Both Germany and Hungary are trying avoid early elimination from the European Championship.
The Hungarians need to win when the teams meet on Wednesday, the Germans don't.
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Both Germany and Hungary are trying avoid early elimination from the European Championship.
UEFA turned down the council’s application. It previously gave the go-ahead for Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to continue wearing a captain’s armband with the rainbow colors “considering that it was promoting a good cause, i.e. diversity.”
Hungary lost to Portugal 3-0 in its opening game. Germany bounced back from its opening loss to France with a 4-2 win over Portugal.
Goretzka is likely to make his first start amid injury worries for Germany coach Joachim Löw. Influential forward Thomas Müller is doubtful with a knee injury sustained in the win over Portugal and defender Mats Hummels had a tendon problem in his knee. Both were recalled to the squad specifically for the tournament because of their experience and they've had a major impact.
“We will watch how they defended in the first two games and find solutions,” Goretzka said. “Our clear goal is to win the game. Then we don’t need to start looking at anything like other group games or I don’t know what. We just want to win our game and continue this positive trend that we started against Portugal.”
Hungary captain Ádám Szalai, who went off after receiving a blow to his head against France, has been cleared to play.
Hungary team celebrates with fans at the end of the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and France, at the Ferenc Puskas stadium, in Budapest, Saturday, June 19, 2021. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Alex Pantling, Pool via AP)
Hungary's players celebrate with their fans after the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and France at the Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest, Hungary Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Tibor IllyesPool via AP)
The match will take place following a request to light the stadium in rainbow colors to protest what the Munich city council said was the "homophobic and transphobic legislation of the Hungarian government.”
Germany's Joshua Kimmich celebrates after the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Portugal and Germany at the football arena stadium in Munich, Saturday, June 19, 2021. Germany won the match 4-2. (Christof StachePool via AP)
UEFA turned down the council’s application. It previously gave the go-ahead for Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to continue wearing a captain’s armband with the rainbow colors “considering that it was promoting a good cause, i.e. diversity.”
It will be the first competitive match between Germany and Hungary since the “Miracle of Bern” in the 1954 World Cup final, when the West German team came from behind to defeat a Hungarian side considered to be the best in the world 3-2.
Hungary coach Marco Rossi’s current team can’t be compared to the “Mighty Magyars” of yesteryear, but it can still reach the round of 16 after defender Attila Fiola scored in a 1-1 draw with World Cup champion France.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, talks to Germany's Toni Kroos after the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Portugal and Germany in Munich, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (AP PhotoMatthias Schrader, Pool)
Hungary lost to Portugal 3-0 in its opening game. Germany bounced back from its opening loss to France with a 4-2 win over Portugal.
France leads Group F with four points ahead of its final group game against Portugal. Both Portugal and Germany have three points, and Hungary has one.
“We have by far the most difficult group and of course Hungary is part of that,” Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka said. “If you look at the two games, they produced a remarkable performance against Portugal. They defended very, very well for a really long time, playing with a lot of passion, as it has to be.”
Portugal's Andre Silva, left, fights for the ball with Germany's Thomas Mueller during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Portugal and Germany at the football arena stadium in Munich, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Matthias HangstPool Photo via AP)
Goretzka is likely to make his first start amid injury worries for Germany coach Joachim Löw. Influential forward Thomas Müller is doubtful with a knee injury sustained in the win over Portugal and defender Mats Hummels had a tendon problem in his knee. Both were recalled to the squad specifically for the tournament because of their experience and they've had a major impact.
Other players with minor injuries — İlkay Gündoğan, Toni Kroos and Robin Gosens — took part in Tuesday's final training session, when Müller and right back Lukas Klostermann were the only players missing.
Whoever Löw opts for will have to contend with a well-drilled defense.
A German football fan from Canada wearing hair clips in the colors of Germany reacts during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Portugal and Germany in a beer garden in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (AP PhotoChristoph Soeder)
“We will watch how they defended in the first two games and find solutions,” Goretzka said. “Our clear goal is to win the game. Then we don’t need to start looking at anything like other group games or I don’t know what. We just want to win our game and continue this positive trend that we started against Portugal.”
Hungary will have to do without a full stadium of support for the first time. Both its previous games took place in Budapest, the only venue at the tournament to allow full capacity.
“That we’re playing away is an extra motivation,” Hungary midfielder Ádám Nagy told broadcaster M4 Sport. “It’s obviously great to play at home, but it also provides a great feeling and a boost when you walk out onto the pitch away from home, and the fans whistle us.”
Attila Fiola of Hungary, center, scores the opening goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and France at the Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday June 19, 2021. (Tibor IllyesMTI via AP)
Hungary captain Ádám Szalai, who went off after receiving a blow to his head against France, has been cleared to play.
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Hungary's Attila Fiola, left, and Nemanja Nikolic celebrate at the end of the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and France, at the Ferenc Puskas stadium, in Budapest, Saturday, June 19, 2021. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Alex Pantling, Pool via AP)
Hungary team celebrates with fans at the end of the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and France, at the Ferenc Puskas stadium, in Budapest, Saturday, June 19, 2021. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Alex Pantling, Pool via AP)
Hungary's players celebrate with their fans after the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Hungary and France at the Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest, Hungary Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Tibor IllyesPool via AP)