Dominik Szoboszlai was left distraught after Hungary’s 3-2 defeat to the Republic of Ireland, with his interview after their shock World Cup exit summing up the emotion.
Szoboszlai produced another dominant individual display as Hungary closed off their World Cup qualifiers on Sunday afternoon – but it came in miserable circumstances.
The Liverpool midfielder assisted Daniel Lukacs’ header just three minutes into the tie, before Troy Parrott’s penalty brought it back to 1-1.
Barnabas Varga then produced a stunning strike – with Milos Kerkez claiming the assist – to put Hungary back in front and it looked set to stay that way for the remainder of the game.
But Parrott struck twice more – once in the 80th minute and then six minutes into stoppage time – to send Ireland through to the playoff round and knock Hungary out altogether.
Szoboszlai’s distraught interview: The full transcript
Well, yeah.
Via: NSO pic.twitter.com/U0r05VQl1O
— Hungarian Football Xtra (@HunFootballXtra) November 16, 2025
As Hungary captain and their most recognisable player, Szoboszlai fronted post-match media duties with broadcaster M4, but offered little in the way of response.
The full interview went as follows, per Index.hu:
Interviewer: Dominik, how much does your heart hurt right now?
Szoboszlai: Very much.
Interviewer: Can it be analysed at all now…
Szoboszlai: No.
Interviewer: …how this Irish team got back into the game?
Interviewer: No.
Szoboszlai: We saw a Hungarian national team with a good mentality and scoring fantastic goals. Is football just that unfair sometimes? How do you see it?
Szoboszlai: It looks like it, yes.
Liverpool return: A challenge for Szoboszlai & Kerkez?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 17, 2025: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Szoboszlai and Kerkez will both now take in a short break before returning to Merseyside to begin preparations for the visit of Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
While an early end to international duty is typically seen as a positive for clubs, with even a day or two make a big difference, there is certainly a question to ask over the Hungarian duo’s mindset.
After such a crippling blow, with ramifications stretching to next summer and missing the 2026 World Cup, Liverpool will need Szoboszlai and Kerkez able to refocus.
Arne Slot is at least likely to start Szoboszlai in Saturday’s clash with Forest, with the No. 8 arguably his best player in the first three months of the campaign so far.
Having stood tearful as he thanked the Hungary supporters in Budapest on Sunday, the midfielder will now be required to find new motivation as he rejoins his Liverpool teammates.