Jonas Hofmann (r.) scored for the second game running but Germany were again held in Hungary in the UEFA Nations League. - © IMAGO/IMAGO/ActionPictures
Jonas Hofmann (r.) scored for the second game running but Germany were again held in Hungary in the UEFA Nations League. - © IMAGO/IMAGO/ActionPictures
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Jonas Hofmann scores again but Germany held in Hungary

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Jonas Hofmann scored for the second game running but Germany were held to their third consecutive 1-1 draw in UEFA Nations League Group A3 away at Hungary.

Hungary 1-1 Germany
Goals: 1-0 Z. Nagy (6’), 1-1 Hofmann (9‘)

A fast-paced game took just five minutes to burst to life as Hungary found space up the right. Freiburg forward Roland Sallai’s header from a high cross was initially parried by Manuel Neuer, but Zsolt Nagy was there to lash the rebound into the roof of the net. However, Germany responded just as quickly as they did in the opening game against Italy as Jonas Hofmann – scorer of the opener against England last time out – rounded RB Leipzig captain Peter Gulacsi after a long ball from Nico Schlotterbeck and rolled into an empty net with 10 minutes not even on the clock. Hoffenheim left-back David Raum came closest to the lead for Die Mannschaft when his right-footed effort curled just wide of the far post. Neuer then produced an excellent stop with his leg to deny Attila Fiola on the volley with half-time looming.

The second half was much more stop-start with few opportunities of note. That was until the 72nd minute when goalscorer Hofmann was played in by Havertz and found himself running clean through on goal. But instead of trying to beat Gulacsi again, he tried to play in Timo Werner with Willi Orban racing back, who intercepted to deny his former Leipzig teammate a certain goal. Even the introduction of Germany’s fifth-most capped player, with Thomas Müller making his 115th appearance, failed to help the four-time world champions eek out a win, as they record their third 1-1 draw in as many games in this Nations League campaign. They play their fourth game of the group against Italy on Tuesday in Mönchengladbach.

Match stats

  • Hofmann now has three goals in his last four Germany appearances after scoring just one in his first nine caps.
  • His four Bundesliga goals against Gulacsi is the most he has against a particular goalkeeper.
  • Schlotterbeck’s assist was the first time he’s had a hand in a goal for Germany, with this his fourth senior cap.
  • Schalke youth product Thilo Kehrer made his 11th appearance under Flick (all starts), making him the most used player by the current coach.
  • Germany are still yet to taste defeat in 12 games under Hansi Flick (W8, D4), but the last four have all been 1-1 draws. It's the first time ever the four-time world champions have drawn four games in a row or had the same score in four consecutive games in their 990-match history.
  • Die Mannschaft are unbeaten in their last four meetings with the Mighty Magyars (W2, D”). They lead the overall head-to-head 13 to 11, with a further 12 draws.

Line-ups

Hungary: Gulacsi - Lang, Orban, At. Szalai – Fiola, A. Nagy, Styles (Vecsei 57’), Z. Nagy (Nego 69’) - Sallai (Gazdag 76’), Szoboszlai - Ad. Szalai (c) (Adam 69’)
Unused subs: Dubusz, Szappanos, Kecskes, Salloi, Schön, Bolla, Barath, Vancsa
Out: Schäfer (suspended)
Coach: Marco Rossi

Germany: Neuer (c) - Kehrer, Süle, Schlotterbeck – Hofmann (Nmecha 85’), Kimmich, Goretzka (Gündogan 68’), Raum - Musiala (Brandt 78’), Havertz (Adeyemi 85’) - Werner (Müller 78)
Unused subs: Trapp, Baumann, Stach, Tah, Klostermann, Henrichs, Sane
Out: Gnabry (calf), Reus (thigh)
Coach:
Hansi Flick

As it happened

1 - 1

(1 - 1)

Hungary
FINAL
Germany
UEFA European Championship
Matchday 3
Matchday 3 Puskas Arena, Budapest
Full-time
90'

Added time

Five minutes of it to be played at the Puskas Arena.
81'

Save from Neuer again!

Another smart stop from the Germany skipper as Gazdag hits a sweet effort from 20 yards. It's swerving and probably going under the bar until Neuer sticks out a strong right hand.
74'

Falls for Sallai

Kehrer's backpass is careless and intercepted by Sallai. The angle is tight on the left as Neuer races out and just gets a leg to it to flick the ball behind.
72'

Wasted!

