- Macdara Ferris
- Wed, Jun 19 2024
Wednesday was a return to a three match day after only the two games on Tuesday. The host nation were the only winners though as Germany defeated Hungary 2-0 in Stuttgart.
Goals from Jamal Musiala and İlkay Gündoğan earned Die Mannschaft their second win of the tournament and confirmed their place in the last 16.
Julian Nagelsmann’s men took the lead in the 16th minute as Musiala scored to go with his goal in their 5-1 win over Scotland last Friday. Gündoğan, who picked up the player of the match award, converted Max Mittelstädt’s centre in the 67th minute.
"That was a very difficult opponent,” said Nagelsmann’s afterwards to UEFA.com. “In November we wouldn't have won this game. Today the team didn't always shine, but you have to work on a game like that sometimes. The expectation in the stadium and in the dressing room was three points, and we got them. It was also a good defensive performance, from the goalkeeper and the whole team. Everyone gave their all, they pushed each other so that we didn't concede a goal."
Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Rüdiger, Tah, Mittelstädt; Andrich (Can 72), Kroos; Musiala (Führich 72), Gündoğan (Undav 84), Wirtz (Sané 58); Havertz (Füllkrug 58)
Hungary: Gulácsi; Fiola, Orbán, Dárdai; Bolla (Ádám 75), Ádám Nagy (Kleinheisler 64), Schäfer, Kerkez (Nagy 75); Sallai (Csoboth 87), Szoboszlai, Varga (Gazdag 87)
The other Group A game finished in a 1-1 draw between Scotland and Switzerland in Cologne and Dylan O’Connell was there in the RheinEnergie Stadion and penned this match report.
In Group B, an injury time goal gave Albania a point against Croatia with the game finishing 2-2 in the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.
Qazim LaçI gave Albania an 11th minute lead that they held till 16 minutes from time when Croatia scored two in three minutes when first Andrej Kramzric grabbed a goal on his 33rd birthday before substitute Klaus Gjasula put through his own net.
However the Albania midfielder redeemed himself by scoring the equaliser in the fifth minute of injury time.
It means both teams keep their hopes of progressing to the knock out stages alive.
"I didn't imagine we would be celebrating my birthday in such a disappointing way,” admitted Andrej Kramarić afterwards speaking to UEFA.com. “It would have been much nicer if we had taken all three points and it was like that until the last seconds. That's football. Sometimes you score in the last second, sometimes you concede."
Croatia: Livaković; Juranović, Šutalo, Gvardiol, Perišić (Sosa 84); Modrić, Brozović (Pašalić 46), Kovačić; Majer (Sučić 46), Petković (Budimir 69), Kramarić (Baturina 84)
Albania: Strakosha; Hysaj, Djimsiti, Ajeti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani (Hoxha 85), Laçi (Gjasula 72); Asani (Seferi 64), Manaj (Daku 85), Bajrami
