Germany continued their impressive Euro 2024 campaign with a 2-0 victory against Hungary, securing their progression to the knockout stages. The hosts, led by Julian Nagelsmann, found the net through Jamal Musiala and İlkay Gündoğan, maintaining their perfect record in the tournament.
The match was anything but straightforward for Germany. Despite pre-match concerns about Hungary’s aggressive style, it was their offensive play that posed significant challenges. The German defense faced several dangerous moments, exposing some defensive frailties that Nagelsmann will need to address. Nevertheless, the clean sheet was a positive sign, showcasing Germany’s resilience and potential to be serious contenders for the title.
Captain Gündoğan’s insights and team dynamics
Post-match, İlkay Gündoğan reflected on the team’s performance and the challenges they overcame. Speaking to Magenta TV, Gündoğan highlighted the importance of navigating through difficult situations during a tournament. “It feels like we’re getting better and better,” he noted. “But while things are getting better, you always have to overcome difficulties, and this game today showed that. That’s just how a tournament is: you have to survive dangerous situations, and then you have to strike when the chance arises. We definitely played it down in the second half.”
Gündoğan also spoke about his personal approach and the importance of teamwork. “Regarding my own performance, I aimed to stay patient and execute my role without overthinking. The more we play together, the better our understanding becomes. Hopefully, this continues to improve.”
Final group stage challenge against Switzerland
Germany will conclude their group stage matches against Switzerland in Frankfurt on Sunday. With their place in the knockout stages secured, they will now focus on finishing at the top of Group A. This encounter will serve as another opportunity for Nagelsmann’s side to fine-tune their performance and continue their strong run in the competition.
