János Szathmári: "The national team deserved a good result!"
The former 302-times Hungarian national team goalkeeper said that the host Hungarian team must be mentally up to the task at the European Championship in January.
In our series leading up to the European Championship, we ask former key players of the Hungarian national team about their expectations and the home team's chances.
János Szathmári made 302 appearances for the national team between 1988 and 2010, was 4th in the Olympics, and has been Hungary's goalkeeper at six World Championships and four European Championships. He says the home staging will be an incentive for the boys.
In our series leading up to the European Championship, we ask former key players of the Hungarian national team about their expectations and the home team's chances.
János Szathmári made 302 appearances for the national team between 1988 and 2010, was 4th in the Olympics, and has been Hungary's goalkeeper at six World Championships and four European Championships. He says the home staging will be an incentive for the boys.
János Szathmári made 302 appearances for the national team between 1988 and 2010, was 4th in the Olympics, and has been Hungary's goalkeeper at six World Championships and four European Championships. He says the home staging will be an incentive for the boys.
"There has never been a World Cup or a European Championship in Hungary, and I haven't had the chance to experience what it's like to play in Hungary, but it will be special for the players and the professional staff. I am worried about the current situation, but I am confident that the national team will be able to play in front of a good crowd and that everyone will be healthy and available to the staff. A very nice hall has been built, and the atmosphere should give the team a boost," says the former World Cup winning goalkeeper, who believes the field, including the Hungarian team, will have their work cut out.
"The tournament calendar is very busy, there is a world tournament every year nowadays and if you add the busy club season, there is hardly any time for rest. In our time there were only World Championships and Olympics for a long time, but we also had four to six weeks to prepare before the later European Championships. Now, once the players have finished their club duties, we have about two weeks before the world championships - that's how much time we have to prepare. Moreover, the tournament is in January, so we have to adapt to that, there will be hardly any rest, and we will need a serious performance, especially mentally," says János Szathmári, who was previously goalkeeper coach of the Hungarian national team for eight years.
In his opinion, in the past we could have said that the Hungarian group was easy, but today we can't do that anymore, the Hungarian national team can play a game against Portugal, the Netherlands and Iceland. "The team is getting younger and younger every year, a lot of key players have grown up in the squad and are leaders in their clubs. The national team has reached the level where it can achieve good results, but the world's elite has also improved, teams that didn't before can have a say in the final. It's a very balanced field, it's the small moments that will make the difference. There will be a burden on us, but the spectators and the environment can help."
As far as the goalkeeper position is concerned, János Szathmári sees the situation as follows:
"Roli Mikler is constantly defending in Szeged, he's in the game, he's doing great, the question is who will be able to play behind him in the national team. Marci Székely is playing abroad, Ádám Borbély is defending in the midfield of the Hungarian league. There is a growing number of goalkeeping talent in the National League or even in the junior national team, we are facing a generational change. Whoever is given a role, it is clear that they have to prove themselves mentally, not primarily physically. Like everyone in the team, I wish them to have fun, to be free, that's the most important thing. It's going to be a huge team effort."
János Szathmári left the active game in 2010, he has been working in Balatonfüred for ten years with minor interruptions, but has also worked as a coach in Veszprém and at the National Handball Academy in Balatonboglár. In addition to the Balatonfüred academy and the adult team, he has also coached the junior national team as a goalkeeper, assisting his former teammate László Sótonyi.
"I loved playing, this job is different, but I enjoy it. Of course, it comes with the same sacrifices and obligations, but it's good to see that there is a lot of talent and a lot of people playing handball. We have national team players at all ages, we want to develop as many players as possible," said János Szathmári.
The Hungarian national team will start against the Netherlands on 13 January. Tickets can be bought here: https://www.watchgamesseemore.com/tickets/
"The tournament calendar is very busy, there is a world tournament every year nowadays and if you add the busy club season, there is hardly any time for rest. In our time there were only World Championships and Olympics for a long time, but we also had four to six weeks to prepare before the later European Championships. Now, once the players have finished their club duties, we have about two weeks before the world championships - that's how much time we have to prepare. Moreover, the tournament is in January, so we have to adapt to that, there will be hardly any rest, and we will need a serious performance, especially mentally," says János Szathmári, who was previously goalkeeper coach of the Hungarian national team for eight years.
In his opinion, in the past we could have said that the Hungarian group was easy, but today we can't do that anymore, the Hungarian national team can play a game against Portugal, the Netherlands and Iceland. "The team is getting younger and younger every year, a lot of key players have grown up in the squad and are leaders in their clubs. The national team has reached the level where it can achieve good results, but the world's elite has also improved, teams that didn't before can have a say in the final. It's a very balanced field, it's the small moments that will make the difference. There will be a burden on us, but the spectators and the environment can help."
As far as the goalkeeper position is concerned, János Szathmári sees the situation as follows:
"Roli Mikler is constantly defending in Szeged, he's in the game, he's doing great, the question is who will be able to play behind him in the national team. Marci Székely is playing abroad, Ádám Borbély is defending in the midfield of the Hungarian league. There is a growing number of goalkeeping talent in the National League or even in the junior national team, we are facing a generational change. Whoever is given a role, it is clear that they have to prove themselves mentally, not primarily physically. Like everyone in the team, I wish them to have fun, to be free, that's the most important thing. It's going to be a huge team effort."
János Szathmári left the active game in 2010, he has been working in Balatonfüred for ten years with minor interruptions, but has also worked as a coach in Veszprém and at the National Handball Academy in Balatonboglár. In addition to the Balatonfüred academy and the adult team, he has also coached the junior national team as a goalkeeper, assisting his former teammate László Sótonyi.
"I loved playing, this job is different, but I enjoy it. Of course, it comes with the same sacrifices and obligations, but it's good to see that there is a lot of talent and a lot of people playing handball. We have national team players at all ages, we want to develop as many players as possible," said János Szathmári.
The Hungarian national team will start against the Netherlands on 13 January. Tickets can be bought here: https://www.watchgamesseemore.com/tickets/
