Germany became the first team to reach the Round of 16 after seeing-off Hungary in Stuttgart in Group A.
Playing in his home town Jamal Musiala gave the hosts a controversial lead on 22 minutes when he rammed home the loose ball after Ilkay Gundogan looked to have barged over a defender.
Hungary caused problems of their own and Dominic Szoboszlai saw a free-kick saved by Manuel Neuer and Roland Sallai saw a header-ruled out for offside before the break.
Hungary faded as Germany grew in stature after the turnaround and after Barnabas Varga nodded a glorious chance over, Ilkay Gundogan found space to sweep home midway through the second half to seal it.
Germany failed to hit the heights of their opening win against Scotland while Hungary looked far more potent than in their defeat to Switzerland, but it’s Hungary who will need to thrash Scotland in their last game in Stuttgart on Sunday to have a chance of qualifying along with Germany as one of the best third-placed teams.
Gündoğan ⚽️🅰️#EURO2024 | #GERHUN pic.twitter.com/8aJh9izuou
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 19, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
Bright start from Hunagry
Just 25 seconds in Manuel Neuer had to be alert to dart of his line and slide in to thwart Roland Sallai after he had pipped Joshua Kimmich to a loose ball after a long ball forward caught the German defence napping.
Kai Havertz cut inside and sent a low shot at keeper Peter Gulacsi but Hungary were back on the attack when Szoboszlai’s cross broke to Bendeguz Bolla who saw a first-time shot deflected past the upright.
Gulacsi produced a strong hand to divert Havertz’ attempt from close range away from goal after he outmuscled Willi Orban while Robert Andrich saw a volley deflected wide from the resultant corner from Toni Kroos.
The deadlock was broken on 22 minutes when Gundogan bumped Orban over in the boz and then prodded the loose ball away from the sprawling Gulacsi for Musiala to thump home his second goal of the tournament via a deflection off Atilla Fiola on the line and the underside of the crossbar.
🇩🇪🎉#EURO2024 | #GERHUN pic.twitter.com/GLZexdtqs7
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 19, 2024
Moments later Szoboszlai saw a fine 25-yard free-kick clawed out by Neuer, who was up in time to hook the loose ball away with his foot and the Liverpool man saw a volley deflected behind by Jonathan Tah on a lightning break on 28 minutes.
A Kroos corner was glanced wide of his own post by the head of Hungary’s Barnabas Varga while Musiala ended a neat build-up by lashing the ball into the side-netting, with half the ground thinking he had found the top corner.
Sallai thought he had equalised in stoppage time when Orban glanced on a Szoboszlai free-kick which Neuer could only palm into the forward’s path to head home, however the goal was chalked-off for Orban being offside when the ball was swung in.
Crucial miss for Hungary
After the break Gulacsi pushed a low cross away from goal but was up in time to clutch Kroos’ deflected follow-up from the edge of the box.
Niclas Fullkrug came off the bench to replace Florian Wirtz, who had a quiet game by his standards, while Leroy Sane came on for Havertz.
The crucial moment came when Varga lost Tah in the middle and rose highest to meet an inviting left-wing cross from Sallai, but could only not over from close range just before the hour.
The clincher then arrived on 67 minutes when some sublime one-touch passing between Kroos and Musiala freed Max Mittedlstadt on the left and his cut-back into the middle was swept home by Gundogan.
Thehosts went in search of a third as Kimmich fired wide from an angle and saw another effort parried by the keeper while Sane saw a low strike from range saved at full-stretch by Gulacsi.
Hungary never gave up and sub Emre Can produced a goal-saving header under his own bar to deny Martin Adam a goal back from a corner on 83 minutes while the burly frontman caused havoc from a high cross which saw Neuer flap the ball to the feet of Orban, who saw his first-time shot hacked off the line by Kimmich late-on.
Germany can secure top-spot in Group A with a win over Switzerland in Frankfurt on Sunday while Hungary will seek a big win over Scotland back in Stuttgart.
Germany through to the round of 16 ✅#EURO2024 | #GERHUN pic.twitter.com/29EdYWaeUF
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 19, 2024
