Germany vs Hungary

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Hello and warm welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! In this issue, the following topics take center stage:

1. ⚽Germany vs Hungary

2. 👉 Tomorrow's post...

⚽Germany vs Hungary

Germany has impressively demonstrated its title ambitions with a 2-0 victory against Hungary, thanks to goals from Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gündogan.

With this result, Germany has increased its goal tally to seven, the highest they have ever scored in a group stage of the European Championship. They are only the second team in history to score seven goals in the first two games of a European Championship campaign, alongside the Netherlands in Euro 2008. And they still have one more game to go.

With two wins from two games in Group A, Germany has already qualified for the Round of 16.

This marks the fifth time that Germany has won its first two games in a European Championship, following 1972, 1980, 1996, and 2012. In three of these four tournaments, the team went on to win the title – only failing to do so in 2012. If history is any indicator, they now have a 75% chance of winning Euro 2024.

Analysis:

Let's explore what makes the German team so strong. Under Julian Nagelsmann's leadership, the squad features highly talented and technically gifted players, particularly in midfield. As a result, it was clear from the start that Hungary would adopt a defensive stance and look to exploit counterattacks. However, compared to their match against Scotland, Hungary managed to generate more danger. This shift can be attributed to Hungary's need to take greater risks following their loss to Switzerland in their first game.

Germany currently stands out due to several outstanding qualities. The team boasts technically adept players such as Kroos, Musiala, Wirtz, Gündogan, and Havertz, all highly skilled with the ball. Julian Nagelsmann has successfully integrated these players' individual strengths into the team's overall performance.

Against Hungary's defensive 5-3-2 formation, Germany countered with a sort of 3-1-6 setup. Four players occupied the central areas tightly and displayed high agility. While Havertz and Gündogan predominantly operated in the center, pushing into the penalty area, Wirtz and Musiala tended to occupy the half-spaces.

However, the positions were by no means fixed; there was situational and clever rotation. Even Kimmich, who started as a full-back, was often seen in the center, with his position then covered by Musiala or Wirtz.

With Musiala and Wirtz, Germany also possesses two dribbling maestros capable of winning one-on-one battles and creating numerical advantages—an element that had been lacking in recent years. Toni Kroos frequently dropped back into the defensive line, forming a back three alongside Rüdiger and Tah. Andrich predominantly operated as the lone defensive midfielder, primarily responsible for covering defensively. Thus, the Germans have ball-playing capabilities even in their deepest defensive line, minimizing errors.

However, we know that possession alone holds little value in modern football. Attacks must be diverse, and that's precisely what distinguishes the German team. They often displayed a direct approach, playing balls into depth. Havertz, in particular, stood out with his intelligent movement and was frequently targeted with passes.

Despite the absence of a traditional center forward, Germany consistently utilized crosses from the wings. Mittelstädt, Kimmich, and even Rüdiger skillfully delivered crosses from both the half-spaces and the byline into the penalty area. This diversity makes it challenging for opponents to defend against the German team, as they can attack using various methods, making them unpredictable.

The German defense also appears very stable and energetic. The players demonstrate determination and strong work rate, employing a highly intelligent and aggressive pressing style. Particularly notable is Havertz's astute pressing, which in this example led to a turnover by the Hungarians. Havertz has a knack for applying pressure at the right moment and from the perfect angle.

Germany's counter-pressing is also exceptionally strong. In this example, you can see how swiftly they transition and strive to regain possession. Counter-pressing poses a mental challenge: the faster the reaction, the greater the chance of winning the ball back. Hence, it should be practiced extensively and intensively until it becomes instinctive, enabling players to switch seamlessly without hesitation.

Conclusion:

After two disappointing tournaments, the German team now presents itself highly motivated and committed on the field. In a tournament, small details often make the difference, and the team that consistently improves from game to game, growing closer as a unit, has the best chance of victory. The Germans certainly have the enthusiasm and potential. It will be intriguing to see how they fare against a strong opponent who plays more offensively and less defensively like Scotland and Hungary. Let's stay tuned and see what unfolds.

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👉Tomorrow's post...

In tomorrow's post, we will analyze today's top match between Spain and Italy, where the winner secures a spot in the Round of 16. Additionally, we will publish five new training exercises.

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