One switch in Hungarian male team for Worlds: Eyeing Olympic visa

Hungary’s team for the upcoming World Championships in Fukuoka was announced by head coach Zsolt Varga, consisting of fourteen players who won 4th place at the World Cup in Los Angeles last week.

Akos Konarik will not be part of the team this time, while Zoltan Pohl, who won gold with Hungary at the 2020 Europeans and participated in the 2019 and 2022 World Championships but was not included in the European team in Split last year, has been added to the roster.

Pohl was among the 17 candidates for the Worlds, but didn’t travel to the USA and stayed to train along with Gergely Burian.

“I think this is the strongest Hungarian national team at the moment. How likely is it to win the championships? We are working on becoming the champions, but it was also seen at the World Cup several teams can take for the World Championship title. For example, the Spanish and Italian teams are usually ahead of the others. We know what we still have to work on until the start of the World Cup in order to compete against anyone with the same chances. We have excellent players, but everyone has to give their best to reach the finals, which would mean an Olympic quota.”, Zsolt Varga said at today’s press conference after announcing the roster.

Hungary at the 2023 World Championships

Goalkeepers:Soma Vogel (Ferencvaros), Marton Levai (Vasas).

Field players: Denes Varga, Vendel Vigvari, Gergo Fekete, Szilard Jansik, Zoltan Pohl, Erik Molnar, Adam Nagy, Toni Nemet (all Ferencvaros), Daniel Angyal, Krisztian Manhercz (both Marseille), Marton Vamos (Olympiacos), Vince Vigvari (OSC Budapest), Gergo Zalanki (Pro Recco).

Hungary is in Group C at the Worlds in Fukuoka, with its big rival, European champion Croatia, host Japan and Argentina. The derby against Croatia is scheduled for the 2nd round (July 19).