European Football Championship: DFB team beats Hungary and makes it to the round of 16

Neuer saves, Musiala conjures
DFB team beats Hungary and makes it to the round of 16

19.06.2024, 19:52

Things are going perfectly for the German national football team at the European Championships at home: After the opening victory against Scotland, the team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann showed a less thrilling but more composed performance against Hungary and won 2-0 (1-0).

The second game, the second day of celebration – and the entry into the round of 16 is already certain. A determined German national team has achieved its minimum goal at the home European Championships ahead of schedule after a heated and long-fought 2-0 (1-0) against the expectedly venomous Hungary. In the last group game on Sunday against Switzerland in Frankfurt, the only thing that remains to be determined is whether the DFB team will advance to the knockout round as group winners. Meanwhile, the fans were already singing: “Berlin, Berlin, we’re going to Berlin.”

Jamal Musiala was the first player of the tournament to score a second goal (22nd minute), and captain İlkay Gündoğan added another at the right time (67th minute). The fact that the team ultimately managed to secure the deserved first competitive win against Hungary since the “Miracle of Bern” 70 years ago was also down to record-breaking Manuel Neuer. In his 17th European Championship appearance, he brilliantly prevented the team, including former Leipzig player Dominik Szoboszlai, from scoring several goals.

For the first time in a competitive match, the German team played in their coveted pink jerseys – but they also had to wear overalls, because they didn’t have it as easy as they did against the Scots. The team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann completed a tough test, but they fought undeterred against the expected resistance and didn’t give up an inch of ground.

“Fearful opponent or not …”

The DFB team had not won the last three games against Hungary (two draws, one defeat). But Nagelsmann, whose contract will now actually last until the 2026 World Cup after reaching the round of 16, wanted to ignore that. “Whether we’re a fearsome opponent or not, what’s important is what we bring to the pitch,” he said before the game on MagentaTV, echoing Adi Preißler.

The national coach also didn’t want to hear anything more about the 5:1 win against Scotland. “The victory on Friday,” he stressed on ARD, “is only worth much if we follow up today.” Knowing full well that after an opening win, Germany slipped up in the second game in four of the last five tournaments, except in 2012. Nagelsmann’s team actually left no stone unturned to avoid worsening their record.

Germany started with the same eleven for the third time in a row, while Hungary fielded four players from the Bundesliga – and Marton Dardai from second division club Hertha BSC. “They keep throwing in long balls,” Nagelsmann said of the Hungarians, and the first one almost led to success: After a mistake by Joshua Kimmich, Neuer, who is on a par with goalkeeper legend Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) in terms of European Championship appearances, saved from Freiburg’s Roland Sallai. 16 seconds had been played.

Hungarians are working robustly

Nagelsmann’s plan to apply pressure was not easy to implement, the Hungarians played with great energy and robustness. Even Toni Kroos missed a pass early on. And Nagelsmann was already discussing things with his “co” Sandro Wagner after just a few minutes. Nevertheless, Kai Havertz had two good chances in the early stages (5th and 11th), and the pressure increased.

The German team patiently and attentively looked for gaps – and found them in a confusing situation: Willi Orban from RB Leipzig did a belly flop after a gentle nudge from Gündoğan, goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi could not get hold of the ball – and Musiala then smashed it into the goal with delight, deflected by Attila Fiala who was positioned on the line.

Nagelsmann raised his fist, the Hungarians were angry because the goal had stood even after VAR control – and they immediately turned their anger into furious attacks. Again, it was Neuer who prevented a goal: he brilliantly got a great free kick from Szoboszlai from a good 20 meters out from the top corner, then he cleared it from the onrushing Hungarians with his foot – the crowd followed with deafening cheers.

The Hungarians remained dangerous. A goal shortly before half-time was ruled offside, and after an hour a header from Barnabas Varga (60th minute) flew just over the goal after a careless mistake by Jonathan Tah. Shortly before, Nagelsmann had sent on substitutes Leroy Sané and Niclas Füllkrug for Florian Witz and Havertz. Then Nagelsmann began an uninhibited celebration: Gündogan had scored after an initiation by Musiala and a pass from Maximilian Mittelstädt. The Mexican wave rolled through the stadium and the party began.

On the pitch, Germany was closer to scoring another goal than Hungary was to scoring a goal – until Kimmich had to clear the ball off the line (89th minute). Neuer had dropped the ball after a cross and a shove from Martin Adam.