Bayern stars Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer, as well as İlkay Gündoğan and Toni Kroos. These are the names of four exceptionally talented players that Germany will have to do without after EURO 2024. You might think that Germany could struggle after the departure of such influential players, but Julian Nagelsmann’s boys put all doubts to rest with a dominant 5-0 win over Hungary. The only question that remains is which players stand out from the rest?
Jersey swap: Dominik Szoboszlai
Hungary never really looked like they could challenge Germany, but there were a few Hungarian players who performed reasonably well. Rolland Sallai looked to be one of the players most likely to make an impact for the away team, as he kept the ball well and created some chances for himself and his teammates, but his captain Dominik Szoboszlai was his team’s best player. Szoboszlai put in a hard-working performance, making nine ball recoveries and eight passes into the final third, the second most of any player on the pitch in these categories (FotMob).
The Emperor: Joshua Kimmich
The German defense didn’t have too much to do that night, but Kimmich was able to impress with the ball in his first game as captain of the national team. Kimmich achieved a pass completion rate of 92% (FotMob) as he harmonized well with his colleagues in the German attack.
Football God: Pascal Groß
The question of who could fill Toni Kroos’ role was amply answered (at least for this game) after Pascal Gross put in an impressive performance as Germany’s metronome in midfield. Gross completed a whopping 91% of his passes (FotMob), including a beautiful ball over the Hungarian back line that Florian Wirtz collected in the build-up to Germany’s first goal, and a cross to Kai Havertz’s head that the Arsenal FC man hit the underside of the crossbar but unfortunately missed the target.
The Bomber: Kai Havertz
Not only did Kai Havertz come close to victory with his attempted header from Pascal Groß’s aforementioned cross, but he hit the woodwork again in the second half, this time with a volley. Not only was Havertz a threat in front of goal, but he also worked well with teammates Wirtz and Jamal Musiala throughout the evening. Havertz was finally rewarded by winning and converting a penalty in the 81st minute of the match, scoring Germany’s fifth goal.
Masters of the game: Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz
Musiala and Wirtz are no longer the future of German football, but also the present. They are incredible talents. The two have assisted each other on several occasions, with Musiala also collecting two assists, bringing the two’s total to six goals. While Musiala’s hat-trick of assists seems to be a valid reason for him to overtake Wirtz for the award, Wirtz was often involved in the same attacking moves and made equally important contributions. It just so happened that Musiala received more assists than Wirtz. The level of dribbling and passing from both players was at the highest level. Other nations better watch out, as these two are capable of dominating any opponent.
