Germany 2-0 Hungary: What Were The Main Talking Points As Germany Storm Their Way To A EURO 24 Knockout Stage Ticket?

Putting in another dominant performance on Wednesday evening, Germany stormed their way to a EURO 24 knockout stage ticket as they secured a 2-0 victory against Hungary in Stuttgart.

Making a major statement of intent last weekend as they opened this summer’s European Championships with a 5-1 romp against Scotland, the Nationalelf were once again at their best here.

Pencilled in as a potential title contender this summer, Germany opened the scoring midway through the first-half as playmaking sensation Jamal Musiala powered home.

Backed by an emotional home support this summer and with the mood in Julian Nagelsmann’s camp at a red-hot high, the European giants doubled their lead in the 67th-minute as Barcelona’s Ilkay Gundogan finished off a wonderful move.

Although Freiburg striker Roland Sallai might have seen his first-half strike ruled out by VAR, Hungary failed to find any kind of fluidity and their dreams of securing a top-two finish in Group A have gone up in smoke.

On an evening when Germany stormed their way to a knockout stage ticket without breaking much of a sweat, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the MHPArena.

Germany make another statement of intent

Enduring what was another infamous World Cup collapse out in Qatar 18 months ago as they failed to find a route out of the group stage, Germany opened this summer’s European Championships with a tremendous amount of pressure on their shoulders.

However, certainly enjoying life under Nagelsmann’s guidance and appearing to have turned a major corner, the three-time European champions have made quite the statement this summer.

Opening proceedings with a thumping 5-1 victory against Scotland in Munich and with that dominant performance acknowledged by the likes of pre-tournament favourites England and France, the former RB Leipzig boss has seen his squad gain a string of plaudits over the past week.

More than deserving of Wednesday’s 2-0 victory in Stuttgart and overcoming what could have been a potential banana skin, Germany have breezed their way to a knockout stage ticket without really having to get out of third gear.

Picking up a pair of heavyweight European scalps during March’s international break as they clinched consecutive victories against Holland and France respectively, the Nationalelf are enjoying their most fruitful spell in recent memory.

Musiala steals the show again

While England skipper Harry Kane might have stolen most of Bayern Munich’s headlines last season as the ex-Tottenham talisman enjoyed a record-breaking maiden campaign in the Bundesliga, Bayern’s playmaking sensation finds his stock at a red-hot high.

Powering home midway through the first-half in Stuttgart and also notching an opening strike against Scotland last weekend, Musiala has only continued to demonstrate that he is one of world football’s hottest young prospects.

Once again at the heart of everything positive that Germany produced and forming what has been an all-star partnership alongside Bayer Leverkusen ace Florian Wirtz, Musiala clearly has a leading role to play for the Nationalelf this summer.

The only player at this summer’s tournament to record back-to-back goals, the former England U21 international is one of the poster boys of Germany’s EURO 24 title charge.

Recording 10 Bundesliga strikes last season and registering a further six assists, the 21-year-old is already in the argument for this summer’s Player of the Tournament.

Hungary fall short on the biggest stage

Gaining a string of plaudits last year following on from their EURO 24 qualifying romp, Hungary opened this summer’s European adventure with a real party atmosphere in their camp.

However, although Marco Rossi’s men might have been vocal about their dreams of mounting a genuine knockout stage charge, the Tricolours have drastically struggled to find any kind of fluidity on the grandest of stages.

Opening their EURO 24 campaign with a potential missed opportunity as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Switzerland, Hungary have now officially accepted that a top-two finish in Group A is off the cards.

Showing some recent defensive issues over the past week and shipping five goals in their back-to-back Group A defeats, Rossi’s men know that a third-place finish is the best that they can muster.

Needing a minor miracle in their dream to sneak a route to the knockout stage, Hungary will be next seen on Sunday night when they meet Scotland at the MHPArena for what will be a nail-biting affair.

Match Report

Germany: Neuer, Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Mittelstadt, Andrich, Kroos, Wirtz, Gundogan, Musiala, Havertz

Subs: Sane, Can, Fuhrich, Undav, Fullkrug

Hungary: Gulacsi, Fiola, Orban, Dardai, Kerkez, Schafer, Nagy, Bolla, Sallai, Szoboszlai, Varga

Subs: Adam, Nagy, Gazdag, Csoboth, Kleinheisler

Goals: Musiala (22’), Gundogan (67’)

Yellow Cards: Germany: Rudiger, Mittelstadt – Hungary:

Red Cards: Szoboszlai, Varga

Referee: Danny Makkelie