Germany ended their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League group campaign unbeaten after drawing 1-1 with Hungary in Budapest.

Hungary 1-1 Germany
Goals: 0-1 Nmecha 76', 1-1 Szoboszlai (pen. 90'+9)

With Germany already through to the quarter-final stage as group winners, Julian Nagelsmann made nine changes to the team that started the record-breaking rout of Bosnia-Herzegovina three days earlier. Julian Brandt, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané were among the players cycled in, the Bundesliga trio combining for the game's first opening of note, which culminated in a Hungary defender making a crucial block. Gnabry then shot wide, before Alexander Nübel was made to work in the Germany goal by Union Berlin-based András Schäfer. Hertha Berlin's Márton Dárdai made a couple of key interventions to thwart the lively Gnabry, while Nübel had to be alert to a well-struck effort from Zsolt Nagy on the stroke of half-time.

Nagelsmann introduced Robin Gosens for Joshua Kimmich at the break, with the former Union left-back quick to warm the palms of Hungary goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz. Julian Brandt went one better on the hour-mark, only to see his cool finish ruled out for an offside in the build-up. Substitute Kai Havertz volleyed against the woodwork as Germany piled on the pressure, but Hungary responded in kind as Barnabás Varga forced a superb save out of Nübel. The breakthrough went the way of the visitors as Felix Nmecha turned in from close range after Borussia Dortmund club-mate Nico Schlotterbeck's initial header had been saved. However, there was time for one final twist as Robin Koch was penalised for a foul upon VAR review, leaving ex-RB Leipzig man Dominik Szoboszlai to sink the resultant penalty and deny Germany a fifth win from six group games.

Match stats

• Germany end the group stage on 14 points (W4, D2).
• No other team has scored more than Germany's 18 goals in the groups. 
• This was the 39th meeting between these teams. Germany edge the head-to-head with 15 wins to Hungary's 11. There have been 13 draws. 
• Germany won the reverse fixture 5-0 in Düsseldorf last September, and beat the Magyars 2-0 at UEFA Euro 2024.
• Nmecha was making his third appearance for the Germany seniors.
• The four-time world champions and three-time Euro winners are bidding to win the Nations League for the first time.

Teams

Hungary: Dibusz – Fiola, Orbán, M. Dárdai - Négo (Gera 65'), Nikitscher (Kata 65'), Schäfer, Zs. Nagy (Schön 82') - Szoboszlai (c), Sallai (Csoboth 82') - Varga (Gruber 89')
Unused subs: Demjén, Szappanos, Szúcs, Balogh, A. Nagy, Gruber, Szabo, Botka
Out: Gazdag (unspecified)
Coach: Marco Rossi 

Germany: Nübel - Kimmich (c) (Gosens 46'), Koch, Schlotterbeck, Henrichs - Nmecha, Andrich - Sané (Kleindienst 79'), Brandt (Havertz 62'), Führich (Musiala 62') - Gnabry (Wirtz 62')
Unused subs: Baumann, Ortega, Mittelstädt, Rüdiger, Groß
Out: Füllkrug (calf), Leweling (thigh), Pavlović (collarbone), Stiller (muscular), Tah (suspended), Undav (thigh)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

As it happened!

Full-time: Hungary 1-1 Germany

A Dominik Szoboszlai stoppage-time equaliser from the spot denied Germany a winning end to their Nations League group stage. Felix Nmecha had initially given the visitors the lead, poking the ball home on the rebound to score his first senior international goal, but Szoboszlai's injury-time penalty with the last kick of the game meant that Julian Nagelsmann's side take just a point away from the Puskás Aréna.

© IMAGO/Vincenzo Orlando/IPA Sport / ipa

Full-time

90'

+ 9

Panenka equaliser

The former Leipzig midfielder chips his penalty down the middle and coolly brings his side level with the last touch of the game!

90'

+ 9

Dominik Szoboszlai

GOAL!

1:1

90'

+ 7

Penalty!

The referee awards a penalty to Hungary!

90'

+ 5

VAR check

Hungary want a penalty for a potential handball, and the VAR is going to check, and the referee has gone over to the monitor.

90'

+ 5

Block after block

The home side fire several successive shots towards goal, but a Germany player gets their body in between each effort, heroically defending their side's lead.

