Germany 2-0 Hungary
Germany continued their perfect start to the Euro 2024 campaign thanks to a comfortable win over Hungary, to make it two wins from two and be the first team to confirm their place in the knockout phase.
Jamal Musiala opened the scoring midway through the first half and, while Hungary had their chances it was half way into the second period when Ilkay Gundogan doubled the lead to see the game out.
After walloping Scotland in the tournament opener Germany wanted to follow that up with another strong performance against the Magyars. That 5-1 win shifted the Euro 2024 betting odds marginally towards the hosts and their objective tonight was to keep that momentum moving…and, while it was less spectacular, the Germans were still impressive.
Highlights of the game
In the early stages Germany didn’t find it quite so easy to break Hungary down as they had the Scots; but they did sneak through the lines on 11 minutes when Kai Havertz showed great strength to get past Willi Orban and get his shot away, but Hungary keeper Peter Gulacsi stood up to make a great save.
When the Germans broke the deadlock, on 22 minutes, Orban was involved again. Musiala tried to thread the ball through to Gundogan and the Red Bull defender looked to be in control but, under pressure from the Barca man, he stumbled, Gundogan pulled the ball back and Musiala drove it high into the net.
Hungary came within a whisker of levelling just two minutes later when Dominik Szoboszlai whipped a free kick over the defensive wall which Manuel Neuer saved and just managed to keep out the follow up.
Germany steadied the ship and almost doubled their lead on 40 minutes when a wicked corner delivered by Toni Kroos skimmed off the head of Barnabas Varga and flew agonisingly (for Germany) wide. We were so close to a fifth own goal of the tournament already!
After a flowing Germany move Musiala flashed a shot into the side netting then, in a breathless finish to the half, Roland Sallai thought he’d levelled when he headed in a cross from Szoboszlai, but Orban was flagged offside to leave the score 1-0 at the break.
Gulacsi was in early action in the second half when he made a double save from Gundogan and then Kroos as Germany tried to put the game to bed. But at 1-0 the game is always open and Varga had a great chance to level when he met a cross from Sallai but he couldn’t keep his header down.
And Hungary’s missed golden chance was soon punished.
Midway through half the hosts struck again and it was classic German precision, a crisp passing moved which ended with a lovely pull back from wingback Max Mittelstadt to Gundogan who swept the ball home.
Germany were in control and Gulacsi had to be alert to deny Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane while, at the other end of the pitch, Emre Can cleared the danger when Hungary threatened.
Key statistics
Hungary were hoping for the best against the hungry hosts and the Magyars put up a good fight in a competitive first half, conceding possession but matching Germany’s three shots on target. But the outstanding Gundogan took the game way from Hungary and the shots on target count finished at seven to three.
Jamal Musiala’s opener made him the first player to score twice in the tournament so far with the 39th goal of Euro 2024.
Germany hadn’t beaten Hungary in any of their last three meetings and the Magyars had scored in each of their last 12 games, last drawing a blank 12 months ago in a Euro qualifying stalemate with Montenegro.
This was a good, solid win for the hosts.
What’s next?
Group A’s second round fixtures complete on Wednesday night when Scotland face Switzerland, in the hope they don’t crash out too early in their quest to escape a finals group stage for the first time ever. The Scots have a tough task in store against a talented Swiss side which beat Hungary 3-1.
Then some more big guns are in action on Thursday night when England face Denmark in a huge Group C clash. The Three Lions squeezed past Serbia in their opener while Denmark were held by Slovenia. And, also on Thursday, we have the match of the week when Spain and Italy battle for Group B dominance, both having won well in their openers. I’ll be back for SBOTOP with reports on both those games, and you can keep up with all the Euro 2024 updates right here. Then it’s back to Group A and Germany complete their group campaign on Sunday 23rd when they meet Switzerland, while Hungary take on Scotland.
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