rajkovic is a professional footballer who plays for Stade Reims and the Serbian National team. Born on the 31st of October, 1995, the Serbian goalkeeper spent his youth career with Hajduk Velijko and Jagodina before signing a professional contract, his first, with the latter in 2012.
His first professional appearance came on the 9th of March, 2013, in a Serbian Superliga match against Partizan. A two-year stint at Red Star Belgrade succeeded Rajkovic's time at Jagodina, after which he moved to Israel to join Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2015. At Aviv, the six-foot-tall established himself as a first-team regular, and in his four-year spell at the club, he made 192 appearances, kept 90 clean sheets and won the Toto Cup.
The 24-year old now plays in Ligue one with Stade Reims and is on a contract that expires in 2023. At the International level, Rajkovic is a former youth international and has capped at every youth level for Serbia. He made his senior team debut meanwhile on the 14th of August, 2013, in a friendly match against Colombia.
Highlighted Team (Hungary):
Widely known as the Mighty Magyars during the 1950’s, Hungary national team had the world at its feet as the team featuring Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis and Zoltan Czibor reached the final of the 1954 World Cup, while recording several impressive wins over England and other top sides in international friendlies.
Hungary also made it to the semi-final at the Euro 1964 and Euro 1972, but they have since largely struggled to return to old glory days. The barren run finally came to an end as Foci defeated Norway in the play-off to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals, but there still appears to be a huge gap behind the top European sides.
Long-serving goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly has managed to break a 58-year record held by Jozsef Bozsik, having surpassed the 101-cap mark, but Ferenc Puskas still remains the top goalscorer in the history of the national team with an unbelievable record of 84 goals in 85 caps, followed by Sandor Kocsis, who has 75 goals in 68 appearances.
