Bundesliga
Germany cruise to win over Hungary
Jamal Musiala was an unplayable part of a fluent forward line that fired Germany to a resounding 5-0 win over Hungary in UEFA Nations League Group A3 in what was their first match of the post-Euro 2024 era.
Germany 5-0 Hungary
Goals: 1-0 Füllkrug 27' (assist: Musiala), 2-0 Musiala 58' (assist: Wirtz), 3-0 Wirtz 66' (assist: Musiala), 4-0 Pavlović 77' (assist: Musiala), 5-0 Havertz (pen. 81')
The tie in Dusseldorf might have been billed as the opening of a new chapter following the international retirements of Ilkay Gündoğan, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos, but Julian Nagelsmann's experienced side wasted no time before taking control of the affair. The first opportunity for the hosts came from the unlikely source of Jonathan Tah from a corner, but as Germany combined forward with intent, a good chance fell to the familiar feet of former Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Füllkrug - who was denied when one-on-one with RB Leipzig's Péter Gulácsi. A devastating move then sent Germany in front as Florian Wirtz clipped a cross in from the left that David Raum immediately knocked down to Jamal Musiala, who cleverly extended the ball for Füllkrug to tap in. Germany gained confidence from the lead and Kai Havertz rattled the crossbar with a header before sweeping a drive wide at the end of a dominant first half.
Hungary showed after the restart that they do not have a strong recent record against Germany for nothing, pushing forward with Robert Andrich putting in a superb sliding block to stop Bendeguz Bolla pouncing from close range. The visitors' ambition gave Germany further space to exploit though, with Musiala driving forward and finishing a snappy break single-handedly to double the lead. Julian Nagelsmann's side were hungry for more, and having played the pass for Musiala's goal, Florian Wirtz played a neat one-two with the FC Bayern Munich playmaker before sweeping home a third from just outside the box. Substitute Aleksandar Pavlović then struck following another deft Musiala touch before Kai Havertz stepped up to grab a deserved goal from the penalty spot after being felled in the area - and Major Tom, the goal music that sent Germany into euphoria during Euro 2024, was heard for a fifth time.
Watch: The best of Jamal Musiala
Match stats
- Musiala had more than one direct goal involvement in a Germany match for the first time on his 35th appearance.
- Pavlović's first goal for Germany was just his third in senior football.
- Füllkrug scored his 14th goal for Germany in his 22nd appearance.
- Kimmich has moonlighted as Germany captain in eight of his previous 91 Germany appearances.
- Nagelsmann has now won eight of his first 14 games as Germany head coach (D3, L3).
- Germany took their second win with a clean sheet over Hungary within three months after a 2-0 victory at Euro 2024.
Teams
Germany: Ter Stegen - Kimmich (c), Tah, Schlotterbeck (Koch 69'), Raum (Henrichs 69') - Andrich (Stiller 82'), Groß (Pavlović 60') - Musiala, Havertz, Wirtz - Füllkrug (Beier 60')
Unused subs: Baumann, Nübel, Anton, Führich, Undav, Mittelstädt, Can
Out: -
Not included: Gündoğan (retired), Kroos (retired), Müller (retired), Neuer (retired), Rüdiger (rested), Sané (match fitness)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Hungary: Gulácsi - Balogh, Orbán, M. Dárdai - Négo (Bolla 46'), Schäfer, Á. Nagy (Nikitscher 82'), Kerkez (Z. Nagy 66') - Szoboszlai (c), Sallai (Csoboth 75') - Varga (Ádám 66')
Unused subs: Dibusz, Tóth, Yaakobishvili, Gergényi, Kata, Horváth, Botka
Out: -
Not included: Fiola, Kleinheisler, Lang, Styles, A. Szalai
Coach: Marco Rossi
As it happened!
5 - 0(1 - 0)
Germany
FINAL
Hungary
86'
vs
Winding down
Hungary haven't given up but this game has long since been decided. Germany's players are happy to conserve their energy and pass the ball among themselves in midfield.
83'
vs
Stiller debut
Fresh from receiving his first call-up to the senior squad, VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller now makes his debut for Germany.
82'
vs
Angelo Stiller
Robert Andrich
82'
vs
Five-star Germany
Havertz is tripped inside the box but dusts himself off to take the ensuing spot-kick, sending Gulácsi the wrong way and coolly sliding the ball to the goalkeeper's left.
79'
vs
Hungary go close!
Szoboszlai draw a host of Germany defenders towards him before releasing Csoboth into space. He tries to dink it towards the far post but Ter Stegen makes a brilliant save to preserve his clean sheet!
77'
vs
Pavlović with his first Germany goal!
Another goal, another assist for Musiala! The Bayern man squeezes a pass through to club-mate Pavlović, who takes a touch before poking home from close range!
72'
vs
Crossbar again!
Kimmich's powerful shot is pawed away by Gulácsi, but only as far as Havertz, lurking around 12 yards from goal. He instantly smacks the rebound towards the target but his effort crashes off the crossbar. That's the second time he's hit the woodwork in this game!
70'
vs
Benjamin Henrichs
David Raum
70'
vs
Robin Koch
Nico Schlotterbeck
69'
vs
As it stands
Germany are currently top of Group A3, ahead of the Netherlands on goal difference. The Dutch are currently leading Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1.
67'
vs
Beautiful goal!
Musiala is involved again - he's had a hand in all three goals so far - threading a pass through to Wirtz to lash in a shot at the near post from just inside the area.
61'
vs
Over from Andrich
Pavlović, who's only been on the pitch a couple of seconds, is straight into the thick of the action and tees up Andrich on the edge of the box. His shot sails well over though.
