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Germany secured their spot in the Euro 2024 knockout stages with a 2-0 victory over Hungary, marked by Jamal Musiala’s decisive performance. The Bayern Munich forward impressed once again, scoring midway through the first half and earning a standing ovation upon his late substitution.
Musiala’s goal came after a contentious moment, as Hungary claimed a foul by Ilkay Gundogan on Willi Orban before Musiala’s strike. Despite Hungary’s protests, the video assistant referee (VAR) upheld the goal, and Musiala celebrated with teammates in front of Hungary supporters.
Hungary nearly equalized before halftime, but Roland Sallai’s rebound header was disallowed for offside. Germany doubled their lead in the second half when Ilkay Gundogan, left unmarked, slotted past Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
The win did not come easy for Germany. Hungary, still reeling from an opening defeat to Switzerland, defended resolutely and threatened at times. Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai showcased his set-piece prowess, forcing a save from German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and seeing another effort blocked by Jonathan Tah.
Germany, having scored seven goals in their first two matches, showed flashes of creativity and control. Their solid performance, highlighted by defensive stability and key contributions from veterans like Toni Kroos and Neuer, confirmed their place in the last 16. They will secure the top spot in Group A with a draw against Switzerland in their next match.
Hungary, now facing elimination, will need a victory against Scotland to keep their hopes alive. Hungarian manager Marco Rossi criticized the officiating, saying, “I’ve never complained in my career as a coach. I’ve never looked for excuses but what the referee did tonight – I mean, come on.”
Despite the setback, Rossi remains focused on the next match: “What is important to win the last match is putting what our fans want on the pitch. They can accept technical mistakes. They are not stupid. They want to see on the pitch that we are spitting our blood.”
Germany’s coach, Julian Nagelsmann, praised the support from fans and the team’s performance: “The atmosphere is amazing. There was a fan march passing our hotel. There are so many people supporting us… I’m happy with the result. It was a tough game.”
