Germany embarks on a new chapter Saturday evening as they take on familiar rivals Hungary in Düsseldorf for their opening UEFA Nations League match. German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann emphasized the importance of staying positive and building momentum as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Nations League match against Hungary, Nagelsmann highlighted the team’s focus on maintaining the positive energy from their Euro 2024 campaign.
Despite their hopes of a summer fairy tale ending in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Spain, which saw key players like Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan, and Thomas Müller retire, Germany had a strong showing overall, losing only once in five games and securing a 2-0 victory over Hungary in the group stage.
Nagelsmann stressed the significance of the first match after the Euros, stating, “It’s crucial for us to carry forward the momentum from the tournament. We haven’t introduced anything new in training because we have limited time, and we want to reinforce what worked well during the Euros. Our goal is to recapture the enthusiasm we had during that competition.”
Germany vs. Hungary: Head-to-Head
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Germany and Hungary have a long-standing rivalry, having faced each other 38 times in total. Germany holds a slight advantage with 14 victories, while Hungary has won 12 matches, and 12 encounters ended in a draw. In their last four meetings, both teams have secured one win each.
The most recent clash between Germany and Hungary in the UEFA Nations League occurred in September 2022, with Hungary emerging victorious with a 1-0 win. During the 2022 UEFA Nations League, Germany struggled against Hungary, losing at home and drawing away. Since Julian Nagelsmann took over as coach from Hansi Flick in September 2023, he has guided Germany to seven wins in his first 13 matches.
Germany vs. Hungary: Team News
With several veteran players no longer in the squad, head coach Julian Nagelsmann has appointed Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich as the new captain of the German national team. The versatile 29-year-old is expected to maintain his position at right-back.
Kimmich will captain the team for the ninth time on Saturday, while Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller is set to make his international debut. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Robert Andrich, and Pascal Gross are strong candidates to take over the midfield roles previously held by Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gundogan.
Hungarian star midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai will captain the visitors, and he’s expected to be joined in the starting lineup by his former Leipzig teammates, goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and center-back Willi Orban.
Some players from the Euro 2024 squad, such as Attila Fiola, Laszlo Kleinheisler, Adam Lang, Callum Styles, and Atilla Szalai, have been left out. However, Barnabas Varga makes his return to the team after recovering from a serious head injury sustained against Scotland.
Possible Starting XI
Germany Possible XI: Ter Stegen; Kimmich, Schlotterbeck, Tah, Mittelstadt; Gross, Pavlovic; Musiala, Wirtz, Fuhrich; Havertz
Hungary Possible XI: Gulacsi; Botka, Orban, M. Dardai; Bolla, A. Nagy, Schafer, Kerkez; Sallai, Szoboszlai; Varga
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