Yerevan showdown: Armenia and Hungary Clash in Crucial World Cup Qualifier
Yerevan, Armenia – Armenia and Hungary will face off on Thursday in a pivotal FIFA World Cup qualifying match, with both nations aiming to bolster their chances of reaching the tournament. The contest takes on added significance as Hungary seeks to repeat their earlier victory in this campaign against Armenia.
This match is a critical juncture in group D of the World Cup qualifiers. A win for Hungary would substantially strengthen their position, while Armenia desperately needs a positive result to remain competitive. The stakes are high for both teams as they navigate the challenging path to qualification.
Team News
Armenia will likely see one of only four players aged 30+ feature in centre-midfield alongside captain Eduard Spertsyan, filling in for the absent Iwu. Borussia Monchengladbach’s grant-Leon Ranos is a potential option to lead the attack.
Hungary will have Daniel Lukacs and Zsombor Gruber vying for starting positions after both scored in the previous encounter against Armenia. However, Barnabas Varga, currently in excellent form with 18 goals in 22 games for Ferencvaros, is favored to start up front. Liverpool’s Szoboszlai is expected to earn his 60th international cap in midfield, possibly alongside Andras Schafer and Callum Styles.
Possible Starting Lineups:
* Armenia: Avagyan; Piloyan, Mkrtchyan, S. Muradyan; Hovhannisyan, K.Muradyan, Spertsyan, Tiknizyan; Serobyan, Ranos, Shaghoyan
* Hungary: B. Toth; Nego, Orban, Szalai, Kerkez; Schafer, Styles, Szoboszlai; Bolla, Varga, sallai
Prediction:
Sports Mole predicts a 0-2 victory for Hungary, citing their status as favorites and their previous win against Armenia in this qualifying campaign.