Hungary Defeats Georgia 1–0 in UEFA Nations League Thanks to Milos Kerkez Goal
Hungary secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Georgia at the Puskás Aréna on October 2, 2026, during the third round of the UEFA Nations League B division, with Milos Kerkez scoring the decisive header in the 35th minute.
Head manager Marco Rossi praised his squad’s relentless energy, noting that the players “went to the wall” and executed a tactically flawless 90 minutes against high-profile opponents like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The victory lifts Hungary to four points in a tightly contested group, rebounding from a 0–1 loss to Ukraine and a 0–0 draw against Northern Ireland.
Marco Rossi Praises Squad Discipline and Addresses Dominik Szoboszlai’s Demanding Role
Rossi highlighted the intense physical output of team captain Dominik Szoboszlai, who was substituted in the 80th minute due to minor muscle cramps caused by heavy sprinting. Rossi utilized Szoboszlai across multiple positions throughout the match, deploying him as a defensive midfielder in the first half, behind the center-forward in the second, and eventually out on the left wing.
“He is one of the most committed players who has ever worn the national team jersey,” Rossi stated, emphasizing that Szoboszlai willingly takes on the difficult defensive work alongside his playmaking duties.
Following Szoboszlai’s departure, midfielder András Schäfer took over the captain’s armband for the first time in his international career. Rossi commended Schäfer’s fearless playing style and relentless work rate, which consistently endear him to supporters.
Hungarian Football Federation Leadership Reaffirms Support for Rossi
Ahead of the fixture, Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) President Sándor Csányi visited the team’s training camp in Telki to reaffirm his absolute confidence in Rossi and his coaching staff. Rossi expressed gratitude for the backing amidst external speculation regarding his position. The Italian coach argued such a schedule places excessive physical strain on national teams that lack the deep squad rotation options available to major footballing nations like Italy or Germany.
Milos Kerkez Celebrates His Goal for Hungary
Milos Kerkez expressed immense pride after scoring, stating, “I usually give assists, but a goal is a goal.”
Teammate Zsolt Nagy added that the squad left everything on the pitch in front of 52,780 spectators at the Puskás Aréna. Georgian head manager Ramaz Svanadze acknowledged the difficulties his side faced matching Hungary’s high-intensity opening period, pointing to ongoing injury concerns and limited squad depth as key factors in the defeat.
Upcoming Fixtures in the UEFA Nations League B Division
* October 5, 2026: Ukraine vs. Hungary (Nagyszombat / Trnava) * November 14, 2026: Georgia vs. Hungary (Tbilisi)
* November 17, 2026: Hungary vs. Northern Ireland (Budapest)
Hungary travels to face Ukraine next on October 5, 2026, in Slovakia, looking to build momentum in the Nations League group stage.
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