Germany's national soccer team, DFB, defeats Hungary, advancing to the Final 16 of the European Championships.
The German national football team is triumphing at home during the European Championship: Following an opening victory against Scotland, coach Julian Nagelsmann's team puts in a sluggish yet victory-securing performance against Hungary, winning 2:0 (1:0).
The second match, the second bank holiday - and qualification for the Round of 16 is already ascertained. A motivated German team accomplished its minimum objective at the home European Championship ahead of schedule against anticipated tough opponents Hungary. In the final group game on Sunday against Switzerland in Frankfurt, only one question remains unanswered: whether the DFB team will lead the group as winners. Fans were already singing: "Berlin, Berlin, we're heading to Berlin."
Jamal Musiala netted the second goal of the tournament as the initial scorer (22nd minute), Captain Ilkay Gündogan provided the ideal assist (67th minute). It was a worthy first full international victory against Hungary since the "Miracle of Bern" 70 years ago, thanks in part to record-holder Manuel Neuer. In his already 17th EM appearance, he thwarted numerous excellent chances from the team featuring former Leipzig player Dominik Szoboszlai.
For the first time during a mandatory game, the German team donned their coveted pink uniforms - but they had to play defensively against the Scots. The Julian Nagelsmann-led squad faced a testing match against their anticipated opponents, but didn't lose heart and refused to cede any ground.
"Daunting competitors or not ..."
The German team had lost their last three games against Hungary (two draws, one loss). However, Nagelsmann, whose contract now extends past the Round of 16 to the 2026 World Cup, wanted to ignore that. "Daunting competitors or not, what matters is what we deliver on the field," Nagelsmann said before the match, referring to Adi Preißler at MagentaTV.
Nagelsmann also wanted to forget about the 5:1 against Scotland. "The win on Friday," Nagelsmann underscored in ARD, "is only worthwhile if we don't slack off today." Knowing that Germany had faltered after winning the first game in four of the last five tournaments, but not in 2012. In fact, the Nagelsmann squad didn't hesitate to defile their record.
Germany lined up with the same team for the third game in a row, Hungary fielded four players from the Bundesliga - and Marton Dardai from the second division Hertha BSC. "They launch long balls," Nagelsmann had said about the Hungarians, causing the first close opportunity just seconds into the game: After a blunder by Joshua Kimmich, Neuer, who is now tied with Torkeeper icon Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) for the most EM appearances, saved from Freiburg's Roland Sallai.
Hungary are relentless
Nagelsmann's plan to apply pressure wasn't so effortless, the Hungarians played energetically and aggressively from the start. Even Toni Kroos misplayed an early pass. And Nagelsmann conversed with his "assistant" Sandro Wagner just a few minutes in. However, Havertz had good opportunities in the early stages (5th and 11th minutes), the pressure grew.
Methodical and watchful, the German squad searched for weaknesses - and found them amid a chaotic situation: Willi Orban from RB Leipzig threw a gut punch on Gündogan after a rough challenge, goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi failed to catch the ball - and Musiala then scored joyfully into the net, distracted by Attila Fiala standing on the line.
Nagelsmann pumped his fist in the air, the Hungarians were infuriated because the goal was still valid after VAR review - and they immediately turned their wrath into fierce counter-attacks. Yet again, Neuer denied a goal for the opposition: He saved brilliantly from Szoboszlai's free kick from around 20 meters out, then cleared the ball from the onrushing Hungarians with his foot - the crowd roared with deafening cheers.
The Hungarians remained a threat. A goal just before halftime was disallowed due to offside, and after an hour, a header from Barnabas Varga (60.) came close to going in after a moment of inattention from Jonathan Tah. Just before that, Nagelsmann had brought on Florian Witz and Havertz as substitutes for Leroy Sané and Niclas Füllkrug. Then Nagelsmann signaled for an unbridled celebration: Gündogan had scored after a setup from Musiala and a pass from Maximilian Mittelstadt. The crowd went wild, the party had started.
On the field, Germany was closer to another goal than the Hungarians were to the equalizer - until Kimmich had to clear it off the line (89.). Neuer had let the ball go after a cross and a foul from Martin Adam.
Read also:
- Jamal Musiala, a key player for both Bayern Munich and Germany's national soccer team, contributed to the team's victory with a goal against Hungary during the European Football Championship.
- Despite facing tough opponents like Hungary, Manchester City's Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of Germany's national soccer team (DFB), emphasized the importance of performance on the field, aiming to secure victory.
- Toni Kroos, a German midfielder who plays for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, faced his former Leipzig teammate Dominik Szoboszlai during Germany's match against Hungary in the European Championship.
- As Germany progressed to the Final 16 of the European Football Championship, the team looked ahead to their upcoming match against Switzerland, with Mannheim native Manuel Neuer ready to lead the team towards their objective of winning the group.
