First Team

“A huge amount of fun”

A short interview with Bence Dardai on his first call-up to the Hungarian national team.

A dozen senior VfL players are currently representing their countries around the globe, as are another 12 youngsters from the Wolves’ academy. Among them is Bence Dardai, who is enjoying his first taste of senior international football after being called up to the Hungary squad for the Nations League play-offs. The 19-year-old missed Thursday evening’s 3-1 first-leg defeat to Turkey with a muscle problem, but he was able to share his initial impressions ahead of the return game in Budapest this Sunday (kick-off 18:00 CET).

Bence Dardai, this is your first time with the senior national team. What have you made of it?

Bence Dardai: “It’s a huge amount of fun. I was given a wonderful welcome and everyone’s incredibly kind to me. I haven’t managed to train yet unfortunately, but I think I’ll be able to get going soon. I hope I’ll be fit for Sunday.”

So you haven’t had to line up for the national anthem yet. Would you have known the words?

Bence: “Oh yes, I was singing along anyway (laughs). To get to know the processes involved, I flew with the team as normal and supported them in person, albeit only from the terraces. Singing the national anthem was indeed a new experience for me, but I obviously know the words thanks to my family.”

It was a disappointing evening for Hungary on the pitch. What are your hopes for the second leg on Sunday?

Bence: “The defeat was uncalled for, particularly by two clear goals, but it’s a two-legged tie. There’s an extremely good atmosphere at the Puskas Arena, which Turkey will have to cope with. We’ll do all we can to turn the tie around in any case. On a personal level, I’m particularly looking forward to playing at home for the first time.”

Even though you’re still to make your debut, were you expecting to be in this positionin your first season with Wolfsburg when you joined the club last summer?

Bence: “Not at all to be honest, which makes me all the more delighted. It obviously won’t all be plain sailing, I know that, but I’m hoping and working hard to continue the dream I’m experiencing at the moment.”