NETHERLANDS 6-1 HUNGARY, Amsterdam, 05/06/10
Van Persie 22, Sneijder 56, Robben 64, 78, Van Bommel 71, Elia 74; Dzsudzsak 6

The Netherlands came from behind to emphatically beat Hungary, bringing the UFWC title to the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Despite a bright start for the home team it was Hungary who took the lead in the 6th minute, as a Torghelle pass split the defence open as it found Dzsudzsak on the edge of the box, and he curled into the top corner, to possibly set up an upset.

Both teams had decent chances in the first half, but it was the Netherlands who struck next as Kuyt passed the ball into Van Persie who slotted it into the net to bring the match to 1-1, which was the score at half-time, a score that both teams thoroughly deserved.

However the Netherlands started the second half with real intent, as they ran riot over the opposition. It started with a cross from Van Bronckhorst which found Wesley Sneijder as he comfortably hit the back of the net. Things got worse for Hungary in the 64th minute, as a cross from the right fizzed through the 6-yard box to find Arjen Robben at the far post who hit the ball past the flailing Marton Fulop.

By this stage Hungary were utterly flattened and the Netherlands were in the driving seat, so there was only one outcome: more goals. In the 71st minute a short corner was taken and passed to Van Bommel standing on the edge of the box, who aimed it into the bottom corner, with a hint of a deflection taking it away from the goalkeeper.

Then only three minutes later Eljero Elia scored the goal of the match. Receiving the ball on the wing, he sprinted past one defender, ran around another two on the edge of the box, and struck the ball through the legs of a fourth as the goalkeeper found it impossible to keep out.

Robben scored again four minutes later as a corner found him at the back of the box as he ‘simply’ lifted the ball over the crowd of players and into the top corner, away from Fulop.

Unfortunately a shadow was cast over the match after 85 minutes, as Robben attempted a complicated pass and fell awkwardly. He limped off the pitch and down the tunnel for treatment, as the Netherlands finished the match with 10 men having used all their substitutes.

Hopefully Robben will be okay to play at the World Cup in South Africa, as the Netherlands take the UFWC trophy with them into Group E, where they will come up against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.

The Netherlands’ first World Cup match, and next UFWC title match, will be against Denmark on June 14th, which we will preview for you soon.

Match Reports Hungary, Netherlands

NETHERLANDS vs HUNGARY, Amsterdam, 05/06/10

As the Netherlands prepare for this ‘friendly’ match in preparation for the World Cup, there is more at stake as this match is the match to decide whether the UFWC title will be taken to the World Cup, or whether it will miss out for the third World Cup in a row.

The Netherlands have been worthy UFWC champions, having defended the title 14 times in this reign. A victory against Hungary will not only bring the title to the World Cup, but will make this the joint second-best run in UFWC history, equaling Germany’s string of 15 defences from 1996 to 1998. As well as trying to break a UFWC record, the Netherlands are trying to bring the UFWC title to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 when Argentina brought it to the World Cup and France became undisputed world champions, winning both the World Cup and UFWC trophies in the final.

Even though Hungary haven’t qualified for the World Cup, their record in the UFWC is not one to be looked down upon. They have been UFWC champions seven times, including twice within the past three years. Despite this however, they have not had a successful period, having only won one of their last eight matches, which is reflected in them being 9/1 to claim the title; the Netherlands are 1/50 to retain. Everything suggests that this will be an easy defence, but we all know that football is never that easy, and anything can happen on any given day.

So, will the UFWC title finally make its way back to the World Cup, or will the Netherlands’ quest fail at the final hurdle? Find out at 1pm this Saturday.

Match Previews Hungary, Netherlands

It’s 100 years since Hungary became the first team from outside of the British Isles to compete in the UFWC. Here’s a flashback.

