By Andrew Warshaw
June 14 – Hungary vs Austria Hungary’s Gabor Kiraly, one of the great goalkeeping eccentrics, is poised to become the oldest player ever to appear at a European Championship. Aged 40 and two months, he will overtake German Lothar Mattheus’s record, set at Euro 2000.
Playing against his country’s longstanding rivals will revive happy memories for Kiraly who made his international debut against the Austrians 18 years ago and saved a penalty.
Hungary are one of the countries to have benefited from UEFA’s expansion of the finals to 24 teams whereas Austria surprised many observers by strolling through their group with nine wins and a draw.
This is the first time Austria, who co-hosted in 2008, have qualified for a European Championship finals. Hungary are here for the first time since 1972 and will start firm underdogs in what is the second-most contested match between international teams.
Iceland-Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo will finally make his entrance at Euro 2016 in the last of the opening round of matches, but the focus in St Etienne will be on Portugal’s opponents – the smallest nation to reach a major finals.
Iceland’s rise is largely down to an investment in coach education and facilities. This is the moment every Icelandic football fan has waited for and anything but a defeat would be huge for the Volcanic outpost.
The key battle of course will be between Ronaldo and the Icelandic defence that performed so manfully in qualifying.
Portugal, who so often flatter to deceive, have the class but Iceland have the sprit and in Gylfi Sigurdsson one of the best free kick specialists in the business.
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