90'

+ 4

Yellow card

Robert Andrich

90'

+ 4

Yellow card

András Schäfer

90'

+ 3

Henrichs down

The right-back goes to ground after being on the end of a tough tackle by Schön. The medical staff come on to give him some treatment, and the Leipzig player is all good to continue.

90'

+ 1

Four more to play

Germany will have to hold out for another four minutes to secure victory at the Puskás Aréna.

89'

Substitution

Zsombor Gruber

Barnabas Varga

88'

Yellow card

Daniel Gera

87'

Relieving the pressure

Musiala draws a foul deep into his own half to allow his side some time to breathe. The hosts are not going down without a fight.

82'

Attacking changes

Marco Rossi brings on some attack-minded players to try and get his side back into the game.

82'

Substitution

Kevin Csoboth

Roland Sallai

82'

Substitution

Szabolcs Schön

Zsolt Nagy

79'

Substitution

Tim Kleindienst

Leroy Sané

76'

Nmecha breaks the deadlock!

After Schlotterbeck's back-post header was kept out from a Wirtz corner, it fell to Nmecha on the rebound who simply had to poke it home from a couple of metres out to give Nagelsmann's side the lead!

76'

Felix Nmecha

GOAL!

0:1

On hand

Nübel's glove is what kept Hungary from taking the lead. A fine stop from the Stuttgart goalkeeper.

© ATTILA KISBENEDEK

72'

Out for the quarter-final

Wirtz receives his second yellow of the Nations League after a foul on Varga. This means that the Leverkusen man will be out for Germany's quarter-final match in March.

72'

Yellow card

Florian Wirtz

72'

Both sides playing with intent

Germany are working it nicely in the Hungary half, but are unable to find a route into the box. In possession, the hosts are seeking to play direct and catch the away side out. It should be an exciting final twenty minutes or so!

67'

Latest Nübel heroics

Varga looked poised to give Hungary the lead, but the Stuttgart 'keeper stuck out an arm to tip the ball past the post and out for a corner. A top stop on his second international appearance!

65'

Double sub

Marco Rossi reacts to the triple Germany substitution by bringing on two pairs of fresh legs in midfield.

65'

Substitution

Mihaly Kata

Tamas Nikitscher

65'

Substitution

Daniel Gera

Loic Nego

63'

Havertz hits the post!

Almost an instant impact from the number seven! It comes to Havertz on the edge of the box, who hits it on the volley towards the bottom-right corner, but the effort comes crashing off the woodwork.

62'

Substitution

Kai Havertz

Julian Brandt

62'

Substitution

Florian Wirtz

Serge Gnabry

62'

Substitution

Jamal Musiala

Chris Führich

60'

Ball in the net... flag in the air!

Brandt finishes nicely with his left foot, but due to an offside in the build-up, the Dortmund man is denied by the linesman's flag and it remains 0-0,

57'

Into the book

The Dortmund centre-back sees yellow for tripping Sallai.

57'

Yellow card

Nico Schlotterbeck

55'

Henrichs goes down in the box

The right-back charges into the area before he is nudged to the floor by Leipzig teammate Orban. The referee, however, is having none of it.

50'

Gosens shoots on goal

Germany's first shot on target comes courtesy of the half-time sub. Gnabry lays it off to the left-back on the edge of the box, but Gosens' right-footed shot is too central to worry the Hungary 'keeper.

46'

New captain

Sané has been given the armband after Kimmich was brought off at the break. This is the first time Sané has captained his national team in his career.

46'

One sub at the break

The second half has got underway, with Robin Gosens replacing Joshua Kimmich at the interval.

Kick-off!

46'

Substitution

Robin Gosens

Joshua Kimmich

Half-time: Hungary 0-0 Germany

It remains goalless here at the break in Budapest. Germany made the brighter start to the game, seeing lots of the ball and creating a couple of half-chances, but it is the home side who have come closest to opening the scoring, with Nübel being called into actions on several occasions.

© FERENC ISZA

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Added time

The fourth official has indicated that there will be a minimum of one minute added on.

Hosts making themselves heard

The home side are making their presence felt here. It can be said that they have had the better of the chances.

© IMAGO/Vincenzo Orlando/IPA Sport / ipa

40'

Chance!

Varga flicks on a long ball in behind the Germany defence, and after muscling past Kimmich, Nagy strikes a powerful left-footed shot on the half volley from the edge of the box. Nübel is equal to it, but that was a good opportunity out of nothing for the hosts.

