MADRID, 7 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The German national team handed Hungary a resounding and eye-catching thrashing (5-0) on Saturday to open their participation in the 2024-2025 Nations League, a competition in which the Netherlands, the Germans’ rival in the next round of Group A3, also added their first three points against Bosnia Herzegovina (5-2), also inflicting a thrashing on them in a duel in which they were far superior.
The hosts of the last European Championship, with Julian Nagelsmann on the bench and without the retired Toni Kroos on the pitch, had a feast at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf against Hungary, whom they had already faced at the EURO. And there was no surprise, as the German team put an end to any possible doubts about their performance at the European Championship with a goal-fest.
West Ham striker Niclas Füllkrug opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, finishing off a fine move with his left foot from just off the goal line. In the second half, Musiala, who had assisted the first goal, made it 2-0. After a sensational defensive move by Andrich to prevent Hungary from equalising, the Bayern midfielder made a great run without opposition, with the opposition on the move, and beat Gulacsi with a low shot.
This goal did a lot of damage to the Hungarian team, who seemed to throw in the towel and less than ten minutes later suffered the 3-0. Wirtz, assisted again by Musiala, finished with a right foot from the left side inside the area, with the crowd enjoying themselves. Nagelsmann’s plan worked wonderfully, with football as effective as it was attractive and offensive, so much so that they did not confirm it and closed the ‘manita’ with goals from Pavlovic and Havertz, from the penalty spot.
The Germans will test their level on Tuesday against a Netherlands side that will also be in high form and with high morale. Like the Germans, the Dutch beat Bosnia 5-2, although they struggled a bit more for their victory. Zirkzee put the home side ahead, but the ‘Orange’ goal was quickly met with a 1-1 from Demirovic. The nerves were growing, until Reijnders calmed things down with the 2-1 just before the break.
Ronald Koeman’s machinery was well-oiled and it seems that they have already assimilated a showy and optimal model. And this was evident in Eindhoven, even more so with Gakpo’s 3-1, in what was a Dutch party.
But veteran Edin Dzeko was also invited to this match, scoring the 3-2 to silence the home crowd, although only for a few minutes. The Dutch dominance did not diminish despite the goal, and they sealed the win in the final minutes, with goals from Weghrost and Xavi Simons, in a duel in which Zirkzee was the best at number nine.
In League B, Georgia’s 4-1 win over the Czech Republic in Group 1 was a highlight, with Kvaratskhelia leading the home side’s feast in Tblisi. The Napoli native scored the first goal from the penalty spot and assisted Chakvetadze for the 2-0, while Mikautadze and Kochorashvili rounded off the victory.
In Group 2, England won 0-2 against Ireland in the debut of Irishman Lee Carsley as England manager. After the coach’s silence in the ‘God Save the King’, the ‘Three Lions’ surprised with the game they displayed, in the first test after losing to Spain in the EURO final. Goals in the first half by Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, both with Irish nationality, sealed the match.