Bundesliga
Germany stay unbeaten in Nations League after Hungary draw
Germany ended their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League group campaign unbeaten after drawing 1-1 with Hungary in Budapest.
Hungary 1-1 Germany
Goals: 0-1 Nmecha 76', 1-1 Szoboszlai (pen. 90'+9)
With Germany already through to the quarter-final stage as group winners, Julian Nagelsmann made nine changes to the team that started the record-breaking rout of Bosnia-Herzegovina three days earlier. Julian Brandt, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané were among the players cycled in, the Bundesliga trio combining for the game's first opening of note, which culminated in a Hungary defender making a crucial block. Gnabry then shot wide, before Alexander Nübel was made to work in the Germany goal by Union Berlin-based András Schäfer. Hertha Berlin's Márton Dárdai made a couple of key interventions to thwart the lively Gnabry, while Nübel had to be alert to a well-struck effort from Zsolt Nagy on the stroke of half-time.
Nagelsmann introduced Robin Gosens for Joshua Kimmich at the break, with the former Union left-back quick to warm the palms of Hungary goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz. Julian Brandt went one better on the hour-mark, only to see his cool finish ruled out for an offside in the build-up. Substitute Kai Havertz volleyed against the woodwork as Germany piled on the pressure, but Hungary responded in kind as Barnabás Varga forced a superb save out of Nübel. The breakthrough went the way of the visitors as Felix Nmecha turned in from close range after Borussia Dortmund club-mate Nico Schlotterbeck's initial header had been saved. However, there was time for one final twist as Robin Koch was penalised for a foul upon VAR review, leaving ex-RB Leipzig man Dominik Szoboszlai to sink the resultant penalty and deny Germany a fifth win from six group games.
Match stats
- Germany end the group stage on 14 points (W4, D2).
- No other team has scored more than Germany's 18 goals in the groups.
- This was the 39th meeting between these teams. Germany edge the head-to-head with 15 wins to Hungary's 11. There have been 13 draws.
- Germany won the reverse fixture 5-0 in Düsseldorf last September, and beat the Magyars 2-0 at UEFA Euro 2024.
- Nmecha was making his third appearance for the Germany seniors.
- The four-time world champions and three-time Euro winners are bidding to win the Nations League for the first time.
Teams
Hungary: Dibusz – Fiola, Orbán, M. Dárdai - Négo (Gera 65'), Nikitscher (Kata 65'), Schäfer, Zs. Nagy (Schön 82') - Szoboszlai (c), Sallai (Csoboth 82') - Varga (Gruber 89')
Unused subs: Demjén, Szappanos, Szúcs, Balogh, A. Nagy, Gruber, Szabo, Botka
Out: Gazdag (unspecified)
Coach: Marco Rossi
Germany: Nübel - Kimmich (c) (Gosens 46'), Koch, Schlotterbeck, Henrichs - Nmecha, Andrich - Sané (Kleindienst 79'), Brandt (Havertz 62'), Führich (Musiala 62') - Gnabry (Wirtz 62')
Unused subs: Baumann, Ortega, Mittelstädt, Rüdiger, Groß
Out: Füllkrug (calf), Leweling (thigh), Pavlović (collarbone), Stiller (muscular), Tah (suspended), Undav (thigh)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
As it happened!
1 - 1(0 - 0)
Hungary
FINAL
Germany
90' +9
vs
Panenka equaliser
The former Leipzig midfielder chips his penalty down the middle and coolly brings his side level with the last touch of the game!
90' +7
vs
Penalty!
The referee awards a penalty to Hungary!
90' +5
vs
VAR check
Hungary want a penalty for a potential handball, and the VAR is going to check, and the referee has gone over to the monitor.
90' +5
vs
Block after block
The home side fire several successive shots towards goal, but a Germany player gets their body in between each effort, heroically defending their side's lead.
90' +4
vs
Robert Andrich
90' +4
vs
András Schäfer
90' +3
vs
Henrichs down
The right-back goes to ground after being on the end of a tough tackle by Schön. The medical staff come on to give him some treatment, and the Leipzig player is all good to continue.
90' +1
vs
Four more to play
Germany will have to hold out for another four minutes to secure victory at the Puskás Aréna.
89'
vs
Zsombor Gruber
Barnabas Varga
88'
vs
Daniel Gera
87'
vs
Relieving the pressure
Musiala draws a foul deep into his own half to allow his side some time to breathe. The hosts are not going down without a fight.
82'
vs
Attacking changes
Marco Rossi brings on some attack-minded players to try and get his side back into the game.
82'
vs
Kevin Csoboth
Roland Sallai
82'
vs
Szabolcs Schön
Zsolt Nagy
79'
vs
Tim Kleindienst
Leroy Sané
76'
vs
Nmecha breaks the deadlock!
