'We are glad': Hungary players rave about Szoboszlai after 'excellent' moment against Germany last night
11/20/2024 03:30 AM
Liverpool players rounded off their national team involvement for the year on Tuesday.
It has been a busy 12 months of football on the international stage, with Euro 2024 and the Copa America taking place over the summer.
As well as that, the usual World Cup qualifiers have begun for South America and Asia, while European teams play out the UEFA Nations League.
Liverpool players were in action in all three of those competitions across Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
No less than seven members of the Liverpool squad – as well as Giorgi Mamardashvili – played some part for their countries.
Only one of those was one of the scoresheet, as Dominik Szoboszlai rode to Hungary’s rescue with a late penalty to draw 1-1 with Germany. And after Szoboszlai dispatched the spot-kick with usual aplomb, his teammates shared their delight.
Dominik Szoboszlai praised for Panenka penalty
Szoboszlai has long been the main man for Hungary. Captain for the past two years, Liverpool’s No.8 is the poster-boy for his nation.
And although it has been a tricky season for Szoboszlai at club level so far, he always manages to turn up for the Magyars.
He did so again on Tuesday, dinking home a cheeky Panenka penalty to level the scores in the 99th minute.
It was a great moment for Szoboszlai and suggested a player who is filled with confidence. And speaking via Nemzeti Sport after the match, teammate Roland Sallai praised his captain.
READ MORE: Uruguayan media deliver verdict on Darwin Nunez after being taken off at half-time against Brazil
“We walked, slid and climbed a lot. We discussed this before the game,” said Sallai. “We didn’t want to run into a match like in Holland or Germany. Fortunately, thanks to Szoboszlai’s excellent penalty kick, this was achieved. By the way, we knew that he would shoot like this, we are glad that he came in.”
Goalkeeper Denes Dibusz was also full of praise for Szoboszlai and his ability to score from 12 yards.
“I was very confident that the judge would award the penalty. After that, there were no more questions for me, because Szoboszlai is a sure-footed penalty kicker,” he said.
Dominik Szoboszlai confidence returning
It isn’t that Szoboszlai has been poor for Liverpool this season. The 23-year-old has been a key player for Arne Slot.
However, he is still badly lacking in the goal scoring and creation department. More should be expected of Szoboszlai.
| Nation | Opposition | Minutes Played | Result | |
| Dominik Szoboszlai | Hungary | Germany | 90 | 1-1 |
| Darwin Nunez | Uruguay | Brazil | 45 | 1-1 |
| Cody Gakpo | Netherlands | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 13 | 1-1 |
| Ryan Gravenberch | Netherlands | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 13 | 1-1 |
| Wataru Endo | Japan | China | 90 | 3-1 (W) |
| Luis Diaz | Colombia | Ecuador | 90 | 0-1 (L) |
| Alexis Mac Allister | Argentina | Peru | 89 | 1-0 (W) |
| Giorgi Mamardashvili | Georgia | Czech Republic | 90 | 1-2 (L) |
At times, it has looked as though confidence has been an issue for him. But the way the former RB Leipzig man took this penalty suggests that that is not actually the case.
“This week, I practiced the panenka against Peti Szappanos, who was also a little nervous that I succeeded against him,” Szoboszlai said after the game.
“So far, I have shot nineteen penalty kicks to the right hand of the goalkeepers. I was of the opinion that if the goalkeeper stays in the middle during extra time, he deserves all the praise.”
Hopefully Dom can bring this confidence back with him to Merseyside.
