Hungary toasts shock win over Italy

BUDAPEST, Aug 23 (Reuters) Hungarians proudly toasted shock 3-1 friendly win over world champions Italy, a welcome change from recent doom and gloom over the national side.

A slump to 65th in the world rankings and a humiliating defeat by Malta last year produced harsh criticism. But the tone had changed today.

''Something has returned from the old, forever lost glory, we beat the world champions 3 to 1,'' ran the headline in daily Magyar Nemzet.

The country's biggest selling broadsheet Nepszabadsag, a fervent critic of the Hungarian side, said under the headline ''Bravissimo'' that the victory was ''almost incredible'' and ''the team secured the most beautiful soccer feat in recent memory.'' Even state-owned news agency MTI called the win over Italy, watched by 40,000 fans in a stadium named after the great Ferenc Puskas, ''sensational''.

Nepszabadsag also hailed Hungary for scoring three goals against the usually stingy Italian defence yesterday and said it was nearly irrelevant that it had only been a friendly.

But with Euro 2008 qualifiers due to resume next month, it is Italy who trail the leaders of their group France by just two points while Hungary lie fifth in theirs with just six points from seven games.

''Just don't let us wake up from this dream... And we beg you, just once, only once, we want to see a final result like this in a game that counts,'' Nepszava daily said.

REUTERS BJR RK2108