What a chance for Germany. Hofmann is played in by Havertz, beating the offside trap. He's one-on-one with Gulacsi, but opts to try and play in Werner with Orban racing back to cover and he intercepts to kill off Germany's chance.
69'

Substitution

69'

Substitution

68'

Waved away

Kimmich then pings in the corner with Schlotterbeck making a run from deep. He goes down and calls for a penalty, but it's waved away.
67'

Deflected

A corner is cleared only as far as Hofmann, who lets fly from a good 30 yards and earns another corner out of it. Not much goalmouth action just yet this half.
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There's a decent bench

Kevin Trapp has just won the UEFA Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, Ilkay Gündogan is a champion in England and Leroy Sane is a Bundesliga winner with Bayern Munich.
62'

Hour gone

We've reached the two-thirds mark of this game - around the time coaches begin to make changes. But there's no sign of any alterations yet.
56'

Stop-start

This half hasn't quite had the same frantic pace as the first. A lot of stoppages preventing any rhythm to the play.
47'

Szobo down

The Leipzig man takes a knock to the head as Goretzka tries to beat him to a corner. Quick handshake and it's all smiles again between the Bundesliga title rivals. The Leipzig playmaker was the only player in the first half not to misplace a pass, finding his target with all 15.
46'

Werner away

No changes for either side at the break as Werner races away down the right but has his cutback cut out.
Kick-off!
45'

All square

Nothing to separate the sides so far in Budapest after Hofmann cancelled out Nagy's early strike. A winner for either side will send them top of Group A3, with Italy and England still goalless in Wolverhampton.
Half-time
43'

Save from Neuer!

The hosts come forward once again as the ball finds Fiola at the far post after a flick, but Neuer sticks out his right leg to block the sweetly hit volley from just a few yards out.
43'

Werner off target

Again a ball through the Hungary back three finds Werner. This time he's onside, but he can't wrap his foot around the ball to hit the target.
42'

On yellow watch

Schlotterbeck is already out of the next game but Werner, Havertz and Kehrer are all also a booking away from having to sit that one out. Kehrer is incidentally the only player to have appeared in all 11 games under Hansi Flick.
40'

Raum!

Musiala finds himself crowded out in the box so turns outwards and lays the ball off to Raum. He shifts it onto his weaker right foot from a right angle but still fancies his chances. Head in hands as it bends just wide of the far post.
38'

Jonas and Pete

Hofmann's goal was his fifth scored against Gulacsi. His four in the Bundesliga is more than against any other goalkeeper.
36'

Schlotterbeck booked

The new Dortmund defender trips his old Freiburg teammate Sallai and goes into the book. He'll be suspended for Tuesday's meeting with Italy.
30'

Possession after 30 minutes

Germany are seeing far more of the ball, but need to be wary of that long ball to Fiola down the right.
3862
28'

Orban to the rescue

Germany again get in behind, this time with Hofmann up the inside right. He squares with Werner lurking, but his old Leipzig friend Willi Orban calmly clears the danger while running towards his own goal.
28'

Werner in behind again

The Chelsea man is slipped in behind the Hungarian defence once again. He cuts back to club teammate Havertz arriving on the penalty spot, but he puts over. And the flag then goes up against Werner again.
27'

Applause for Fiola

Another long diagonal up to wing-back Fiola lingering on the last shoulder of Raum, who tracks the Hungarian all the way but is given the slip with a drop of the shoulder. The cross is collected by Neuer, though.
20'

Schlotterbeck's first time

It's the first time the new Dortmund centre-back has been directly involved in a goal for Germany.
17'

Havertz inches away

The ex-Leverkusen man gets up highest as Raum delivers a free-kick from the left, but he can't get enough on his header and it flicks wide.
camera-photo

Hofmann on fire

The Gladbach man now has goals in back-to-back Germany games for the first time after striking against England as well. He's also got three in his last four international appearances after getting just one in his first nine.
12'

Almost from Werner

This time it's Werner who's slipped in, but he's denied very well by the leg of former Leipzig teammate Gulacsi in the Hungary goal. The flag goes up for offside anyway.
9'

Level again!

A fantastic start in Budapest. Germany go long this time as Schlotterbeck pings one over the top into the run of Hofmann, who does very well to get his foot to a high bounce and take the ball around Gulacsi before tapping in to bring us back to all square.
9'
6'

Nations League struggles

That's now 12 Nations League matches in a row where Germany have failed to keep a clean sheet.
5'

Hungary strike first!

The game has looked stretched even in these first few minutes. Fiola is sent clear up the right and puts in a high ball that Sallai heads back across goal and Neuer can only palm away. But it falls straight back go Nagy, who takes a touch and lashes his shot into the roof of the net from six yards out.
5'

Zsolt Nagy

GOAL!

1:0
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Lothar in the house

No surprise to see that Germany's most capped player, ex-Hungary coach, Bundesliga Legend and Budapest resident Lothar Matthäus is also here for this one.
Kick-off!

