Germany has become the first team to secure their place in the Euro 2024 Last 16 after a convincing 2-0 victory over Hungary. The hosts showcased their quality with sublime goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Jamal Musiala, ensuring their progression to the knockout stages of the tournament.
The match was competitive for much of the 90 minutes, with Hungary refusing to go down without a fight. In the dying seconds of the game, the Hungarians nearly pulled one back when Martin Adam challenged Manuel Neuer, causing the ball to drop to Willie Orban. The centre-back’s instinctive header was cleared off the line by a recovering Joshua Kimmich, preserving Germany’s clean sheet.
Despite the defeat, Hungary is not mathematically eliminated from the tournament. They must beat Scotland in their final group clash to have any hope of advancing to the next round.
The match saw a few notable moments, including a yellow card for popular fantasy football pick Maximilian Mittelstadt, who was cautioned for tripping Kleinheisler in the 88th minute. Niclas Fullkrug also had an effort sail wide in the 85th minute as Germany looked to extend their lead.
Hungary made several substitutions in the final stages, bringing on the towering striker Martin Adam, who has gained a following on social media, along with Zsolt Nagy. Milos Kerkez and Bendeguz Bolla made way for the fresh legs.
Germany also made changes, with Brighton reserve Deniz Undav replacing the impressive Ilkay Gundogan in the 83rd minute. However, the flow of the game was somewhat disrupted by the numerous substitutions, a common criticism of the extension to five substitutes per team.
Chris Fuhrich, who came on as a substitute for Germany, missed an opportunity to strengthen his claims as a professional footballer when he swerved a wayward shot away from goal and towards the corner flag in the 79th minute.
As the match drew to a close, both teams seemed content with the 2-0 scoreline, with Germany securing a vital win and Hungary still harboring hopes of progression. The hosts will look to build on this strong performance as they aim to make a deep run in the tournament on home soil.
