It was more difficult than against Scotland, but Germany is still celebrating the next European Championship party – and is in the round of 16 after the 2-0 victory against Hungary on Wednesday (June 19, 2024).
Jamal Musiala gave Julian Nagelsmann’s team the lead in Stuttgart after 21 minutes. Ilkay Gündogan made it 2-0 in the 67th minute – and was subsequently named “Player of the Match”.
To the live ticker: Germany vs Hungary Arrow right 2nd group matchday Arrow right
Neuer is required immediately
The Germans obviously wanted to make their mark with the kick-off – and immediately played the ball forward. But Gündogan lost the ball and the Hungarians immediately launched the first counterattack, with Manuel Neuer being put under extreme pressure for the first time after just 20 seconds because Roland Sallai appeared completely free in front of him. The DFB team also came under enormous pressure in the 7th minute, and it was only with great difficulty that Robert Andrich deflected Bendeguz Bolla’s shot for a corner.
Double chance for Havertz and Andrich
But then the Germans came. In the 11th minute, Kai Havertz turned very cleverly around Willi Orban after a long pass from Antonio Rüdiger and shot from close range – but Orban’s Leipzig colleague Peter Gulacsi managed to get his fist on the ball with a super reflex.
After the corner kick that followed, the home fans were once again shouting for a goal – but Bolla headed Andrich’s powerful volley away before it crossed the goal line.
Orban slips up again – Musiala takes the lead
In the 20th minute, Orban once again cut a very unfortunate figure – and this time with consequences. When a deep ball was played to Gündogan, the central defender wanted to put his body between the ball and the opponent, but after a slight touch with the German captain, he stumbled, slipped and allowed Gündogan to make a comeback in this scene. Jamal Musiala took the Barca strategist’s back pass and, just like in the 5-1 win against Scotland, fired it under the crossbar with full force.
But the Hungarians remained extremely dangerous. In the 26th minute, Manuel Neuer had to use all his skills to get a free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai out of the corner. Two minutes later, the Liverpool player had the equalizer on his feet again, this time Jonathan Tah saved his keeper with a strong flying tackle.
More than 70 percent possession for Germany
As a result, the Hungarians retreated far back, leaving the midfield entirely to Germany. The DFB team had 72 percent possession of the ball by half-time, but their passing game lacked a little depth. It was only immediately before half-time that Musiala managed another dangerous shot that hit the side netting after Toni Kroos and Florian Wirtz had finally combined quickly and steeply.
But the lead hung by a thread. After a wrong decision by referee Danny Makkelie, who had fallen for a slight fall by Milos Kerkez, things became critical: Orban’s header after Szoboszlai’s free kick was brilliantly saved by Neuer, and the rebound was put into the goal by Sallai – but the goal was not recognized due to an offside position in the run-up.
Varga header narrowly misses – then Gündogan scores
And the second half remained extremely close. The Germans continued to control the midfield, but Hungary didn’t need much to become dangerous. After just under an hour – Julian Nagelsmann had just previously tried to increase the pressure to make it 2-0 with Niclas Füllkrug and Leroy Sané – a Sallai cross put the DFB team in trouble: Tah was outwitted by Barnabas Varga in a header, but the Hungarian center forward placed the ball just past the left corner.
Perhaps that was the last warning for the Germans to press even harder for the second goal. And they managed to do so using exactly the same method that had always caused the Hungarians problems: fast combination play. Musiala sent Maximilian Mittelstädt down the left, who passed perfectly to Gündogan in the back area at his home game in Stuttgart – with a low shot, the captain scored his first goal of the tournament after three assists.
Nagelsmann brings two more Stuttgart players
This largely broke the Hungarians’ resistance. Germany played the match home confidently, Neuer did not have to intervene again, only Kimmich cleared the ball just before the goal line in the 90th minute.
And Nagelsmann could even afford to present two of his favorites to the Stuttgart fans: left winger Chris Führich and center forward Deniz Undav were substituted on and celebrated their tournament debuts.
DFB team now against Switzerland
The German team will now play against Switzerland in Frankfurt on Sunday (June 23, 2024) at 9 p.m. – and it’s all about getting the best starting position. At the same time, Hungary and Scotland will meet in Stuttgart.