Almost time

Two rousing renditions of the anthems done, we're almost ready to go in Budapest.

Dardai in attendance

A former Hungary boss and Hertha Berlin legend, Pal Dardai was never going to miss this match and watches on from the posh seats inside the Puskas Arena as the teams prepare in the tunnel.
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The Bundesliga’s Magyars

As well as Bundesliga-based players in this Hungary squad, there have been some 40 Magyars who have so far called Germany’s top flight their home. Hertha legend Pal Dardai tops the appearance chart with 285 – nine more than Szalai. Iconic goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly also played nearly 200 games in the Bundesliga, which is a mark Gulacsi is fast approaching. Kaiserslautern-born Orban will bring up 150 the next time he features. (FYI: the fixture list will be released on Friday).
camera-photo

Hungary’s Bundesliga link

Lothar Matthäus once coached Hungary and lives a lot of the time in Budapest, but there’s a strong Bundesliga flavour to this Magyar squad. Captain Adam Szalai has played for Stuttgart, Mainz, Hoffenheim, Hannover and Schalke; Peter Gulacsi, Willi Orban and Dominik Szoboszlai are key figures at Leipzig; Roland Sallai has spent several years at Freiburg; and Andras Schäfer has just finished his first campaign with Union Berlin.
camera-photo

Üdvözöljük Budapesten

It’s been over a decade since Germany played in Budapest, making this the national team’s first visit to the new Puskas Arena that opened in 2019. That isn’t to say it’s unfamiliar territory, given at least 10 of the squad have been here before. Bayern won the 2020 UEFA Super Cup here under Flick, while Leipzig and Gladbach both played Champions League fixtures here in 2020/21.

Infrequent meetings

This is the 36th time Germany and Hungary have come up against each other, but only the fifth time in a competition. The first was the 1912 Olympics (Hungary won 3-1) before two encounters at the 1954 FIFA World Cup. The Mighty Magyars claimed a famous 8-3 win in the group stage before underdogs Germany beat Ferenc Puskas & Co. 3-2 in the final for their first world title (despite trailing 2-0 after eight minutes for what became known as the Miracle of Bern). It was 67 years until the next meeting, at last summer’s UEFA Euro 2020, as the sides drew 2-2 in Munich in the group stage after Germany twice levelled.
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“Need to build”

Coach Flick, who is yet to taste defeat as Germany boss, called for his players to “build on the performance against England. Everyone needs to show 100 per cent willingness to perform”. The 57-year-old also described this game as “the toughest after England”. Die Mannschaft won their first eight matches under the former Bayern coach, but have drawn the last three by 1-1 scorelines.

“We want the points”

Thomas Müller, who is now fifth on Germany’s all-time appearance list, was the player to feature at yesterday’s pre-match press conference. The Bayern man spoke about how Die Mannschaft “want to reward ourselves in terms of points for how we’ve performed in the last week”. He’s referring there to two decent displays against Italy and England but without a victory to show for it.

State of play

Just a week since the third UEFA Nations League kicked off, we’re already into the third round of fixtures. It’s proving as tight as expected in Group A3, with Italy top on four points going into their game away in England – bottom on just one – at the same time. Hungary are currently second after they beat the Three Lions, with Germany third on two points after a pair of 1-1 draws. Flick’s side now need a win tonight in Budapest to avoid the risk of Italy moving clear.

Germany team news

As for the four-time world champions, Hansi Flick makes four alterations and also switches from a back three to a four. Thilo Kehrer, Niklas Süle, Leon Goretzka and Timo Werner are the men to come in. Lukas Klostermann, Antonio Rüdiger, Ilkay Gündogan and Thomas Müller make way.

Hungary team news

The hosts make three changes from the side that lost in Italy on Tuesday. Leipzig skipper Peter Gulacsi returns in goal, while Attila Fiola and Callum Styles come in for Loic Nego and Union Berlin’s Andras Schäfer.

Germany subs

Trapp, Baumann, Stach, Tah, Adeyemi, Nmecha, Müller, Klostermann, Henrichs, Sane, Brandt, Gündogan

Germany XI

Neuer (c) - Kehrer, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Raum - Kimmich, Goretzka - Hofmann, Havertz, Musiala - Werner

Hungary subs

Dubusz, Szappanos, Kecskes, Nego, Salloi, Schön, Bolla, Barath, Gazdag, Adam, Vancsa, Vecsei

Hungary XI

Gulacsi - Lang, Orban, At. Szalai – Fiola, A. Nagy, Styles, Z. Nagy - Sallai, Szoboszlai - Ad. Szalai (c)