Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez both played 90 minutes for Hungary on Tuesday night, while Alexis Mac Allister grabbed an assist for Lionel Messi.
Liverpool’s international break brought a strange, one-sided sparring match between Arne Slot and Hungary manager Marco Rossi.
With Rossi at first taking exception to Slot’s request that his players involved in international friendlies are afforded rest, he then issued an apology of sorts.
“You can’t imagine that I would be so arrogant, conceited and stupid as to compare myself to a coach who manages a team in the Premier League,” he told reporters.
Milos Kerkez of Hungary (Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency) Credit: BSR Agency/Alamy Live News
But Szoboszlai and Kerkez remained in his starting lineup as Hungary played out a 0-0 draw with Greece on Tuesday, and with both playing the full 90 minutes, Rossi’s apology may have come with a hint of sarcasm.
Nevertheless the pair came through their reunion with Kostas Tsimikas unscathed and are expected to start when Liverpool visit Man City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Mac Allister will also be in contention for that early Saturday kickoff, having been brought off after 53 minutes in Argentina’s 5-0 thrashing of Zambia.
The midfielder started as a No. 8 and came away with an assist as Messi scored his 902nd career goal, playing a one-two with the legendary forward in the box before a low finish across the goalkeeper.
Having already clocked 73 minutes in the 2-1 win over Mauritania on Friday an early exit for Mac Allister will be a welcome boost to Liverpool.
Closer to home, there was a milestone appearance for Andy Robertson, who moved clear into second in Scotland’s all-time appearances list in a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast at Everton‘s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Robertson, who captained his country for the full 90 minutes, has 92 caps and now stands behind only Sir Kenny Dalglish (102).
COLOGNE, GERMANY - Wednesday, June 19, 2024: Scotland's captain Andy Robertson during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group A match between Scotland and Switzerland at the Müngersdorfer Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha both started as England U19s thrashed Portugal 6-0 in their final qualifier for the U19 Euros – but with other results going against them, the Young Lions failed to book a place at this summer’s tournament.
Ngumoha played 90 minutes and came close to scoring in the first half while Nyoni was brought off after 71 minutes having also started and played the full game in both of the previous losses to Poland and Serbia last week.
Finally, Lewis Koumas started up front as Wales drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland, with Liverpool youngster Kieran Morrison an unused substitute for the latter.
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