Euro 2020: What did the European Championship give me? Everything! – Schäfer

– When did a smile replace tears?
– On the way home from Munich, during the flight, I felt relaxed for the first time," said András Schäfer, the Hungarian national team midfielder who shed tears after the last European Championship group stage match, the 2–2 draw against Germany, because they missed the advancement to the knockout phase. – When I talked with the guys about how far we've come, I realized that we'd achieved a great result despite the elimination. Listening to the guys, I learned that we had three good games behind us, and the world looked a little different. It's another matter that when I was alone, I was sad again. We were close, very close to doing a miracle.

– Did we see it right when the team and the fans were singing the National Anthem after the game, a little smile appeared on your face?
– As long as I live, I will be accompanied by those moments. For a second or two, I forgot we were within reach of the great bravura. I tried to discipline myself so I wouldn't cry, but I couldn't...

– It's been said since Éva Székely that only the winner is allowed to cry. Do you agree that what was accomplished in the "death group" was worth a victory?
– Actually, yes. I'm incredibly proud of the team, the staff, the fans, so basically everyone who helped us even just a little to have a chance of advancing even in the final minutes of the third group stage match. If luck had been on our side, we could've succeeded. A lot of people would've agreed before the tournament started that we'd have two draws in the three games. I wasn't one of them because I saw and knew what our team was capable of doing. Of course, I was aware of the balance of power all along, as well as of the fact that we can make something remarkable with a good, organized game.

– If this time last year someone told you that in a year you'd debut in the national team, be a starting player at three European Championship group matches, and score against Germany, how would you have reacted?
– I know it's not nice to say, but I would've laughed at them. Last June I couldn't even dream of becoming a national team footballer. I say this even though it's been my dream since I was a child. I've been working hard for the past year to make the starting eleven in my club. First, had to prove in Dunajská Streda that I was worthy of the DAC jersey. Only then could the next step come which was the national team. I consider myself lucky that both of my dreams have been fulfilled over time.

– Was it just luck?
– Football has its peculiarity: if you put a lot into it, you get something back, and Fortuna will be there for you if you deserve it. I've done my best, but I also know that if Dominik Szoboszlai, Zsolt Kalmár, and Dániel Gazdag didn't fall out of the lineup due to their injury, I wouldn't have hardly played such a role. I'm really sorry they couldn't play at the European Championship. I'd say that if they were with us, we would've had that little extra we needed to advance.

– Can we say that you burst into the national team?
– I wouldn't get the courage to say this, but it's for sure there's been a huge turnaround in my career since last year. I've been capped nine times, was a starter in the last five games, played three games in full, and scored two goals. However, I have not yet processed what happened to me, to us. I didn't sleep a minute from Wednesday night to Thursday morning. I had a lot on my mind, I was wondering what we'd been through over the last week or two, how uplifting it was to be playing in the almost sold-out Puskás Aréna, and how good games we played with the teams that were much better than us. And I could be a starter against Portugal, France, and then Germany. My goal in Munich was just the tip of the iceberg, although I would've traded it immediately for advancement.

– According to Nemzeti Sport's review and the readers of our portal, you were the best player of the national team at the European Championship. Do you agree?
– Thank you to all who feel that way, but anyone who knows me at all knows that if anyone is critical of himself, it's me. Besides, I didn't excel, but the Hungarian national team did! Whoever was there added their best to get the recognition of many. Nevertheless, I'm convinced that there's more in me and the team than we showed at the European Championship. As far as I'm concerned, it's no secret today that before the game against Portugal, I had a minor illness, and I lost a kilo or two. I wouldn't mind it at all if I were robust, but let's be honest: every decagram matters to me. That explains why I ran out of energy by the end of our first and second group stages matches, and Marco Rossi replaced me. I have regrets about those matches because I couldn't be of maximum help to the team then. The consolation is that I have endured the clash against the Germans. What happened in Munich from the first minute to the last, I will remember that for the rest of my life. Going back to the ratings, I feel like I didn't perform badly, but I'm like, I don't care if I'm the weakest link in the team, but let's just win.

