STUTTGART, Germany – Germany faces Hungary on Wednesday in Stuttgart in their second Group A match. Germany tops the group after beating Scotland 5-1 in the opener while Hungary lost 3-1 against Switzerland.
Here´s what to know about the match according to AP:
– Victory for Germany would all but guarantee a spot in the knockout stages and it would definitely advance if Switzerland also beats Scotland in the other group match.
– Another defeat would not end Hungary´s chances as it could still claim one of the four best third-place spots up for grabs.
– Germany is winless in its last three meetings against Hungary and was beaten 1-0 in the last game between the two teams, in September 2022.
– Germany had to twice come from behind when the teams met in the group stage at the last European Championship. That was the teams´ first competitive meeting since the 1954 World Cup final, won 3-2 by West Germany.
– There were off-the-field arguments and protests against the Hungarian government’s anti-LGBTQ law during the Euro 2020 match between the two teams in Munich.
– Hungary coach Marco Rossi is hopeful French-born midfielder Loic Nego will have recovered to face Germany after he was only fit for a place on the bench against Switzerland.
– Germany has reported no injury concerns.
– Germany´s five goals scored against Scotland leaves it just one short of its best-ever group stage tally at the European Championship, when it scored six at Euro 2020.
– Hungary midfielder Adam Nagy, who turned 29 on Sunday, could make his eighth tournament appearance if he plays against Germany. That would be a new record for Hungary, breaking the joint mark Nagy holds with former captain Adam Szalai.
– Germany´s victory over Scotland saw the team win its European Championship opener for a record-extending eighth time.
“Hungary is an unpleasant opponent; they can sometimes be wild and they´re difficult to get a hold of. There are a lot of free spirits out there” – Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.
“We beat them (Germany) in 2022, so I´m sure it will be an extra motivation for them. They´ll be thinking: `Not again.´ But it´s clear from the first game that this Germany side is a completely proposition to what they were back then or even last year.” – Hungary forward Martin Ádám.
“On the pitch you felt how every single one of our players was annoyed that we conceded. That is a good sign. Scoring goals is nice, but we are thinking defensively and want to have stability at the back.” – Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
