The German national team started the Nations League with an impressive victory over Hungary.
The German national team was missing several players without whom it would have been impossible to imagine Euro 2024. Neuer, Gundogan and Kroos have ended their careers in the national team (Tony has retired from football altogether), Rudiger is not in the squad for the Nations League matches in September – the Real Madrid defender has been given a break. And striker Varga, who suffered a terrible injury right at the European Championships in Germany, has returned to the Hungarian national team.
In the first few minutes, the game went more according to the plan of the Hungarians’ Italian coach Marco Rossi. The guests started with good pressure, with only Havertz being fouled three times in a row. But Julian Nagelsmann’s team, who changed almost the entire central axis, was looking for themselves. They did not take many risks with pressing; they were more active in high tackles immediately after losing the ball in the opponent’s half. The Hungarian team was the first to create a chance thanks to their young captain Szoboszlai, and then the Liverpool midfielder helped a lot in defence: after a German corner and a shot by Ta, he cleared the ball from the goal line.
It took Germany half a half to create a real goal-scoring opportunity. This was caused by a mistake by one of the three Hungarian centre-backs, Balogh, who let the ball go to the opposition after a long pass from deep in the field by one of the Germans. Wirtz, Musiala and Füllkrug all fell on Gulachi’s goal, but the home striker struck in such a way that he gave the RB Leipzig goalkeeper the chance to save with his foot.
The national team’s main matches this month.
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In the absence of their former stars, the German national team seemed to lack speed and unconventional play. But then Nagelsmann’s team caught the right wave, had a strong period of possession and scored at the end of the half-hour mark. The goal-scoring attack was developed by a clever opening on the right midfield and a clever pass from Wirtz, while Raum and Musiala played the ball to Füllkrug. The striker was free right in the goalkeeper’s area, and this time the West Ham newcomer decided the episode. One of the easiest goals of Füllkrug’s career.
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Musiala played well, making four passes under attack before the break. At the end of the first half, the Germans created several more chances against an open and “hooked” opponent. The best of them was Musiala and Gros, who was dominated by Kroos in that attack. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder put the ball on Havertz’s head, who hit the crossbar. Fortunately for the Hungarians, the ball bounced back into the field. After 45 minutes of play, the Germans had beaten the Russian team three times (9:3).
At the start of the second half, the football was relatively even, with the ball stuck in the penalty area. But after the hour mark, the teams “exploded”. Moment by moment! The German team almost scored an early goal again after a set-piece. Then, the home team was saved from a missed goal by defensive midfielder Andrich with a crazy tackle when Bolla was one-on-one. The Hungarians only managed one set-piece and after taking the ball they failed to counterattack. Musiala ran from the centre of the field from two, in the area he skilfully faced Bolla, who caught up with him, and scored with a low shot. What an extraordinary talent this Jamal is!
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Rossi’s men were shaken by the second goal they conceded. The Hungarians seemed resigned to losing to Germany on home soil, just like at Euro 2024. Only then did the 2-0 come and now the Germans shot harder. Musiala was involved in the home side’s third goal. Wirtz made a bold pass from the left wing into the centre, almost lost the ball, but was lucky with the rebound. Musiala picked up the ball and generously passed it back to the Bayer midfielder. Wirtz fired low, right between Orban’s legs.
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The German team then strutted their stuff and finished off the Hungarians, who had lost their balance. The unfortunate Havertz hit the crossbar again and in the 77th minute Bayern midfielder Pavlovich, who was playing only his second game for the national team, scored the fourth goal from a pass from Musiala himself. The goal was counted, although there was a suspicion of offside.
German goalkeeper Ter Stegen was not given the chance to show his class in Neuer’s place. However, with the score at 4:0, the Hungarians finally got a shot on target and the Barcelona goalkeeper made a beautiful save from close range. In the end, Stuttgart newcomer Stiller made his debut for the German national team and Havertz scored a try with God knows what. The striker converted the penalty awarded for Orban’s foul.
In the next round, Germany will play away against the Netherlands on September 10, and Hungary will host Bosnia and Herzegovina on the same day.