– In addition to your modesty, you're also mischievous in a good way...
– Though my parents didn't raise me to be mischievous. Every footballer is a little abnormal, not just the goalkeepers. I've never been scared, and if for some reason I didn't have the confidence, I could count on people close to me to help me through the obstacles.

– How difficult was it to fit in the national team?
– It wasn't! From the day I got caught up in this environment, I felt at home. Even though we'd been locked together for 37 days, I would've been happy to stay another four days or more... This community is also great because even if there's a problem, we talk to each other right away, look out for each other, and help each other. It was incredibly good that Ádám Szalai addressed me in his dressing room speech before the match against Germany. He, who already has a fantastic career behind him, remembered that I made my debut for the national team in Turkey last September. I can't quote him literally, but the point was that, as a rookie, I got to the point in just a few months where I could fight for advancing at the European Championship. Needless to say, it really fired me up. As for the others, he emphasized that whoever gets an opportunity in this match is not only deserved to be here, but he is no worse than his opponent. I think we proved that for 90 minutes.

– After the final whistle, a photograph was taken that speaks for itself. While you're in tears, Marco Rossi hugs you with a smile. Did you see the photo?
– I did, and I love it. The photograph will be printed out, and my parents will place it on the wall. It's still hard for me to talk about those moments... In the “shock” after the game, the head coach came up to me trying to make me feel good. All he told me was to be happy and proud because what I did was great. He couldn't comfort me at that time, but I'm sure I'll feel the way he said I should.

– Speaking of Marco Rossi. He recommends you continue your career in England or Germany if you no longer want to stay in Dunajská Streda.
– We can talk about it, but it doesn't make sense to do so without any specifics. I asked my manager to avoid this topic for a few days. My club gave me 10 days to rest, and I'd like to take advantage of it so I can start with a clear head. I'm in the right place anyway; I owe a lot to DAC. I got on the national team from Dunajská Streda. I received a lot of help from the managers, coaches, fellow players, and fans. I hope I could give them back something by performing well at the European Championship.

– Was Zsolt Kalmár also satisfied?
– I don't think I've humiliated his jersey number. I spoke to him and Máté Vida after every game, and based on their words, I didn't disappoint them either.

– You chose jersey number 13 in honor of one of your best friends, didn't you?
– That's right. I was devastated that Zsolt couldn't be with us. If anyone deserved to play in the European Championship, it was him. Uncle Laci Hegyesi, who was responsible for the uniforms and the equipment, suggested that I should wear jersey number 13 in Zsolt's absence. When I asked Zsolt if I could wear it, he immediately consented. The number thirteen seems to have brought me luck, but I promise that the minute Zsolt is back with us, I'll return his jersey.

– Is it now time to face the World Cup qualifiers?
– I'm really looking forward to the games in September. First, we're playing against England at home. I want to relive how wonderful it is to be on the pitch at the sold-out Puskás Aréna and feel that the whole country is supporting us. It will be difficult to surpass what we did at the European Championship, but today's Hungarian national team has the good quality of being able to overcome any hurdle. We've worked hard to be as successful as possible, and in the future, we're going to work harder because we want to qualify for the World Cup. As I said, I think we deserved more at the European Championships, but I hope that what fate took away from us the other day will be returned in the fall.

– I was one of the happiest men in the world at the time of the European Championship, and even before that. I felt like I was 10 years old when we went to a prestigious tournament abroad. I couldn't wait to get there, put the sports uniform on, run out on the field, and play football. That's the feeling I had during the preparation as well. Then came the matches, the experiences, the messages, the smiles, and the tears... I enjoyed every second of it, every moment made me happier. So, what did the European Championship give me? Everything!

Translated by Vanda Orosz