The history of the Hungary national football team dates back to their first international appearance in 1912.
History Although Austria and Hungary were constituent countries of the dual monarchy known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they formed separate football associations and teams around the start of the 20th century.
1910s
The Hungary national football team first appeared at the Summer Olympic Games in 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden. The team had to ask for donations in order to be able to go to the games. Hungary played with England and lost 7–0 and thus were eliminated. After the Olympic Games Hungary played two matches against Russia in Moscow. The first match was won by 9–0 while the second 12–0 which is still a record of the national side. The top scorer of the two matches was Imre Schlosser who scored seven goals. The beginning of World War I had a deep impact on the thriving Hungarian football. Not only was the country suffering financial problems but the clubs were too. During World War I Hungary played Austria 16 times. In 1919 England claimed the exclusion of the Central Powers (including Hungary) from FIFA. Since FIFA refused England's plea, the British and the Irish associations (English, Scottish, Welsh) decided to resign from FIFA.
1920s
Budapest was denied the opportunity to host the Summer Olympics in 1920, therefore it was held in Belgium. Moreover, the countries of the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria) were excluded from the Olympics. During this period the Fogl brothers (József Fogl and Károly Fogl) played in the national team. The formation the Hungarians used was 2–3–5 which was unique at that time. In 1924 the national team played at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France. In the first match Hungary beat Poland but in the second round they lost to Egypt. As a consequence, both the head coach and the head of the Hungarian Football Federation resigned. Between 1927 and 1930 Hungary participated in the Europa Cup, which is considered as the first international tournament, with Austria, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Italy and Yugoslavia. Hungary finished fourth although they had chance to win the tournament before the last game but they lost against Italy who went on to actually win it. On 12 June 1927 Hungary beat France by 13–1 which is still a record. József Takács scored six goals against France.fourth
1930s
The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. Hungary did not take part in the tournament since they were not invited and there were no qualification matches. Therefore, Hungary first appeared in the World Cup in Italy where the 1934 FIFA World Cup was held. Hungary's first World Cup match was played against Egypt on 27 May 1934, in the end the match was won 4–2. The goals were scored by Teleki, Toldi (2) and Vincze. In the quarter-finals Hungary faced neighbouring arch-rivals Austria and lost 2–1. The only Hungarian goal was scored by Sárosi.
Hungary entered the 1936 Olympics. In the first round they were eliminated by Poland 0 – 3.
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was held in France. The first match was played against Dutch East Indies and Hungary won 6–0. Sárosi and Zsengellér scored twice while Kohut and Toldi also scored a goal each. In the quarter-finals Hungary played with Switzerland and the match was won 2–0 thanks to a goal by Sárosi and Zsengellér each. The semi-finals at the Parc des Princes in Paris Hungary played against Sweden and won 5–1. Sas, Sárosi and Zsengellér's hat-trick sent them to the 1938 FIFA World Cup final. In the final Hungary faced Italy at the Stade Olympique de Colombes in Paris. The final result was 4–2 to Italy. The Hungarian goals were scored by Titkos and Sárosi.
1950s
This Hungarian team is regarded as one of the most influential sides in football history, noted for its role in shaping the development of the game. Built around strikers Ferenc Puskás and Sándor Kocsis, attacking half-back József Bozsik, and withdrawn striker Nándor Hidegkuti, the "Aranycsapat" ("Golden Team"), also known as the "Magnificent Magyars", drew widespread attention for a style of play grounded in tactical innovation. Excluding the 1954 World Cup Final, the team recorded 43 victories, 6 draws, and no defeats from 14 May 1950 until a 3–1 loss to Turkey on 19 February 1956.
In the 1952 Summer Olympics that was held in Helsinki, Hungary beat Romania 2 – 1 thanks to a goal each from Czibor and Kocsis in the preliminary round. In the first round Hungary won 3 – 0 against Italy. In the quarter-finals Hungary beat Turkey easily 7 – 1. In the semi-finals Hungary faced Sweden, the 1948 Olympics champions and Hungary won 6 – 0. In the final Hungary beat Yugoslavia 2 – 0 by a goal each from Puskás and Czibor and thus won the Olympic title for the first time.
On 25 November 1953 a match took place between England and Hungary at the Wembley Stadium, London, England, which would later be dubbed "the match of the century". The English team were unbeaten for 90 years at home. In front of 105,000 spectators Nándor Hidegkuti scored the first Hungarian goal in the first minute. In the first half the result was 4–2 to Hungary. The Hungarian goals were scored by Nándor Hidegkúti (1st, 22nd) and Ferenc Puskás (25th 29th). In the second half the Hungarians scored twice (Hidegkúti and József Bozsik) which resulted in the most important victory of the Hungarians in the twentieth century. The final result was 6–3. On 23 May 1954 the Hungarian national team beat England by 7–1, which remains their worst defeat to date, at the Puskás Ferenc Stadium. At that time in Hungary there was a saying about the match which is the following: Az angolok egy hétre jöttek és 7:1-re mentek in English: The English came for a (one) week (seven days) and went home with seven (7) one (1) (the result of the match).
