The German national team plays a draw in Hungary. The team is only seconds away from winning. A controversial hand penalty in the 98th minute caused excitement and brought back memories of the bitter European Championship exit. Not just with national coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The German national team was only seconds away from victory in Hungary. Julian Nagelsmann’s team was leading 1-0 in the final group game of the Nations League when the ball accidentally hit the arm of defender Robin Koch in his own penalty area.
After the video referee intervened, referee Duje Strukan looked at the scene on the sidelines and decided on a hand penalty. Dominik Szoboszlai converted the penalty with a lob into the center of the goal. It was the last and most controversial action of the game, which ended 1-1 with no winner.
“Here we have the hand problem again. He tries to get his hand away, he gets shot at it from one meter at 100 km/h,” said Robert Andrich on ZDF. “It’s annoying.” But the Leverkusen player also emphasized: “Nevertheless, we can be very satisfied with 2024.”
“A unique sense of togetherness”
National coach Nagelsmann was also reminded of the bitter exit in the European Championship quarter-finals when Germany was not awarded a clear hand penalty. “I asked him if he also saw the game against Spain. He didn’t understand. That wasn’t handball. Koch pulls his arms away, it just doesn’t work without arms. Normally the VAR has to say: ‘Let the game go,'” said Nagelsmann.
Despite the late equalizer, Nagelsmann was generally satisfied. “We didn’t start the game that well in the first half, but then we did a few things well. But I don’t want to talk too much about the game. You have to see the big picture. I am incredibly happy with the year. “I’ve never felt such an extreme sense of togetherness, it’s unique,” said Nagelsmann after the last international match of the year.
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