The scene of the game: It was the 84th minute. It seemed as if the Joachim Löw era in the German national soccer team would end unworthily on this chaotic evening in Munich. His eleven were back in the third European Championship group game against the outsider Hungary 1: 2 and threatened to be eliminated as bottom of the group, as they did at the 2018 World Cup. That would have been a fiasco. The world champion coach Löw would have resigned as a double preliminary round coach. But then Jamal Musiala, who had just been substituted by Löw and was just 18 years old, dribbled into the penalty area. The ball came to Leon Goretzka, and the Munich hit him flat to 2-2 into the net. Before his euphoric colleagues threw him to the ground, Goretzka showed a heart to the audience with his fingers. It was a heartbeat on a day that was also a lot about love.
The result: Germany plays 2-2 (0-1) against Hungary, is second in Group F in the European Championship round of 16 and meets one of the tournament favorites on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium in London: England. Incidentally, the country to which Musiala emigrated with his parents as a child and for whose U-national team he played for a long time. Click here for the match report.
Quote of the game: “Yes, great,” said Joshua Kimmich after the game when he was asked what he said about England, opponents in the round of 16. They didn’t play well against Hungary. Captain Manuel Neuer also spoke of a “thriller”. But after three completely different games in the group, they are now looking forward to England. “Wembley suits us,” said Neuer.
Knowledge of the game: Germany remains the chocolate box team for this EM. You never know what you are going to get. After the furious 4: 2 against Portugal on Saturday against Hungary, it became clear how difficult Löw’s team is against low opponents. It was a very disappointing game for the German team. It will remain a team that can win against very good teams on good days, but also lose against many supposedly worse opponents on bad days.
A young runabout with a rainbow flag before kick-off
Photo: Jan Huebner / imago images / Jan Huebner
The Kids are alright: A completely different scene of the game happened before kick-off. During the Hungarian anthem, a young speedster ran onto the field and raised a rainbow flag into the Munich sky to thunderous applause. The result was an image that would have to become an icon of this EM. And you should imagine it with the Who-Song “The Kids are alright” as background music. Because although colored flags were handed out in front of the stadium after the rainbow debate of the past few days, they were not overly present in the arena. The fact that this anti-discrimination symbol was absolutely necessary became apparent when a couple of the roughly 2,000 Hungarian fans chanted: “Germany, Germany, homosexual.” Apparently there were also a few homophobic, racist Hungarian ultras in the stadium.
The first half: Hungary has been one of the teams with the fewest shots on goal in the course of the tournament. Against Germany, the first was enough for the lead. A cross badly defended by Toni Kroos, a powerful header from striker Ádám Szalai: 0: 1 (11th minute). It was the sixth attempt that went to the German goal at this European Championship, four of which were possible. With this result the DFB-Elf would have been eliminated. But she initially braced against it: Mats Hummels headed the crossbar (21st), Matthias Ginter failed freely on the five-meter space (21st). But then came: nothing more. The Hungarians entrenched themselves in their own half. And the rain pelted the heads of the German players.
Ádám Szalai (left) celebrates his opening goal for Hungary
Photo: Lukas Barth-Tuttas / POOL / EPA
The second half: When the German team could hardly continue to play through the Hungarian defensive, Löw changed the system: Goretzka came for İlkay Gündoğan, instead of 3-4-3 a 4-2-3-1 formation was taken with Kimmich in front of the defense. And Germany equalized happily: A cross from Kroos went under the otherwise strong Hungarian goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi. Hummels header, and Kai Havertz pushed the ball over the line (66th): 1: 1. Round of 16.
The 15 second shock: But only 15 seconds after the restart, Germany was again behind. A long ball, a lost running duel from the extremely unfortunate Leroy Sané, and András Schäfer headed to make it 2-1 (68th). “We’re just not awake enough. And that must never happen if you want to go far in a tournament, ”said Goretzka later. Löw’s elf now looked inhibited. Everything looked like a fiasco. But then Musiala came, then Goretzka came and showed heart.
Leroy Sané (left) did not play well against Hungary
Photo: David Charisins / dpa
Loser of the game: Leroy Sané. Löw had opted for the Munich player as a replacement for the ailing Thomas Müller. Sané tried hard, he led many duels. But hardly a dribble was successful. He was not innocent of Schäfer’s goal. And then Sané also hit a corner in the nowhere. This is how you attract the anger of the audience. The 25-year-old is a polarizing player anyway. The debate about him is now even more heated.
The surprise team of the EM: Hungary is not exactly making friends in Europe, which has made the rainbow debate even worse. But you have to show the national team a lot of respect. Whoever was equal to the European champions Portugal (0: 3) for a long time, who made a 1-1 draw against world champions France and who then also had Germany on the verge of defeat, would have deserved the round of 16.
