Martin Ádám and Callum Styles made the Hungarian national team squad

Before announcing the squad, head coach Marco Rossi began the press conference by saying that he wants peace in the world.

"I think I can say this not only on my behalf but also on behalf of the football federation and entire Hungary. We can't wait for the war to end and have peace in the world."

He announced the squad afterwards.

He sent an invitation to Paksi FC striker Martin Ádám, who leads the NB I goalscoring list for the 2021-2022 season with 23 goals in 24 games. The 27-year-old, 191-centimeter-tall forward is capped for the Hungarian national team for the first time. Rossi said the following about Ádám Martin: he already played well for his club last season, even if he had not scored as many goals as he has done recently.

"He has similar qualities to Ádám Szalai who is still our team captain, but I hope Martin will also perform as good in his national team jersey as in Paks. He has to play at a different level, but he's a guy who has proven from the very first moment that he's very motivated."

"It's awesome! I cannot even comprehend it just yet – said Ádám Martin on Paks' website regarding the invitation. “I'm very happy. I hope I can perform well. I want to take this opportunity that I got from our head coach in my best shape possible. I hope I'll have the opportunity to play. I'll proudly wear the national team jersey, for sure."

In March, English-born Callum Styles, who is of Hungarian origin through his grandmother, will also make his debut in the Hungarian national team. The 21-year-old midfielder plays for English second-tier club Barnsley and has scored two goals in 33 appearances for the Championship this season so far. Transfermarkt estimates his value at €3 million.

After Willi Orbán, Loïc Négo, and Norbert Könyves who've all played in the European Championship, Styles could be the next player in Rossi's captaincy since 2018 to make his debut for the Hungarian national team without being born in Hungary.

"We have been checking him for a long time. He's recently obtained his Hungarian passport, and he is very happy to be a part of our team, which he has been following for some time. We hope to see these new players on the field in the two preparation games. Of course, we also evaluate their performance during training."

The trainer was asked why he decided to invite players Loïc Négo and Attila Fiola of MOL Fehérvár that has lost seven league games in a row.

"They didn't forget how to play football. When we defeated Poland four months ago, they were on the pitch – no one had any objections to that there and neither at the European Championship. Now, they face a mental challenge as their self-confidence is suffering from the continuous defeats. They can get into a working environment with a different atmosphere which could regenerate and fill them with enthusiasm. If I hadn't invited them in now, it would've been a coup de grâce to their self-confidence. So far, after every national team game, they came off the pitch with their head held high. If they need a little help now, why shouldn't they get it from me?"

The real surprise is not Martin Ádám's and Styles' invitation but Péter Baráth's. The 20-year-old midfielder for DVSC made his debut in NB I in January 2020 and has appeared in 31 games since then. The young footballer is already a key player in the Debrecen team this season - he missed three matches only in the Hungarian league since round 4.

Rossi said he only decided in the morning to invite him.

"László Kleinheisler had personal problems that I don't want to talk about. I've liked Baráth's playing style for a long time, I've seen him on the pitch several times, he's a smart footballer. He played regularly in the second division last year and in NB I now, and he always performs well. He started the season as a center-back, which isn't his original position, but he succeeded. Inviting him is a great message to young players: if they perform well, they can expect an invitation."

Rossi also talked about Ádám Szalai, who has recently joined FC Basel in Switzerland.

"This change was good for him. He is playing more even if it's not at the Bundesliga level but in a good league club that is always in the group stage of a European cup tournament. Therefore, it was not only a good choice, but the perfect choice for him, which benefits us as well. Hopefully, he'll score many goals in June."

This time,Botond Balogh,László Kleinheisler,János Hahn,Tamás Kiss,andDániel SallóandÁdám Bogdán, who are struggling with injury, were not invited.Péter Szappanosreplaces Ádám as the number 3 goalkeeper behind Péter Gulácsi and Dénes Dibusz.(The goalkeeper of Budapest Honvéd was also a member of the squad in November, replacing Gulácsi.)MOL Fehérvár FC captainNemanja Nikolićis not a member of the squad, and neither areRoland VargaandFilip Holender, who played at the European Championship last year. Varga and Holender played in a World Cup qualifier in the fall.

THE HUNGARIAN SQUAD FOR THE PREPARATION MATCHES IN MARCH
Goalkeepers:Dénes Dibusz(Ferencváros),Péter Gulácsi (RB Leipzig – Germany),Péter Szappanos (Budapest Honvéd)
Defenders:Bendegúz Bolla (Grasshoppers – Switzerland),Endre Botka (Ferencváros),Attila Fiola (MOL Fehérvár FC),Ákos Kecskés (FK Nizhny Novgorod – Russia),Ádám Lang(Omonia – Cyprus),Zsolt Nagy (Puskás Akadémia FC),Loïc Négo(MOL Fehérvár FC),Willi Orbán(RB Leipzig – Germany),Attila Szalai (Fenerbahçe – Turkey)
Midfielders: Péter Baráth (Debreceni VSC),Dániel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union – United States),Ádám Nagy (Pisa – Italy),András Schäfer (Union Berlin – Germany),Callum Styles(Barnsley – England),Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig – Germany),Bálint Vécsei (Ferencváros)
Attackers: Martin Ádám (Paksi FC),Roland Sallai (Freiburg – Germany),Szabolcs Schön (FC Dallas – United States),Ádám Szalai(FC Basel – Switzerland),Kevin Varga (Young Boys – Switzerland)

THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL TEAM'S SCHEDULE UNTIL SEPTEMBER

PREPARATION MATCH
March 24
HUNGARY – Serbia (Budapest, Puskás Aréna)
March 29
8.45:Northern Ireland – HUNGARY (Belfast, Windsor Park)

NATIONS LEAGUE, GROUP STAGE
LEAGUE A, GROUP 3
June 4, 6pm:HUNGARY – Anglia
June 7, 8.45pm:Italy – HUNGARY
June 11, 8.45pm:HUNGARY – Germany
June 14, 8.45pm:England – HUNGARY
September 23, 8.45pm:Germany – HUNGARY
September 26, 8.45pm:HUNGARY – Italy

Translated by Vanda Orosz