The march to Euro 2016 goes on, and the final round of qualifying is here. The group stage is over, and the third-placed teams have been divvied up into matchups for the playoff round, a set of two-legged ties that will send half of these teams to France next summer for the European Championships, while the other half will be watching from home. The first of those matches features Norway hosting Hungary, a battle between two teams that impressed in the group stage, but came just short of directly qualifying.
Norway vs. Hungary 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Euro 2016 qualifying online
The first European Championship playoff match is here. Who’s going to be in France next summer?
Stephen Pond/Getty Images
It’s going to be a very evenly matched tie, with Norway getting the first match at home and Hungary hoping that being at home for the second leg will be enough of an advantage to go through. Norway have only ever been to the Euros once, in 2000 when they went out in the group stage. Hungary have only gone twice, finishing third in 1964 and fourth in 1972, but making no appearances since. Both teams have a chance to cement themselves as an upcoming power in Europe -- they’re both hungry, they both have excellent young talent supported by solid veterans, and they both have a point to prove. No matter who wins this match, and this tie, we’re going to be short a very deserving team come Euro 2016 next summer.
Key player -- Balázs Dzsudzsák (Hungary)
Dzsudzsák is Hungary’s captain, and in this match he’s their most important player on the pitch by a wide margin. Hungary need an away goal or two in their pocket heading into the second leg to have their best chance at making Euro 2016, and Dzsudzsák is vital to those hopes. His ability to generate threat on the counter is something Norway will struggle with, especially as they lack the quality at fullback to really contend with him. In a very real way, how Dzsudzsák performs in this match could decide the whole tie, because if he’s on his game, Hungary could head into the second leg with a lead and multiple away goals to help serve as a tiebreaker.
Especially in evenly-matched ties like this with so much on the line, midfield control is vital. Skjelbred and Elek will be vital to this match as the men at the base of their respective midfields, and while they may not go directly head to head very often given their roles, they’ll spend all match trying to top one another and minimize the other’s influence at every chance they get. These are two very talented and very under-rated midfielders, and this match will be an excellent chance for them to show off what they’re capable of doing on the pitch.
Match Date/Time: Thursday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local
Venue: Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
TV: Fox Sports 1 (U.S.), Sportsnet One (Canada), TVNorge (Norway), Sport 1 CZ/SK, M4 Sports (Hungary), Sky Sports 3/HD (U.K.)
Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go, Fox Sports Go (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), Sky Go (U.K.)
See More:
