The Unexpected Game Changer: How Kevin Csoboth Altered the Course of Scotland vs. Hungary Clash
99:17. A couple of tired steps forward and he moves it on to Kevin Csoboth, whos running into space beyond the halfway line. For the vast majority of the game, neither Hungary nor Scotland had seemed all that interested in the actual playing bit of this sport. And then suddenly it all opened up... the change precipitated by a substitution that Hungarys Italian coach Marco Rossi made in the 86th minute. When he brought Kevin Csoboth on. By then the game had been delayed by quite a lot due to the medical attention required for Barnabas Varga, who was stretchered off, curtains hiding him from public view (the Hungarian federation later stated that his condition was stable and that he was being looked at in a Stuttgart hospital). So when Csoboth came on there were four minutes and what would eventually be a total added time of ten minutes left. Now, if you dont recognise the name Csoboth, itd be perfectly normal. Expected even. Of the same age as the much more feted Szoboszlai, the two had played a lot of football together through the Hungary age group teams. Where nobody had ever doubted that Szoboszlai would be the next big thing, Csoboth had also been thought of to be at the same level. Having done the last bit of his schooling at Benfica, it was expected that Csoboth would break through to the senior ranks in Portugal soon enough, but that never happened. Hed return to Hungary and potter about in the mid-table, and Coach Rossi would call him up for the first time ever in March last year. Hed never scored for the national team, and he came into the Euros with the grand total of 12 top division goals. Hed even been on the verge of being dropped by club Ujpest FC and his place in the Hungarian team had never really progressed beyond uncertain. Youd be well within your rights then to ask: How exactly did this man change the match? The answer is simple - by being, by far, the fastest player in the Hungary squad. Add the fact that he always combines his speed with an almost reckless directness, and it was exactly what the game needed. He may do nothing if you want to control a game, but he will change everything if you want to embrace the chaos. Csoboth would turn on the jets and move into the Scottish half, but hed been well tracked by Lewis Morgan, who did just enough to throw the Hungarian off the idea of steaming headfirst at the Scottish goal. Csoboth, though, was ready for this. Displaying an unreal level of calm - considering the circumstances and his own style of play - he checked inside and played a deft pass out to Roland Sallai on the right wing. Rossi had chosen to embrace the chaos, sensing that the game was about to open up as both teams chased the goal that could well take them to the knockouts. Hed nearly seen it pay off already. In the 92nd minute, Csoboth had been released on a counter by a lovely Adam Nagy pass. Easily outpacing the Scottish backline, running so fast he almost overran the ball, Csoboth took a touch, paused, and smashed a shot onto the far post. Hed come this close to sending Hungary through. Would he get a chance to redeem himself?