After Schlotterbeck's back-post header was kept out from a Wirtz corner, it fell to Nmecha on the rebound who simply had to poke it home from a couple of metres out to give Nagelsmann's side the lead!
72'
vs
Out for the quarter-final
Wirtz receives his second yellow of the Nations League after a foul on Varga. This means that the Leverkusen man will be out for Germany's quarter-final match in March.
72'
vs
Florian Wirtz
72'
vs
Both sides playing with intent
Germany are working it nicely in the Hungary half, but are unable to find a route into the box. In possession, the hosts are seeking to play direct and catch the away side out. It should be an exciting final twenty minutes or so!
67'
vs
Latest Nübel heroics
Varga looked poised to give Hungary the lead, but the Stuttgart 'keeper stuck out an arm to tip the ball past the post and out for a corner. A top stop on his second international appearance!
65'
vs
Double sub
Marco Rossi reacts to the triple Germany substitution by bringing on two pairs of fresh legs in midfield.
65'
vs
Mihaly Kata
Tamas Nikitscher
65'
vs
Daniel Gera
Loic Nego
63'
vs
Havertz hits the post!
Almost an instant impact from the number seven! It comes to Havertz on the edge of the box, who hits it on the volley towards the bottom-right corner, but the effort comes crashing off the woodwork.
62'
vs
Kai Havertz
Julian Brandt
62'
vs
Florian Wirtz
Serge Gnabry
62'
vs
Jamal Musiala
Chris Führich
60'
vs
Ball in the net... flag in the air!
Brandt finishes nicely with his left foot, but due to an offside in the build-up, the Dortmund man is denied by the linesman's flag and it remains 0-0,
57'
vs
Into the book
The Dortmund centre-back sees yellow for tripping Sallai.
57'
vs
Nico Schlotterbeck
55'
vs
Henrichs goes down in the box
The right-back charges into the area before he is nudged to the floor by Leipzig teammate Orban. The referee, however, is having none of it.
50'
vs
Gosens shoots on goal
Germany's first shot on target comes courtesy of the half-time sub. Gnabry lays it off to the left-back on the edge of the box, but Gosens' right-footed shot is too central to worry the Hungary 'keeper.
46'
vs
New captain
Sané has been given the armband after Kimmich was brought off at the break. This is the first time Sané has captained his national team in his career.
46'
vs
Robin Gosens
Joshua Kimmich
46'
vs
One sub at the break
The second half has got underway, with Robin Gosens replacing Joshua Kimmich at the interval.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +1
vs
Added time
The fourth official has indicated that there will be a minimum of one minute added on.
40'
vs
Chance!
Varga flicks on a long ball in behind the Germany defence, and after muscling past Kimmich, Nagy strikes a powerful left-footed shot on the half volley from the edge of the box. Nübel is equal to it, but that was a good opportunity out of nothing for the hosts.
38'
vs
Gnabry on the turn
Sané and Gnabry combine on the edge of the box, with the latter taking the ball on the turn before firing towards goal. Once again, Hertha's Dardai is in the way and blocks the effort, resulting in another Germany corner.
33'
vs
Dárdai in between
Henrichs puts a dangerous low cross into the box, with Gnabry looking to slide in and direct it towards goal, but Márton Dárdai gets to the ball first and clears it for a corner.
30'
vs
Over the bar from Henrichs
After being fouled by Fiola to win the free kick, Benjamin Henrichs steps up from 30 yards out on the centre-left side of the pitch and has a go. However, his effort misses the target.
24'
vs
First save for Nübel
The Stuttgart keeper is called into action for the first time as Schäfer fires a shot towards his bottom-right corner. He gets a strong hand down to the ball to keep it out.
20'
vs
Varga goes for the spectacular
The striker attempts to flick Szoboszlai's cross in with an unorthodox effort, but it poses no threat to Nübel's goal.
18'
vs
Need to watch out for counters
Germany's prolonged spells of possession may signify their control of proceedings, but Hungary have tried to launch counter-offensives on a couple of occasions, and this is something the visitors will need to be aware of.
13'
vs
No takers from Kimmich's cross
The skipper plays a decent ball into the box from the right flank, but the only head that meets it is that of Fiola, who nods it behind for a corner. Nothing comes from the resulting set-piece.
12'
vs
Wide of the frame
Brandt plays it to Gnabry on the edge of the box, but the attacker drags his left-footed effort wide of the target.
10'
vs
Need to pick the lock
When Germany regain possession, the home side drop back into a very defensive formation. Should they wish to come away with the win, Nagelsmann's side's task this evening will be to find a way through this deep-set defence.