Euro 2020: Fiola could barely sleep after the match; re-watched his goal at least 300 times

Attila Fiola, the scorer of Hungary's leading goal against France, attended the press conference looking "happy, proud but tired." He said that he could only sleep for an hour and a half the night after the match.

"I'm very happy that we were able to bring such happiness to millions of Hungarians," said the Mol Fehérvár defender, who re-watched his goal on television about 300 times.

Fiola also talked about the seconds after his goal, when, in the heat of the celebration, he scared the speaker lady of the Puskás Aréna, Edit Szalay.

"At first, I wanted to run behind the goal post, but I realized there were French fans there. That's when that ominous jump over the stanchion barrier happened. I thought the lady sitting there, who was bending over, was pressing her phone and missed what had happened. I slammed on the table so she would wake up. I didn't see that she lost her earpiece.”

After the scene, Fiola apologized to Edit Szalay in a video message.

Attila Fiola got injured in his first match against Austria at the previous European Championship. Then, ongoing health problems have held him back from playing for three years. He said that he was already considering retiring.From there, however, he fought his way back to the national team's starting lineup.

"I was at the best age at the last European Championship; I could've had great opportunities. Unfortunately, that didn't work out then. But life made up for it," he said, then responded to previous criticisms of his game.

"Very few people know Attila Fiola really well.Also, as a footballer for Vidi, wherever we play in the country, I always get it in the neck. But I don't take these negative comments to heart. Five years ago, I was the same person and the same player I am now. I'd rather spare myself these. I only read Nemzeti Sport out of the sports outlets, and most often just once a week."

The other player participating at the press conference was young midfielder András Schäfer. Marco Rossi placed confidence in the DAC midfielder following the relegation of Zsolt Kalmár and Dominik Szoboszlai.

"I'm really not happy that they're injured. Unfortunately, their misfortune was my luck," said Schäfer, who also expressed sympathy for Dániel Gazdag, who also had to leave the narrowed-down squad due to an injury.

Schäfer also reacted to the French sports newspaper, L'Équipe featuring him with French star player Paul Pogba on its cover.

“I kicked him there, so it wasn't the best moment of the match. But of course, I was very happy to be on the cover of such a prestigious newspaper."

The 22-year-old player expressed his gratitude at the press conference. He thanked all who's helped him in his career so far, and who's made him play for the national team at the European Championship. The DAC footballer said he wanted to ask for French striker Kylian Mbappé's jersey after the match, but had no luck.

"He was uptight and didn't give it to anyone," he said. Attila Fiola didn't even try to exchange his jersey.

"I'm going to have my teammates sign it and I will put it on the wall in my house," he said.

For more information about the draw following Attila Fiola's leading goal, click here!

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
GROUP F, ROUND 2
HUNGARY – FRANCE 1–1 (1–0)
Budapest,Puskás Aréna,55 998spectators.Referee:M. Oliver (England)
Hungary:Gulácsi – Botka, Orbán, A. Szalai – Nego, Á. Nagy, Kleinheisler (G. Lovrencsics, 84.), Schäfer (Cseri, 75.), Fiola – Á. Szalai (Nikolic, 26.), Sallai.Head coach:    Marco Rossi
France:Lloris – Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Digne – Pogba (Tolisso, 76.), Kanté, Rabiot (O. Dembélé, 57.; Lemar, 87.) – Benzema (Giroud, 76.), Griezmann, Mbappé.Head coach:Didier Deschamps
Goal scorers:Fiola (45+2.), and Griezmann (66.)

The other match in the group
Portugal – Germany 2–4(C. Ronaldo 15., Diogo Jota 67., and Rúben Dias 35. – own goal, Guerreiro 39. – own goal, Havertz 51., Gosens 60.)