Germany hammer Hungary 5-0 in Nations League
September 7, 2024
Jamal Musiala scored once and set up three more as Germany demolished Hungary 5-0 on Saturday night in Düsseldorf.
The Bayern Munich midfielder scored a goal himself and assisted Niclas Füllkrug, Florian Wirtz and Aleksandar Pavlovic. Kai Havertz fired home from the penalty spot to round out scoring in the 81st minute.
Germany took the lead in the Nations League Group A3 match with Füllkrug's tapping in a Musiala assist in the 27th minute.
Hungary came out of the changing room and pushed to level the score, but Musiala struck on the break in the 58th, completing a quick counter-attack from a visitors' corner and a long chip from Wirtz.
Then Leverkusen's Wirtz drilled in their third after a one-two with Musiala in the 66th. Man-of-the-match Musiala then sent through Aleksandar Pavlovic, who got his first goal for Germany in the 77th minute.
After missing a pair of good chances, Havertz also got onto the scoresheet, converting from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the box by Willi Orban.
New era for Germany
All eyes were on Musiala, Wirtz and Havertz ahead of the match as many expect them to lead a new generation in Germany along with new captain Joshua Kimmich.
Following the summer's 2024 European Championships on home soil, former captain Ilkay Gündogan and mainstays and World Cup winners Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer retired from international football.
Germany travel to face the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Tuesday, while Hungary host Bosnia and Herzegovina.
sms/sdi (dpa, AFP, Reuters)