During Sunday’s Euro 2024 clash in Stuttgart, Hungary secured a last-minute victory against Scotland, but the triumph was overshadowed by a serious injury to Hungarian player Barnabás Varga.
Team captain Dominik Szoboszlai expressed his frustration with the delayed medical response after Varga suffered severe facial fractures following a collision with Scotland’s goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
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Immediate concerns on the field
The incident occurred 68 minutes into the game, leaving Varga motionless on the pitch. Szoboszlai and his teammates were seen frantically signaling for medical assistance. Despite the urgency of the situation, there was a noticeable delay before medical staff arrived on the scene. Szoboszlai, visibly upset, was seen urging the medics to hasten their efforts as they attended to Varga.
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Captain’s outcry
In a post-match interview, Szoboszlai questioned the protocols that seemed to hinder a swift medical response. “I don’t understand this kind of protocol, why the medical staff don’t rush in at this time?” he questioned, emphasizing the critical nature of such emergencies. His comments highlighted a significant concern about the efficiency of medical protocols in football.
Huge respect to Dominik Szoboszlai, who sprinted over to the medical staff, grabbed their stretcher, and made them hurry to his teammate Barnabás Varga 👏 pic.twitter.com/5CDeRyoG6l
— LADbible (@ladbible) June 23, 2024
The medical response
Once the medical team reached Varga, he was quickly attended to and concealed behind large screens as he was stretaped from the field. Hungary’s coach, Marco Rossi, later confirmed that Varga had regained consciousness before being transported to the hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition.
Impact on the team
The distressing scene seemed to galvanize the Hungarian team, who until that point had struggled to make a significant impact in the game. Following the incident, Hungary increased their offensive efforts, culminating in Kevin Csoboth scoring the decisive goal during an extended stoppage time, bringing the score to 1-0.
Szoboszlai’s emotional tribute
In a poignant tribute to his injured teammate, Szoboszlai donned Varga’s spare jersey for the post-match celebrations, turning it back to front to display Varga’s name to the supporters. This gesture underscored the team’s solidarity and concern for their teammate’s well-being.
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This article explores the critical moments of the Euro 2024 match between Hungary and Scotland, focusing on the serious injury to Barnabás Varga and the subsequent criticism by Dominik Szoboszlai of the medical response. Szoboszlai’s emotional reaction and the team’s rallying after the incident highlight the profound impact such events can have on players and teams alike.
