Hungarian soccer team played better against Germany on EURO 2024

Goals by Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gundogan sent Germany through to the Euro 2024 knockout stages, but they were made to work extremely hard for their Group A victory against a spirited and purposeful Hungary in Stuttgart on Wednesday evening.

Hungary head coach Marco Rossi opted to make two changes to the lineup which lost to Switzerland last Saturday, Márton Dárdai and Bendegúz Bolla replacing Ádám Lang and Attila Szalai. Péter Gulácsi continued in goal ahead of Dénes Dibusz and a three-man rearguard of Márton Dárdai, Willi Orbán and Attila Szalai supported a four-man midfield of, from right to left, Bendegúz Bolla, Ádám Nagy, András Schäfer and Milos Kerkez. The three forwards seeking to fire Hungary to their first points of the tournament were playmakers Roland Sallai and captain Dominik Szoboszlai behind central striker Barnabás Varga, mlsz.hu wrote.

Hungary were on the front foot from the very outset, Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer needing to react quickly to beat Sallai to the ball just eight metres from goal within the first 25 seconds of the game.

Germany were finding it difficult to break down a resolute Hungary defence and it took a huge slice of luck to help the home team into the lead, a shove in the back of Willi Orbán by Ilkay Gundogan deep in Hungary’s penalty area deemed not to be a foul and the Barcelona midfielder tapping the ball to Jamal Musiala who blasted the ball into the Hungary net via the thigh of Fiola and the crossbar.

That was in the 22nd minute but Rossi’s charges refused to buckle and instead responded in belligerent style, Szoboszlai testing Neuer with a fabulous 25-metre free-kick which the veteran keeper could only palm out, but the angle was too tight for Varga to convert on the follow-up. Moments later, a rapid counter-attack saw Kerkez release the Hungary captain in on goal, but defender Jonathan Tah produced a crucial, last-ditch block to preserve the hosts’ lead.

While Germany had the majority of possession, Hungary continued to attack with thrust and vigour when possible and in first-half added time, they thought their efforts had been rewarded, but Orbán’s flick-on from Szoboszlai’s free-kick was ruled offside, rendering meaningless Sallai’s subsequent header into the net after Orbán’s effort had the post.