Preview: Germany vs. Hungary – prediction, team news, lineups – Sports Mole
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Hungary actually had a half-chance to take a shock lead inside the first 20 seconds of the contest, but Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was out quickly to clear ahead of Roland Sallai.
As expected, Germany took control in the period that followed, but Hungary remained a huge threat on the counter-attack, demonstrating that they have the tools to harm the hosts.
It had been much better from Hungary, who were beaten 3-1 by Switzerland in their section opener, with Germany knowing that they were in a match.
However, the tournament hosts took the lead in the 22nd minute through Jamal Musiala, with the attacker finding the back of the net from inside the box after Ilkay Gundogan had managed to poke the ball back to him.
Dominik Szoboszlai came close to levelling when he fired a free kick towards the top corner, but Neuer made the save before keeping out the rebound from Barnabas Varga; Szoboszlai then saw another effort deflected over.
Germany, who came close again late in the first period through Musiala, have the half-time lead and are currently heading into the knockout round of the competition, but Hungary can certainly take encouragement from their opening 45 minutes, with Sallai also having one ruled out for offside late in the first period.
HALF-TIME PREDICTION: GERMANY 2-0 HUNGARY
Capable of sealing qualification for the Euro 2024 knockout stages with a game to spare, hosts Germany square off with Hungary in Wednesday’s Group A battle at the MHPArena in Stuttgart.
Julian Nagelsmann‘s men became record-breakers in a 5-1 thrashing of Scotland on the opening day, while their Hungarian foes were put to the sword 3-1 by Switzerland.
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Starting the European Championships as they mean to finish it, Germany made tournament history in their dismantling of a sorry Scotland side at the Allianz Arena last Friday, recording the biggest opening win that the men’s competition has ever seen.
That was one of a spectacular seven records smashed by Nagelsmann’s merciless men, who had two 21-year-old phenoms in Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala to thank for their initial advantage, before Kai Havertz slotted home from the spot after Ryan Porteous‘s dreadful tackle on Ilkay Gundogan.
While Antonio Rudiger‘s own goal prolonged Germany’s streak without a clean sheet at major tournaments – which now stands at 13 matches – two thumping Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can strikes either side of the Real Madrid man’s unfortunate contribution spared his blushes and sparked Munich mania.
Taking their rightful place at the summit of Group A – ahead of the Swiss on goal difference – Germany’s top-two finish will be confirmed if they prevail on Wednesday evening, as even if Scotland can stun Switzerland, their inferior head-to-head record would leave them unable to usurp Die Mannschaft.
Nagelsmann’s reign may have got off to a mediocre start, but the Euro 2024 hosts are now riding the wave of a five-match unbeaten sequence – four of which have ended in victory – and they have all the motivation they require to seal their top-two finish against a recent bogey team of theirs.
As well as righting the wrongs of some recent head-to-heads, Germany could also win both of their opening matches at the European Championships for just the fifth time, having previously done so in 1972, 1980, 1996 and 2012; the latter tournament is the only one out of the four that they failed to win.
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It has been a little under three years since Hungary dug in for a 2-2 draw against Germany in the Euro 2020 group stage, before managing to take four points off of Die Mannschaft in the most recent Nations League, where Marco Rossi masterminded a remarkable 1-0 win in September 2022.
Adam Szalai was the hero of the hour that day with the game’s only goal – and his final one for the national team before his retirement – but Hungary certainly could have done with his talismanic figure up front during their unsuccessful war with Switzerland over the weekend.
Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer launched the Rossocrociati into a merited two-goal lead before Murat Yakin‘s side switched off – allowing Barnabas Varga to cut the deficit in half – but Switzerland withstood late Magyars pressure and restored their two-goal advantage right at the death via Breel Embolo‘s delicate lob.
Consequently, Rossi’s troops lie third in the embryonic Group A rankings – which could suffice for a knockout berth based on their performance – and only lead Scotland on goal difference, so their top-two aspirations could come to a swift end in Stuttgart this week.
All in all, the Magyars are now without success in seven matches at the Euros since sinking Austria in the 2016 edition, and only once before have they lost more than one game at a single tournament, suffering that fate in 1972.
The Switzerland-inflicted defeat was just the second that Hungary have experienced in their last 17 matches in all competitions, and while both of those losses have come this month, a 12-match scoring sequence should offer the Magyars faithful the tiniest crumb of comfort.
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An almost perfect evening for Germany against Scotland saw none of Nagelsmann’s players pick up any knocks, and both fans and neutrals were pleased to see Gundogan emerge unharmed from Porteous’s sickening challenge, having caught the Barcelona man on the ankle with the full force of his studs.
Indeed, Nagelsmann confirmed at his pre-game press conference that he has everyone fit and available for matchday two, although he has stressed that in-game alterations could once again be pivotal to his side’s hopes of an emphatic success.
Gundogan is expected to form a part of an unchanged XI for the tournament hosts, working in tandem with man-of-the-match Musiala and Bayer Leverkusen hotshot Wirtz, now the youngest German man to score a goal at the European Championships.
As Robert Andrich and Jonathan Tah were both booked against Scotland, they run the risk of sitting out the final group game versus Switzerland if they pick up a yellow card on Wednesday, although it may be preferable for them to miss that match if Germany have already qualified.
Meanwhile, Hungary head coach Rossi was unable to call upon either Loic Nego or Callum Styles for the loss to Switzerland due to unspecified fitness concerns, although the latter is on track to be available for this one.
However, the same cannot be said of Nego, and Rossi has also been deprived of 22-year-old defender Botond Balogh, who hurt his ankle in practice and will not be part of the selection either.
Even with Nego absent, Rossi could still opt for a change on the right-hand side in the shape of Bendeguz Bolla – one of two players walking a suspension tightrope alongside Attila Szalai – or Endre Botka, after giving 34-year-old Attila Fiola the nod in the opener.
Now the youngest male captain in Euros history, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai cut a frustrated figure before providing the assist for Varga’s header on Saturday, and a 44th cap now awaits the 23-year-old.
Germany possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Kroos; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz
Hungary possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Orban, Lang, Szalai; Bolla, Nagy, Schafer, Kerkez; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Varga
As Hungary’s game with Switzerland wore on, Rossi’s men belatedly sprung into life – although the damage had already been done – and were a dangerous proposition from crosses, which is where Scotland nabbed their consolation from on Friday.
However, the prolific German attacking forces should be expected to overwhelm the Magyars, even if recent results in this head-to-head have not gone the hosts’ way, and Nagelsmann’s side should ease to the victory that will punch their ticket to the knockouts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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