Here is how Hungary’s men football team defeated Germany

Yet another inventive and courageous performance from Marco Rossi’s Hungary men resulted in a 1-0 victory against Germany in Leipzig on Friday evening, Ádám Szalai’s spectacular first-half goal proving enough to keep his side one point clear top of the Nations League Division 1 group with just a home fixture against Italy to come on Monday.

Captain Szalai inspires Hungary to victory in Germany

It was a largely familiar lineup that head coach Marco Rossi selected for this penultimate group-stage match in front of nearly 40,000 spectators in Germany, Péter Gulácsi in goal behind a back three of Ádám Lang, Willi Orbán and Attila Szalai with Attila Fiola at right wing-back and 18 year-old debutant Milos Kerkez on the left. András Schäfer, Ádám Nagy and Dániel Gazdag made up a three-man midfield with Szoboszlai supporting lone striker and team captain Ádám Szalai upfront.

First blood was drawn by the visitors when Szalai artfully used his right heel to flick Szoboszlai’s outswinging corner from the left into the far-right side of the German goal in the 17th minute. Gazdag and Germany’s Thomas Műller both saw efforts saved before the half-time whistle was blown. The second half was predictably characterised by German pressure, Müller seeing a goal disallowed and Timo Werner and Joshua Kimmich both being denied by Gulácsi. Hungary weren’t afraid to seek a second goal though, substitute Ádám Martin – on for his striking colleague Szalai – testing home-team goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen and the latter also proving equal to László Kleinheisler’s late effort.

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There were to be no further changes to the scoreline though and thus Gulácsi, Orbán and Szoboszlai were able to celebrate a momentous victory in the stadium they play their club football in for RB Leipzig. The joy on every Hungarian face at the end was not only due this latest amazing triumph under Rossi, Hungary’s first in a competitive match against Gerany since 1954, but also because Italy’s win over England in Milan at the same time means that Hungary have secured their place in the top tier of the tournament’s next edition and can even finish top of this group if they avoid defeat against Italy in the Puskás Aréna on Monday. HERE you may watch the match highlights.

Marco Rossi: I’m grateful to the players

Hungary’s head coach spoke in particuarly glowing terms about Ádám Szalai, his striker and captain who will retire from international football next week.

The Hungarian national team produced yet another incredible feat this year, this time defeating Germany away from home and thereby securing their stay in the top tier of the Nations League.

In his post-match interview, Marco Rossi praised all of his players, but singled out Ádám Szalai who scored the winning goal.

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“We did a great job in the first half and then in the second half we were cornered by the Germans and had to defend very deep, even as the players tired. Ádám Szalai did a great defensive job; he occupied Kimmich for fifty minutes so that the German couldn’t put us in difficult situations with dangerous passes, and thanks to that, we were also able to conserve our strength more. With Ádám, exactly what I hoped for happened before the match. I told the players that the last two matches will remain in their memories for ever, so I want them to remember these matches for the right reasons. His goal here against Germany has made this farewell even more magnificent. Ádám is a player who, during his career, has been held in much higher esteem abroad than in Hungary. He deserves all the praise possible for his performance today – in addition to his goal, he did an amazing defensive job and sacrificed a lot for the sake of success,” Rossi explained.

A special match is now on the horizon for Marco Rossi, because Hungary can now win their Nations League group with victory or a draw against his home country, Italy.

“Monday’s match against Italy will be a special match for me and I am happy that we have secured at least second place with this success. After five rounds, we have ten points, which no one expected of us beforehand, so I am very grateful to the players for their efforts,” Rossi added.

Source: mlsz.hu