Germany Eases Past Hungary 2-0 to Secure Round of 16 Spot

Germany officially became the first team to advance to the next round of Euro 2024 after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hungary in their second group stage match.

Score: Germany 2-0 Hungary

– Germany Goal Scorers:
– Musiala 21′
– Gundogan 67′

Germany entered their second match in Group A of Euro 2024 determined to secure a win against Hungary and solidify their position at the top of the group. Nagelsmann’s squad had a strong start, having defeated Scotland 5-1 in their opening match. Now, they aimed to maintain their winning streak to secure an early ticket to the next round.

Within the first 15 minutes of the match, Germany continuously threatened Hungary’s goalkeeper Gulacsi. In the 11th minute, young forward Kai Havertz received the ball at the edge of the penalty area and took a sharp shot from a tight angle, forcing Gulacsi to make a timely save and prevent an early goal.

In the 21st minute, during a chaotic situation in front of Hungary’s goal, Musiala received the ball and quickly fired a shot. The ball deflected off a Hungarian player and unexpectedly found its way into the net, leaving Gulacsi helpless and opening the score 1-0 for Germany.

Hungary quickly responded, seeking an equalizer. In the 26th minute, Szoboszlai took a direct free kick from about 25 meters away. The ball arched dangerously towards the far corner, but goalkeeper Neuer made a crucial save, pushing the ball just wide.

In the final minute of the first half, Hungary surprisingly put the ball in Germany’s net from a set piece. From a free kick near the touchline, the ball was lofted into Germany’s penalty area. Center-back Orban rose high to head the ball towards goal, and Neuer made a difficult save. However, Roland Sallai capitalized on the rebound, scoring from close range.

The joy was short-lived as the assistant referee immediately raised the flag for offside. Replays confirmed that both Orban and Sallai were in offside positions, disallowing the goal.

In the early minutes of the second half, Hungary pushed forward and created some dangerous situations for Neuer’s goal. In the 51st minute, during a scramble following a corner kick, the ball was shot towards the goal from close range, forcing Neuer to make a quick reflex save. However, Hungary still couldn’t find the equalizer.

While Germany controlled possession, Hungary also had moments that caused concern for Germany’s defense. Midway through the second half, a Hungarian forward headed the ball just over Neuer’s crossbar, missing the target by a narrow margin.

Germany patiently attacked Hungary’s penalty area to find another goal to seal the win. In the 67th minute, their persistence paid off. Musiala made a cross to Mittelstadt on the wing, who then passed the ball perfectly to Gundogan. From the center of the penalty area, Germany’s captain struck a precise shot, beating Gulacsi at the near post to double Germany’s lead to 2-0.

In the following minutes, both teams had opportunities to score but missed them in turn. The match ended with a 2-0 victory for Germany. Nagelsmann’s team officially became the first to advance to the Round of 16 at Euro 2024, having won both opening matches with a perfect 6 points and an impressive goal difference of 7-1.