60'
vs
Maximilian Beier
Niclas Füllkrug
60'
vs
Aleksandar Pavlović
Pascal Groß
59'
vs
Musiala makes it 2-0!
Germany break following the Hungary corner, with Wirtz sliding the ball forward for Musiala to chase. He scurries into the Hungary half, gets the better of two defenders and calmly slots in from close range.
57'
vs
Andrich to the rescue!
And another chance! Half-time substitute Bolla nips into the box and is about to shoot with just Ter Stegen to beat, but Andrich recovers brilliantly to block for a corner!
55'
vs
Havertz again!
Germany go up to the other end of the pitch almost immediately, with Havertz sprinting into space on the right. He manages to shoot but Dardai slides in to block!
54'
vs
Szoboszlai in space
The former Leipzig attacker is given space to run into the first time in this game, charging forward down the right and then squaring it to Sallai, on the lef-thand corner of the box. The Freiburg man tries to cut inside and fashion space for a shot, but Germany get back quickly and crowd him out before he can shoot.
50'
vs
Hungary on top
The visitors have started well in this half and are forcing Germany back into their own half. They haven't got anywhere near Ter Stegen's goal yet though.
46'
vs
Here we go again!
The referee gets the second half up and running.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
78s
vs
Watch: The best of Füllkrug in the Bundesliga
Take a trip down (recent) memory lane with some of the West Ham United forward's best moments in the Bundesliga.
0 - 0
Half-time
45'
vs
Havertz must score!
A sensational pass from Musiala, threading the ball forward 40 yards, bypassing three or four defenders to send Havertz into the box on the right. He cuts inside onto his preferred left foot and suddenly has the goal at his mercy, 10 yards out. You'd bet your house on him to score from there, with just the goalkeeper to beat, but sends his effort wide of the far post. That should have been 2-0!
43'
vs
Lovely from Havertz
The former Leverkusen attacker brings down a long ball forward beautifully, without even breaking his stride, before flicking it to Wirtz. The Leverkusen playmaker tries to lay the ball back to him first time for a shot on the edge of the area, but he under-hits his pass and a defender intercepts.
39'
vs
Not over yet
Hungary may be behind but they're by no means out of this contest. They're getting forward at pace, with Sallai and Szoboszlai both looking lively and forcing Germany on to the back foot.
33'
vs
Crossbar!
Just moments after Füllkrug has a goal-bound shot blocked, Havertz has Germany's next opportunity. Raum lifts a cross from the left to the back post for Havertz, whose header hits the underside of the crossbar and bounces down - but not over the line - before being hooked clear.
31'
vs
Chance for Sallai!
A cross is fizzed in from the left at a nice height for Sallai. He takes it left-footed on the volley but doesn't make a clean connection and skews the ball well off target.
27'
vs
Germany lead!
Lovely stuff from Germany and inevitably Wirtz is involved, skipping past his marker on the right and lofting a pass to the back post. Raum volleys into back to Musiala, who squares it to the unmarked Füllkrug to tap over the line.
25'
vs
Safe hands
A first opportunity for Ter Stegen to show what he can do as Szoboszlai floats a ball into the Germany box from the left. There's a crowd of players in front of him, but the Barcelona goalkeeper and new Germany No.1 commands his area to pluck the ball out of the sky and snuff out any danger.
20'
vs
Huge chance for Füllkrug!
Space opens up on the break for Germany and Wirtz does brilliantly to keep the ball and find Musiala. He draws the last defender towards him before slotting it into the path of Füllkrug on the right. The striker side-foots it first time. aiming for the far corner, but Gulácsi sticks out a foot and makes a fine save. Best chance of the game so far!
19'
vs
Still settling
Neither side has been able to properly impose themselves on the game yet. Germany have seen slightly more of the ball but possession is switching sides frequently in a packed midfield.
14'
vs
Kerkez has a go
A little pocket of space opens up for Hungary just outside the Germany penalty area, left of centre. Kerkez doesn't hesitate to let fly with an effort from 20 yards that whistles over.
12'
vs
Sallai almost in
A long ball forward from the back evades Germany's defence, leaving Freiburg's Sallai with a clear run at goal. He leaps to try and bring the ball down but can't quite reach it.
8'
vs
Off the line!
Groß floats a corner from the right into the box and finds the head of Tah, who heads it back across goal towards the top corner. The ball looks like it's going in, but Szoboszlai is well placed to head it off the line!
6'
vs
One-touch stuff
Hungary are pressing about halfway into Germany's half, trying to force a mistake. Nagelsmann appears to have anticipated this, as his players are constantly on the move, creating angles for one-touch passing to break through the press. It's working well so far, even if the hosts are yet to create anything in the final third.
3'
vs
First sign of danger!
Raum's attempted clearance on the left goes straight to Szoboszlai, who darts forward into the box and gets to the byline. He crosses into the middle, but Germany are just about able to clear. That was a big let-off there!
1'
vs
Peeeeeep!
And we're under way in Düsseldorf!
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
Out on the pitch
The players now on the playing field, ready for the national anthems.
89s
vs
Watch: David Raum's best goals and assists
Meanwhile, David Raum has won the battle with VfB Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstädt for the left-back berth. Here's a look at what the RB Leipzig man brings to the table.
74s
vs
Watch: The best of Robert Andrich in the Bundesliga
There was also a question of who would start in midfield following the departures of Kroos and Gündoğan. Now we have our answer: Leverkusen's Andrich will be partnered by Dortmund's Pascal Groß.