THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary needs a win against Portugal in its last home game to keep alive its hopes of qualifying for its first World Cup since 1986.
Wednesday’s match at the Ferenc Puskas Stadion comes on the heels of a dispiriting 2-1 loss against Sweden when Barcelona’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in the third minute of injury time.
"It’s good to see that the players are looser and seem to have digested Saturday’s events," Hungary coach Edwin Koeman said after practice, admitting that he was still "disappointed and angry" about the loss.
Denmark leads Group 1 with 17 points. Hungary is second with 13 points, one ahead of Sweden, while Portugal has 10.
Each of the nine European group winners advance to the finals. Only eight of the runners-up move on to a playoff berth to see who joins them.
Portugal’s chances of qualifying for South Africa may be fading, but Koeman said the team is full of world-class players and was still a formidable opponent.
"It’s hard to understand how they could be so far back in the standings, but it shows that they don’t work so well as a team," Koeman said.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz had been hoping that a convincing win in Denmark would revive his team’s faltering campaign but his side only came away with a 1-1 draw.
"We need to lift our chin up and accept that we’re in a tough position," Queiroz said. "We have to stay confident and proud of what we’ve done. As long as there are still games to play, we have to keep believing."
The world’s most expensive soccer player, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, lamented the team’s poor performance.
"We’re sad. We know we can do better," he said.
The Portuguese — who have never lost to Hungary — have no fitness worries, leaving Queiroz to decide whether Liedson should feature in the starting lineup.
The Brazilian-born player scored the late equalizer in his debut against Denmark. Midfielder Tiago, who was replaced in the interval, could make way for the Sporting Lisbon forward.
Denmark can clinch a place in South Africa if it defeats Albania on Wednesday, Portugal beats Hungary and Sweden fails to win against Malta.
Sweden, however, expects to collect three points in Malta and Coach Lars Lagerback said the Swedes are looking to improve their goal difference.
"We will play to win and it’s important that we keep going for 90 minutes and not relax if we’ve scored a couple of goals," Lagerback said.
Striker Johan Elmander is a doubt after picking up a knock against Hungary, but Ibrahimovic, who was bothered by a knee ailment last week, is fit to play.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen said first-string goalie Thomas Sorensen will return from his suspension to start against Albania in Tirana instead of Stephan Andersen.
"What we have seen from Thomas Sorensen during the training has satisfied us and what we have seen from the first matches in the Premier League confirms us in that he is a super goalie," Olsen said. "So he will be in the goal when we play Albania on Wednesday."
Olsen said he had respect for Albania, which is next to last in the standings with no chance of qualifying.
"It could be a tough match because they are confident," Olsen said. "One good thing is that we don’t have any suspended players. We had four or five yellow cards (against Portugal), so it’s good that all of them can play."