Germany v HungaryWednesday 19 June, 17:00Reside on BBC One
Hosts buzzing after good begin
It is arduous to see how Germany might have made a stronger begin to Euro 2024. They demolished Scotland 5-1, they’d 5 completely different scorers, and midfield orchestrator Toni Kroos accomplished all however certainly one of his 102 passes. A lot of Germany’s hopes are pinned on rising stars Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, and each sparkled in Munich.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann was so happy by the show that he gave his gamers Saturday off, and there does appear to be a wholesome quantity of confidence within the camp. Whereas it is true that Scotland underperformed within the event opener, Germany bamboozled them with their motion, and swarmed them constantly with their urgent.
It is all of the extra essential that Germany began effectively when you think about how they’ve began current main tournaments. Within the 2018 World Cup they misplaced 1-0 to Mexico, at Euro 2020 they have been overwhelmed 1-0 by France, and within the World Cup in Qatar they suffered a slipshod 2-1 reverse towards Japan.
Germany have now received 4 of their final 5 video games, together with pleasant wins over France and the Netherlands, however Nagelsmann is aware of there are issues to tighten up. Scotland failed to use sufficient stress on Kroos, they usually did not actually attempt to make it troublesome for the centre-backs to carry the ball out, so how will Die Mannschaft cope if a crew does that to them?
It is also value noting that it was one more recreation the place Germany didn’t maintain a clear sheet. They’ve now managed simply two shut-outs of their final 15 video games.
There are not any contemporary damage considerations, and Nagelsmann could persist with the identical XI that began towards Scotland, though Robert Andrich’s over-zealous efficiency (he was booked after which hooked at HT) might see him lose his place to Brighton’s Pascal Gross.
Hungary should reply after Swiss debacle
Hungary have been tipped by many to be darkish horses on this competitors, however they did a superb job of torpedoing that fame of their 3-1 defeat by Switzerland. The Magyars merely froze on the large day, conceding an early purpose to Kwadwo Duah after which failing to reply till the second half. To their credit score, Marco Rossi’s males discovered their rhythm after the break, and skipper Dominik Szoboszlai produced a wonderful cross for Barnabas Varga’s purpose, however extra clumsy defending allowed Breel Embolo to wrap up the win late on.
The flat show got here as a giant shock when you think about that Hungary have overwhelmed England and Germany within the Nations League lately, and that they have been unbeaten in qualifying. Coach Rossi was incensed by the efficiency, stating that his crew was too passive, and that they made too many errors that the Swiss might exploit.
Anybody nonetheless clinging to the Hungarian trigger must be barely involved by Rossi’s evaluation of this subsequent recreation towards the hosts. He dared anybody to again his crew, described Germany as the most important favorite to win the competitors, and instructed it could be not possible to beat them. Except Hungary choose up no less than a degree, they might discover themselves out of Euro 2024 with a recreation to spare.
Proper-sided wing-back Loic Nego and midfielder Callum Kinds each missed the Switzerland recreation with damage, and it is not clear at time of writing whether or not they’ll be capable to return. Attila Fiola struggled towards the Swiss, so even when Nego is not match, there might nonetheless be a change that sees Bendeguz Bolla drafted in.
Hosts nonetheless have defensive frailties
Even in a recreation the place they fully dominated, Germany nonetheless did not maintain a clear sheet towards Scotland, and I just like the look of backing Both Teams To Score right here at 2.186/5. Hungary have scored in 22 of their final 24 internationals, together with their final 12. The final time they failed to attain was again in June 2023.
Harmful Dom can hit the goal
There isn’t any query that Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is his nation’s most influential participant, one thing that’s underlined by the actual fact he’s captaining the crew at a serious event on the age of 23.
With Szoboszlai taking set performs and having the licence to shoot from vary, I am pleasantly shocked to see him buying and selling at 11/102.11 to have a shot on target right here. He scored 4 targets in Euro 2024 qualifying, and averaged 1.62 pictures on course per 90.
If you would like one thing a bit greater, you would mix a Szoboszlai shot on course, a Jamal Musiala shot on course (the Bayern teenager scored an excellent purpose towards Scotland) and a Kai Havertz foul (the Arsenal ahead was of the Premier League’s most persistent foulers final season). That offers you a mixed worth of almost 3/14.00 on the Bet Builder.