38'

Gnabry on the turn

Sané and Gnabry combine on the edge of the box, with the latter taking the ball on the turn before firing towards goal. Once again, Hertha's Dardai is in the way and blocks the effort, resulting in another Germany corner.

33'

Dárdai in between

Henrichs puts a dangerous low cross into the box, with Gnabry looking to slide in and direct it towards goal, but Márton Dárdai gets to the ball first and clears it for a corner.

30'

Over the bar from Henrichs

After being fouled by Fiola to win the free kick, Benjamin Henrichs steps up from 30 yards out on the centre-left side of the pitch and has a go. However, his effort misses the target.

Work to do

Germany have been unable to break down the Hungary defence, who have looked threatening in attack themselves at times.

© FERENC ISZA

24'

First save for Nübel

The Stuttgart keeper is called into action for the first time as Schäfer fires a shot towards his bottom-right corner. He gets a strong hand down to the ball to keep it out.

20'

Varga goes for the spectacular

The striker attempts to flick Szoboszlai's cross in with an unorthodox effort, but it poses no threat to Nübel's goal.

18'

Need to watch out for counters

Germany's prolonged spells of possession may signify their control of proceedings, but Hungary have tried to launch counter-offensives on a couple of occasions, and this is something the visitors will need to be aware of.

13'

No takers from Kimmich's cross

The skipper plays a decent ball into the box from the right flank, but the only head that meets it is that of Fiola, who nods it behind for a corner. Nothing comes from the resulting set-piece.

12'

Wide of the frame

Brandt plays it to Gnabry on the edge of the box, but the attacker drags his left-footed effort wide of the target.

10'

Need to pick the lock

When Germany regain possession, the home side drop back into a very defensive formation. Should they wish to come away with the win, Nagelsmann's side's task this evening will be to find a way through this deep-set defence.

6'

Gnabry denied!

Germany work it nicely through Sané and Brandt, who then lays it off to Gnabry on the right side of the penalty box. The Bayern Munich star tries to play it back across goal, but the ball is blocked by a Hungary defender: he might have had better luck with a shot.

4'

Foot on the ball

Nagelsmann's side are dictating the opening exchanges, seeing lots of the ball and trying to fashion an early chance.

1'

Game on!

Serge Gnabry takes the kick-off as this Nations League fixture begins in Budapest.

Kick-off!

Ready to go

The players are on the pitch, the anthems have been sung, and Germany's final Nations League group fixture is about to get going!

Ádám Szalai not at the Puskás Aréna

The Hungary assistant coach, who collapsed during Hungary's game against the Netherlands, is absent from tonight's fixture. However, the former Freiburg and Mainz striker is said to be in a stable condition following the health scare at the weekend.

Warm-ups underway

'Keeper Alexander Nübel getting ready to make his second Germany appearance.

© Alexander Hassenstein

Catching up

Benjamin Henrichs shares a moment with Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai at the Puskás Aréna. The pair used to be teammates at RB Leipzig before Szoboszlai left to join Liverpool in 2023.

© David Balogh

Playing for pride

Germany have already won Group A3, and Hungary are confirmed to finish third and will be subjected to the relegation play-off. Whilst there may be nothing at stake in terms of the Nations League competition, this is both teams' final game of 2024, and so they will be looking to end the year on a good note.

More on those teams

Julian Nagelsmann promised rotation in his pre-match press conference, and he has stuck to his word: the 37-year-old makes nine changes to the Germany side, with captain Joshua Kimmich and Robert Andrich being the only two in tonight's XI that also started in Freiburg. Meanwhile, Hungary make just one change in defence compared to their last game.

© THOMAS KIENZLE

Hungary starting XI

Dibusz – Fiola, Orbán, M. Dárdai - Négo, Nikitscher, Schäfer, Zs. Nagy - Szoboszlai (c), Sallai – Varga

Hungary subs

Demjén, Szappanos, Szúcs, Balogh, A. Nagy, Schön, Gera, Gruber, Szabo, Kata, Botka, Csoboth

Germany starting XI

Nübel - Kimmich (c), Koch, Schlotterbeck, Henrichs - Nmecha, Andrich - Sané, Brandt, Führich - Gnabry

Germany subs

Baumann, Ortega, Mittelstädt, Rüdiger, Gosens, Groß, Havertz, Musiala, Wirtz, Kleindienst

Nübel back in net

After Julian Nagelsmann selected Oliver Baumann on Saturday, Alexander Nübel will be between the sticks in Budapest. With Marc-Andre ter Stegen out due to a long-term injury, the Hoffenheim and Stuttgart shot-stoppers have been rotated in the last two international breaks, and to good effect, keeping two clean sheets and conceding just once in Germany's last three fixtures.

