Nations League | League A

Nov 19, 2024 at 7.45pm UK

Puskas Arena

Hungaryvs.Germany

Match preview

It's likely that a point against Bosnia-Herzegovina would have been enough for Germany to win the group in the Nations League. Nagelsmann's team had already qualified for the quarter-finals with two games to spare.

However, the Germans were determined to win in Freiburg. Florian Wirtz and Tim Kleindienst both scored two goals, while Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané also contributed to the team's success. The match was played at the Europa-Park Stadion, where the team made history.

Germany also set a new record for the heaviest defeat ever suffered by Bosnia-Herzegovina in a men's international match. It was a comprehensive victory, and it's not beyond the realm of possibility that Die Mannschaft could have scored more goals on Saturday.

The upshot of the weekend's win is that Germany will be present in the knockout phase of the Nations League for the very first time. They failed to progress to the Finals in each of their first three attempts, but many markers are being laid down by Nagelsmann's young guns ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The 2014 world champions are on a roll, with three straight wins across all competitions. They could now go four for four across all competitions for the first time since March 2022, when Hansi Flick was in charge.

As Germany look ahead to competing in the quarter-finals next summer, their Hungarian visitors have to take part in a promotion/relegation playoff to keep their top-tier status. They'll be playing in a bronze medal playoff after losing to the Netherlands on Saturday.

After a worrying medical incident involving coach Adam Szalai – who has since reassured supporters that he is on the mend – Marco Rossi's team conceded two penalties in the first half to Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst before Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners added some goals to the scoreline.

The good news for the Hungarians is that they won't be demoted straight away. However, they still have to play a two-legged playoff with a League B runner-up next spring to stay in the top tier.

The only win that Rossi's team has had this year is 2-0 against Bosnia-Herzegovina, who have been relegated. They've also managed to avoid defeat in both of their home games, most recently holding the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw.

However, Hungary were thrashed 5-0 by Germany in September, with five different players scoring. They also beat the Hungarians at Euro 2024, so Die Mannschaft could now record three straight wins over Tuesday's hosts for the first time in 50 years.

Recent Performance

Hungary Nations League form:LDDWL

Hungary form (all competitions):WLDDWL

Germany Nations League form:WDWWW

Germany form (all competitions):LWDWWW

Team News

Germany's record-breaking victory on Saturday wasn't easy. Jonathan Tah got a yellow card that could lead to suspension, and Joshua Kimmich had to come off in the second half because of an ankle problem.

Both Kimmich and Nagelsmann have played down the severity of the defender's concern. In fact, the former has even expressed a desire to play the final group game. However, the Mannschaft manager will surely err on the side of caution with a fit and able Benjamin Henrichs in reserve.

Meanwhile, it looks like Nico Schlotterbeck will be filling in for Tah at centre-back, having returned from a suspension of his own. It seems likely that Sane, Serge Gnabry, Felix Nmecha and Alexander Nubel will also benefit from some inevitable rotation.

Similarly, Hungary will welcome back one of their key defensive players, Attila Fiola, from a yellow-card ban for the final group game. Rossi's side didn't suffer any fresh fitness problems in their defeat to the Dutch.

Fiola's return could mean that Parma youngster Botond Balogh will drop out of the backline, while Endre Botka and Bendeguz Bolla are competing to potentially replace Loic Nego in the right wing-back slot.

However, Zsolt Nagy will be back on the opposite side, as Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez had to pull out of the squad due to a knee injury.

Possible starting lineup

Hungary possible starting lineup:

Dibusz; Fiola, Orban, Dardai; Bolla, A. Nagy, Schafer, Z. Nagy; Szoboszlai, Csoboth; Varga

Germany possible starting lineup:

Nubel; Henrichs, Koch, Schlotterbeck, Gosens; Andrich, Nmecha; Gnabry, Brandt, Sane; Kleindienst