Germany Secures Qualification With 2-0 Victory Over Hungary

The hosts are through. After an ecstatic 5-1 opener against Scotland, Germany faced a sterner test against an ambitious Hungarian side. 

Although the scoreline shows a 2-0 victory for Germany, the match was anything but straightforward. Hungary proved to be a worthy adversary, giving Julian Nagelsmann and his team much to ponder.

This match served as a reminder to the world that Hungary is far from being a minnow; they are a team with a distinct philosophy and significant potential. Germany emerged victorious but left the pitch, having learned valuable lessons.

Consistent Strategy for Germany, Tactical Adjustments for Hungary

Germany did not change a single thing – why would they? After the thrilling 5-1 victory over Scotland, Nagelsmann kept the winning formula intact. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.

The same couldn’t be said for Hungary, who had already lost 3-1 to Switzerland. A couple of changes in the starting XI saw De Rossi bench Ádám Lang and Attila Szalai in favor of Bendegúz Bolla and Márton Dárdai. 

This shifted Hungary’s system to a three-at-the-back formation that often functioned as a five-man defence. The Hungarians had suffered defensively in their first game, with the Swiss exploiting numerous gaps following their high press. Against Germany, closing those gaps was a top priority.

Somehow, it worked. Hungary imposed a blockade in the center, ensuring the interiors would not get the ball – but leaving the wide areas unguarded. 

Nagelsmann’s team repeatedly tried to find its interiors without much success. Instead, they preferred to go long. More importantly, they understood that Hungary would struggle to find any offensive options. 

As De Rossi’s team blocked the central channels for their opponent, they found themselves trapped in the same situation.

Germany also pressed high, recognizing that Hungary lacked options in their build-up. The Hungarians rarely managed to break through – only Kerkez did so on a few occasions. 

His individual quality allowed the team to advance and use old-school tactics. Each time he beat his man, Kerkez delivered a quick cross, posing a significant threat to Germany. Although it never led to a goal, it did warn Germany that third-man runs are a real danger following wide overloads.

Gündogan – The New Crowned King

While Germany saw Toni Kroos lead the team against Scotland, orchestrating play from deep, another veteran became the star against Hungary. It was none other than his teammate Ilkay Gündogan, whose offensive involvement led to multiple chances as he partnered with Kai Havertz. 

Many will remember Ilkay Gündogan’s time at Manchester City as a midfielder who often made late runs into the box, a true Swiss Army knife from Pep Guardiola’s perspective. This role was somewhat forgotten as he moved to Barcelona, where Xavi often tasked him with a deeper role. 

But the game against Hungary reminded the world what a great attacking midfielder he can be. Hungary found it hard enough to deal with Kai Havertz, but when Gündogan joined the frontline, it was a knockout blow for the Hungarian defense.

How Hungary Tested Germany

This was Germany’s first real test – and they passed it, though not without a few concerns. was one of Nagelsmann’s primary worries, as his presence in the box proved to be problematic for Germany.

He frequently relied on wide overloads on the right wing to create opportunities, and he did have a few. One goal was rightly ruled out for offside, but he had two other chances that seemed particularly threatening.

Germany will be especially grateful it finished the game with a clean sheet, as the match presented a much different challenge than their opener.

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The End For Hungary

For Hungary, this likely marks the end of their tournament journey. After two defeats, advancing seems unlikely, especially following the draw in the other Group A fixture (Switzerland vs. Scotland). 

Hungary remains at the bottom of the group, which indicates that they are not quite ready for top-level football. While their relationist ideas might have intrigued some purists, they ultimately lacked efficiency. 

Hungary’s defense was exposed against Switzerland, often faltering on small details. The match against Germany was no different, as Hungary conceded the first goal due to a lapse in concentration, failing to accurately track down their markers. 

For the next tournament, they should note that playing a high-pressing scheme with too many spaces behind is inherently risky – homework for the next occasion. Their final game against Scotland will be a chance to salvage some pride and avoid finishing the group stage with zero points.

The Aftermath for Germany

On Germany’s end, this was the perfect fixture. The team passed the test but was reminded that it needs to be more careful. Hungary’s wide overload and crossing schemes were not the most sophisticated – and yet, they came close to shaking Neuer’s nets. 

As a potential winner of EURO 2024, these are technicalities that only require better concentration. Germany was also warned about its lack of efficiency in the final third, often driving the ball through the midfield but struggling to create clear-cut chances. 

One last game against Switzerland is in their hands – where Nagelsmann will be able to fine-tune the final details of his perfect formula.

Germany urgently needs to address its defensive issues, as the gaps regularly found between the center-backs are likely to be targeted by future opponents. 

Hiding the weaknesses (or fixing them) should be the priority for Nagelsmann’s staff. They will now watch the rest of round two of the group stages, potentially scouting future opponents in the round of 16.