The buzz around Hungarian football camp is palpable as Marco Rossi unveiled his 27-man squad for the October World Cup qualifiers yesterday, a selection that blends continuity with calculated adjustments ahead of what could be defining double-header. With Dominik Szoboszlai firmly established as captain-ready to shoulder the load for the Magyars-eyes are inevitably drawn to the glaring gap up top: Barnabás Varga and Roland Sallai both sidelined for the opener against Armenia on October 11 at Puskás Aréna. It’s a blow that tests Rossi’s depth, but one he’s tackling head-on with a mix of trusted lieutenants and a timely returnee. As the team gears up to gather in Telki on Monday, let’s unpack what this roster tells us about Hungary’s ambitions in Group F.

Rossi, ever the pragmatist, kept the changes minimal after a satisfying September showing that included a hard-fought draw against Portugal on home soil. “There are no significant changes [to the squad], in part due to no one new catching my attention in the last three weeks,” he explained in his announcement, signaling confidence in the core that held firm against the Iberian giants. No fresh debutants this time around-unlike the September call-ups that injected youth against Ireland-but the Italian tactician has shuffled the deck just enough to address vulnerabilities. The mission? Secure three points against a tricky Armenia side before jetting to Lisbon for a rematch with Ronaldo and Co. on October 14. On paper, the Armenians look beatable, but Rossi isn’t taking chances: “We’ve seen that the Armenians are weaker than us… but despite this, we won’t underestimate them, since they showed against Republic of Ireland how dangerous they can be.”

The Absences: A Striking Headache for Rossi

Let’s cut to the chase-the elephant in the room is the forward line. Varga, Ferencváros’ goal machine who’s netted crucial strikes in qualifiers past, picks up a suspension from that yellow card against Portugal in September, ruling him out for the Armenia clash. Joining him on the sidelines is Sallai, the Galatasaray winger sidelined by injury rather than indiscipline, leaving Hungary short of two key attackers for the curtain-raiser. It’s a scenario that could blunt the Magyars’ edge, especially given Varga’s aerial dominance and Sallai’s pace on the break-assets that proved vital in holding Portugal to a stalemate last month.

Rossi is philosophical about it, viewing the void as an opportunity to experiment. “We have two players missing upfront for the first match, so my task is to find a solution to this situation and get the three points against Armenia,” he noted.

Expect Szoboszlai to drop deeper into a more advanced role-whispers from camp suggest the Liverpool star could even line up as a makeshift striker, leveraging his vision and long-range threat to compensate. With Varga and Sallai back in the fold for Portugal, the Armenia game becomes a proving ground for alternatives, but don’t be surprised if Rossi leans on the physicality of Barna Tóth from Paks to fill the boots up top.

Returning Heroes and the Core That Stays Strong

In a nod to reliability over revolution, defender Botond Balogh makes a welcome return, slotting in for Gábor Szalai after rediscovering his rhythm at Kocaelispor.

“Botond Balogh has taken Gábor Szalai’s place, because he’s playing regularly again and can also be used in the middle of defence, so now we have two left-footed central defenders,” Rossi highlighted, praising the versatility that bolsters an already stout backline anchored by the likes of Willi Orbán and Attila Szalai.

The rest of the squad reads like a who’s who of Hungarian talent in fine fettle. Goalkeeping duties fall to Dénes Dibusz (Ferencváros), Péter Szappanos (Puskás Akadémia), and Balázs Tóth (Blackburn Rovers). Defensively, it’s a blend of Premier League pedigree—Milos Kerkez (Liverpool)—and Serie A grit, with Márton Dárdai (Hertha BSC) and Loic Nego (Le Havre) providing width. Midfield hums with energy: Szoboszlai at the helm, flanked by András Schäfer (Union Berlin), Callum Styles (West Brom), and promising sorts like Bence Ötvös (Ferencváros) and Rajmund Molnár (Pogoń Szczecin), who impressed enough in September to stick around. Up front, beyond the absentees, Zsombor Gruber (Ferencváros) and Dániel Lukács (Puskás Akadémia) offer dynamism, while Barna Tóth’s towering 6’5″ frame could be the wildcard in Varga’s absence—Rossi himself flagged his form as a reason to keep him close from the last window.

One notable omission? Bence Dárdai, Hertha’s young gun, who pays the price for a barren spell at club level: “He hasn’t played a single minute for his club since the last time we played together,” Rossi said bluntly. Form over sentiment-that’s the Rossi mantra.

Outlook: Solutions Sought, But Silver Linings Abound

This squad isn’t flashy, but it’s fortified for the fights ahead. Against Armenia, Rossi’s puzzle is clear: Plug the forward gaps without disrupting the midfield engine that suffocated Portugal last time. A 4-2-3-1 with Szoboszlai pulling strings behind Tóth or Lukács feels likely, emphasizing the high press that’s become a hallmark. Come Portugal, with Varga’s return, the Magyars could unleash a more potent spearhead – aiming to flip that September draw into a statement win.

Rossi summed it up with characteristic candor: For the Portuguese redux

“We’d like to put in a similar performance… with the difference that the result should be more in our favour. Having said this, we know how strong they are.”

It’s a tall order, but with Szoboszlai leading the charge and depth tested but not broken, Hungary’s World Cup dream feels tantalizingly within reach.