The atmosphere in Budapest delivered a shock few anticipated, as one of Liverpool’s key creators endured a heartbreaking night that now defines his return to Merseyside. Hungary’s 3–2 loss to the Republic of Ireland ended their World Cup dream, leaving Dominik Szoboszlai in tears at full time.
According to Nemzeti Sport, the 25-year-old could barely speak during a short interview with M4 Sport, answering “Very much” when asked how much the defeat hurt. When pressed on whether football can truly be this cruel, he replied: “It looks like it, yes.”
His emotional collapse comes just days after Hungarian outlets hailed his brilliant display in their win over Armenia, praising his “agility and speed from the first minute” and his decisive run leading to a key assist.
Despite carrying that same responsibility in Budapest, the heartbreak of elimination now overshadows everything as he heads back to Arne Slot’s squad, where he’ll be needed for the clash with Nottingham Forest at Anfield. The disappointment caps off an intense week in which Szoboszlai shouldered enormous pressure for his nation.
It also adds to the tense atmosphere in the Liverpool camp following the 3–0 defeat to Manchester City — a game where the champions failed to produce a shot on target until the 76th minute.
All of this highlights how crucial it will be to carefully manage Szoboszlai’s mindset after such a draining and painful qualifying campaign. His immediate reaction showed just how deeply the loss cut, and now the focus turns to how quickly he can mentally reset for club duties.
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