Euro 2016: Austria vs Hungary - 5 players to watch out
One of today's Euro 2016 matches will be played between neighbours Austria and Hungary in Group F. Austria had a disastrous Euro campaign in 2008 on their home soil but since then have progressed by leaps and bounds. They now sit at 10th position in FIFA rankings and are touted by many to be the dark horse for Euro 2016.
They were in fact, one of the unbeaten teams from the qualifying round and won their group by a comfortable margin of eight points ahead of second-placed Russia.
Hungary, once a powerhouse in world football, are no longer the same team they once were. In fact, this is the first time they have qualified for the European Championship finals.
They are the underdogs in Group F and unlike Austria, they just got in on the virtue of a victory against Norway in playoffs. Let us see 5 most important players who could decide the game
#1 David Alaba (Austria)
This Bayern Munich man needs no introduction. He is a versatile player capable of playing almost anywhere on the pitch but primarily plays as a left back at his club. But today when he dons his national colours we will see him playing as the midfield general who runs the show for his teams.
The southpaw can play anywhere across the midfield, in a number of roles. Be it in defensive midfield, as a box to box midfielder or as number 10, he can wreck havoc on opposition teams with his passing and overall ability.
Alaba has done it in the qualifiers and can do it again. And do not be surprised if he manages to dip one over the wall into the goal from a set-piece. But most importantly, he is the tactical lynchpin of the manager and whatever tactics Austria chose to employ, David Alaba will have a big role in all of them.