The 1954 FIFA World Cup was held in Switzerland. The first match was played against South Korea and Hungary won by 9–0 at the Hardturm in Zürich. In the second group match Hungary played against West Germany and won the match by 8–3 at the St. Jakob Stadium in Basel. In the quarter-finals Hungary beat Brazil 4–2 at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern. In the semi-finals Hungary played with the two-times World Cup winner Uruguay in Lausanne. Hungary won by 4–2 after extra time. In the final Hungary faced with West Germany again. Although Hungary won the group match against the Germans, they lost 3–2 in the final in Bern at the Wankdorf Stadium. The Golden Team, built around the legendary Ferenc Puskás, led early 2–0, but ended up 2–3 in a game the Germans subsequently christened "The Miracle of Bern".
In 2010 Journalist Erik Eggers speculates in a study that the Germany team may have used drugs to beat the Hungarian team, which were considered invincible at that time.
Although Hungary is qualified as the defending champions for 1956 Olympics, they did not enter the tournament.
Hungary qualified for the 1958 FIFA World Cup which was held in Sweden. Hungary played their first match against Wales at the Jarnvallen stadium in Sandviken and the final result was 1–1. The second group match was played against the host country, Sweden. Hungary lost 2–1 in the Råsunda Stadium, Solna. Although Hungary won their last group match against Mexico at the Jarnvallen stadium in Sandvinken, they were eliminated from the World Cup after losing a play-off to Wales, who they had drawn level with on points. The Welsh had managed to draw all the group games and then beat the once-mighty Hungarians in a play-off match to decide which nation should follow Sweden into the knock-out stage. Had goal difference been the decider, Hungary would have gone through, as the Hungarians had a goal ratio 6–3 compared to 2–2 of Wales. As it was, Wales instead meet Brazil in the quarterfinals and became the recipient of young Pelé's first World Cup goal.
1960s
In 1960 Hungary again entered the Olympics held in Italy and was drawn into Group D with France, Peru and India. Hungary finished top of the group with all wins and a goal difference of +12. In the semi-finals they lost to Denmark 0 – 2, but beat Italy in the Bronze medal match 2 – 1 thanks to a goal each from Orosz and Dunai and thus won a bronze medal.
Hungary qualified for the 1962 FIFA World Cup which was held in Chile. On 31 May 1962 in the first group match Hungary beat England by 2–1 thanks to the goals of Tichy and Albert at the El Teniente stadium in Rancagua in front of 7938 spectators. The second match on 3 June 1962 was even more convincing against the Bulgarian national side. The match was won by 6–1 in Rancagua. The last group match was against Argentina on 6 June 1962 and the final result was a goalless draw in front of 7945 spectators in Rancagua. Hungary qualified for the quarter-finals by gaining 5 points and winning the group. In the quarter-finals of the World Cup Hungary was eliminated by Czechoslovakia by 1–0 at the El Teniente stadium in Rancagua in front of 11690 spectators.
In 1964 Hungary again qualified for the 1964 Olympics held in Tokyo and was drawn into Group B with defending champions Yugoslavia, Morocco and North Korea, who withdrew. In their first match against Morocco Hungary won 6 – 0 with all 6 goals scored by Ferenc Bene. In their second match Hungary won narrowly with a 6 – 5 against Yugoslavia and advanced into the next round along with runners-up Yugoslavia. In the quarter-finals Hungary beat Romania 2 – 0 with goals from Csernai. In the semi-finals Hungary beat United Arab Republic (Egypt) 6 – 0 with 4 goals from Bene and 2 from Komora. In the finals Hungary beat Czechoslovakia 2 – 1 thanks from an own goal by Weiss and a goal by Bene, thus won their second gold medal.
Hungary qualified for the 1964 European Nations' Cup which was organised in Spain. Hungary played against Spain in the semi-finals of the tournament. The final result was 2–1 after extra time. The only Hungarian goal was scored by Ferenc Bene. In the third place play-off Hungary beat Denmark 3–1 after extra time. Dezső Novák scored twice in the extra time.
Hungary also managed to qualify for the 1966 FIFA World Cup which was held in the home of football, England. On 13 July 1966 Hungary lost their first group match against Eusébio's Portugal by 3–1 at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester. Two days later in the second group match Hungary beat Brazil thanks to the goals of Bene, Farkas and Mészöly in the Goodison Park in Liverpool. In the last round of the group matches on 20 July 1966 Hungary beat Bulgaria by 3–1. The goals were scored by Mészöly and Bene. Hungary finished second in the group and qualified for the quarter-finals. In the quarter-finals Hungary were eliminated by the Soviet Union on 23 July 1966 by 2–1 at the Roker Park in Sunderland in front of 26844 spectators.
In 1968 Olympics Hungary qualified as defending champions to defend their title and was drawn into Group C with Israel, Ghana and El Salvador. Hungary finished top and advanced into the next round with Israel. In Quarter-finals Hungary beat Guatemala narrowly with 1 – 0 from a goal by Szűcs. In the semi-finals they beat Japan 5 – 0 thanks to Szűcs with 3 goals and 2 from Novák. In the finals they beat Bulgaria 4 – 1 and won their third title, being the most successful team at the Olympics in football (Great Britain also won 3 titles but their first title is in 1904, and football became an official event in 1908).
Flórián Albert was named European Footballer of the Year in 1967. He was the most successful footballer of Ferencváros since the formation of the club, scoring 255 goals in 351 matches from 1958 to 1974.
1970s