HUNGARY 2-4 ENGLAND, 29 May 1909
Friendly, Millenaris Sporttelep, Budapest
Scorers: Kesmarky, Grosz (Hungary); Woodward (2), Bridgett, Fleming (England)

In the UFWC’s 99th title match Hungary became the very first team from outside of the British home nations to take a bite at the UFWC.

For 37 years the title was passed exclusively between England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. England had already played European opposition outside of the UFWC, beating Hungary – and Austria and Bohemia – in the previous year. Now, having taken the title from Wales in March and successfully defended it against Scotland in April, England took the title into a short post-season continental tour.

Hungary were one of the oldest continental international football teams, having played their first international match against Austria in 1902. They were also one of the earliest members of the recently-formed FIFA. They had won more games than they had lost, but those games had been against fellow fledgling footballing nations, and Hungary were no real match for the experienced English.

Sunderland’s George Bridgett scored the first goal in front of 10,000 spectators after just five minutes. Vivian Woodward of Spurs and Harold Fleming of Swindon Town added to the score to give England a 3-1 half-time lead. Skipper Woodward netted a fourth in the second half to achieve the 4-2 victory.

Two days later the sides met for a rematch – and the landmark 100th UFWC title match. England named the same 11, and raced to a 5-0 half-time lead. The final score was 8-2, with Woodward hitting four, Fleming grabbing two, and George Holley of Sunderland also netting twice. The match marked the final international appearance of Evelyn Lintott, the Bradford City right half, who was killed in heroic circumstances at the Somme in 1916.

The day after beating Hungary 8-2, the same team – minus Lintott – beat Austria 8-1 in Vienna. But England would not play outside of the British Isles again until 1921, and the UFWC title continued to be passed between the British home nations.

Classic Matches England, Hungary

SWEDEN 2-1 HUNGARY, Solna, 11/09/08
Kallstrom 55, Holmen 64, Rudolf 90

Sweden are the new UFWC Champions, having defeated Hungary 2-1 in this World Cup Qualifier.

The Swedes were booed from the pitch after a disappointing first half, but recovered to win, largely thanks to the efforts of veteran striker Henrik Larsson. The 37-year-old skipper, playing his 101st game for his country, set up both goals – the first for Kim Kallstrom in the 55th minute. Lyon midfielder Kallstrom started the move, sending Larsson away down the left wing, and continuing his run into the box to head home Larsson’s cross from close range.

Next Larsson set up Samuel Holmen, who slotted the ball past Hungary keeper Gabor Babos in the 64th minute.

An unimpressive Hungary stumbled across a consolation goal with the very last touch of the game, with substitute Gergely Rudolf chesting the ball into the Swedish net, and the referee immediately blowing the full-time whistle without restarting play.

Sweden have excellent UFWC form – this was the country’s 26th UFWC title match victory, and they are ranked 9th overall. However, the Swedes have plummeted in FIFA’s word rankings over the last three years, dropping from the top 10 to 31st.

Sweden’s first defence of their title this time around will be against Portugal in Solna on 11 October 2008. The last match between the two nations, in 2004, resulted in a 2-2 draw, but Portugal won the previous match, in Gothenburg in 2002, 3-2. Portugal have only ever won two UFWC title matches, but have been a regular fixture in FIFA’s top ten ranked teams in the world for the last four years. Sweden have home advantage and the UFWC title, but Portugal have recent form.

Sweden: Andreas Isaksson, Olof Mellberg, Daniel Majstorovic, Petter Hansson, Mikael Nilsson, Sebastian Larsson, Kim Kallstrom, Daniel Andersson, Samuel Holmen, Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Markus Rosenberg, 81).

Hungary: Gabor Babos, Roland Juhasz, Vilmos Vanczak, Zoltan Szelesi, Zoltan Gera, Tamas Hajnal, Pal Dardai (Gergely Rudolf, 70), Krisztian Vadocz, Boldizsar Bodor (Balazs Dzsudzsak, 80), Sandor Torghelle, Szabolcs Huszti.

Match Reports Hungary, Sweden