Headstrong Musiala

Jamal Musiala nodded in Germany's opening goal in the 7-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday night, demonstrating his newfound heading prowess. The Bayern attacker has now scored four headed goals in all competitions this season, having also netted against Bochum, Mainz and Benfica in the same fashion.

© IMAGO/Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON

Tah suspended

Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen) picked up another yellow card in Germany's last outing against Bosnia and Herzegovina and thus will serve a suspension and miss out on the trip to Hungary. Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) is expected to be his replacement. Additionally, Nagelsmann is expected to rotate Baumann (Hoffenheim), who was between the sticks last time out, for Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart).

© IMAGO/Bahho Kara

Julian Nagelsmann on rotation after the game with Bosnia

"We have said that we take the clubs into consideration. We have the same interest as every club in keeping the players healthy. We will find a good mix again and bring in fresh talent."

© Neil Baynes

Hungarians playing in Germany

On top of internationals Péter Gulácsi and Willi Orbán (both RB Leipzig), Márton Dárdai and Pál Dárdai (both Hertha Berlin), András Schäfer (Union Berlin) and Levente Szabó (Eintracht Braunschweig), there are a host of other talented Hungarian footballers plying their trade in Germany right now, most notably: Krisztián Lisztes and Noah Fenyö (both Eintracht Frankfurt), Imre Szabics (Augsburg), Attila Szalai (Hoffenheim) and András Németh (Münster).

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Memmler

Tale of the tape

Germany enjoy an historical advantage against their near neighbours from Hungary, with a record of 15 wins for 12 defeats and 12 draws in their 39 encounters since first clashing in April 1909. While most of their meetings have been friendly matches, the duo notably clashed twice in the 1954 World Cup, Hungary clinching a rampant 8-3 win in the group stage before the Germans hit back with a 3-2 win in the all-important final. More recently, Germany have won five, drawn two and lost just five of their nine clashes with Hungary in the 21st century.

© 1954 Getty Images

Homecoming?

Although Hungary keeper Péter Gulácsi has spent most of his playing career in England, Austria and Germany, Tuesday's clash is something of a homecoming. Back in 2007, a 17-year-old Gulácsi started his youth career with MTK Budapest, whose home at the Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion is less than two kilometres from the Puskás Aréna.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Florian Wolf

Kimmich in no doubt

After a knee complaint saw Joshua Kimmich limp off in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, there have been question marks over whether the Germany captain would feature in what is admittedly a dead rubber against Hungary. However, the man in question downplayed the severity of the knock: "Going off was a precautionary measure. If we hadn't been 6-0 up at the time, I wouldn't have left the field. I want to play again in Hungary."

© IMAGO/Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMO

Nagelsmann on the strength of his bench

"We didn't let up in the second half, even after the substitutions," declared Nagelsmann after the 7-0 win. "I think it can be a bit of a thankless job coming on when the score is 5-0. But there was no lapse in quality from us."

© Alex Grimm

Nagelsmann on his attacking tweak

"In that situation, we had just won the ball back," said the Germany boss of the Florian Wirtz goal that made it 5-0 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. "The plan was to take a few more risks to get in front of goal - so that we weren't always playing against a deep defensive line, even though we did well today."

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl

State of play

Germany's thumping 7-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina last time out made sure that they will finish on top of Group A3 and have a favourable draw for the finals. Hungary, meanwhile, would need a huge win - coupled with a defeat for the Netherlands against Bosnia and Herzegovina - pip the Oranje to second place in the group.

© IMAGO/Jerry Andre

Stiller heads home

Angelo Stiller has left the Germany squad due to a muscle issue. He joins Deniz Undav, Marc-André ter Stegen, Niclas Füllkrug, Aleksandar Pavlović, Jamie Leweling and David Raum on the injury list.

© DFL/Getty Images/Sebastian Widmann

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