Hungary’s star striker, Barnabas Varga, suffered a serious injury during their match against Scotland in Euro 2024. The collision with Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn left Varga with fractured bones in his face, prompting medics to rush onto the field to assist him. Hungary manager Marco Rossi confirmed in a post-match interview that Varga will miss the remainder of the tournament. However, he reassured everyone that Varga’s life is not in danger and he will undergo an operation for the fracture.
The incident itself was not shown in close-up during the broadcast, as Uefa only provided a wide-angle replay. The BBC, which uses the host nation’s feed, issued an apology for this. Varga was carried off the field on a stretcher, with teammate Dominik Szoboszlai helping to carry it. Reports indicate that Varga was conscious and communicating with medical staff on his way to the hospital. After the game, Gabby Logan confirmed that Varga was in a stable condition at a Stuttgart Hospital.
In terms of the match itself, Hungary emerged victorious with a late winning goal from Kevin Csoboth in the 100th minute. The goal came from a lightning counterattack, breaking Scottish hearts and eliminating them from the tournament. Scotland now faces an anxious wait to see if their three points will be enough to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
During the match, there was controversy surrounding a potential penalty for Scotland when Stuart Armstrong was fouled by Willi Orban. BBC pundit Alan Shearer believed it was a clear penalty, stating, “Orban takes him out, his right knee onto his left calf, a clear, clear penalty.” However, the VAR check waved away the penalty appeal.
Despite their defeat, Scotland’s performance was commendable, pushing hard towards the end and even coming close to scoring through a goalmouth scramble. Gunn, who was involved in the collision with Varga, expressed his concern for the injured player and praised the effort shown by the team. He said, “It’s hard to speak, to be honest. I thought everyone gave their best out there. The goal at the end was because we were going for it, but I think the effort we gave today showed the fans and the country what it means to us.”
Overall, Hungary’s victory came at a cost with the unfortunate injury to Barnabas Varga. The incident serves as a reminder of the physical risks involved in football, highlighting the importance of player safety and medical support. As the tournament progresses, teams will need to prioritize the well-being of their players while striving for success on the field.