SPOTLIGHTS
- Germany aims to secure a Round of 16 spot with a win
- Hungary seeks redemption after losing their opening game
- Nagelsmann likely to maintain the winning German lineup
- Rossi hopes for a better performance from his team
By Seyi Babalola
Germany will play Hungary in their second group stage game on Wednesday by 5 pm following a 5-1 victory over Scotland in their first encounter.
Hungary will look to avoid elimination after losing their opening encounter against Switzerland. Marco Rossi’s team’s greatest chance of reaching the Round of 16 is to limit Germany’s damage and then overcome Scotland in their last group stage encounter.
Julian Nagelsmann’s team, on the other hand, has an opportunity to guarantee their spot in the tournament’s next round.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the kick-off:
Team News:
Germany: Nagelsmann is not likely to make any changes against Hungary in the tournament’s second game, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz heading the offensive line with Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala. Toni Kroos is also set to start against Rossi’s team.
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Possible Germany XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Kroos; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz.
Hungary: Loic Nego and Callum Styles, who were unable to play in the opener against Switzerland, have recovered from their injuries but will not be ready to start against Germany on Wednesday. Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool will head the attack, with Barnabas Varga as the primary striker.
Possible Hungary XI: Gulacsi; Orban, Lang, Szalai; Bolla, Nagy, Schafer, Kerkez; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Varga.
Ahead of the game, Julian Nagelsmann, Germany coach said: “Hungary have a clear pattern with two strikers who are very good at headers. They work a lot with precise crosses, and have an impressive record with dead balls. It’s up to how we present ourselves. Of course, Hungary are under pressure so I think they’ll play more offensively than they did against Switzerland.”
On the other hand, Marco Rossi, Hungary coach said: “After losing the first game we were all very disappointed. Two out of three goals [against Switzerland] were due to our mistakes, and if you play [this way] at the EURO you will pay dearly for your mistakes.
“On paper, and not only on paper, we know that the Germany team are better than us, which should motivate us to give it our very best shot. Hopefully, we can get a point, but that calls for the perfect match.”
The match will be broadcast on GOtv and DStv. On GOtv channel 61, and DStv channels 222 and 225, respectively.
