Germany faced Hungary in their second match of Euro 2024 after beating Scotland in their first match and, despite leading before the break, the Real Madrid defender made his feelings known about his former teammate’s decision-making. Chelsea.
When Antonio Rudiger is unhappy, he doesn’t mind letting people know.
And even though Germany held a 1-0 half-time lead in their Euro 2024 match with Hungary in Stuttgart (they won 2-0 and reached the round of 16 with a game to spare), the Real defender Madrid made its feelings felt by a member of the coaching staff.
Die Mannschaft, fresh from their rout of Scotland in the tournament’s first game, had not had their way in the first half, but took the lead thanks to a close-range shot by Jamal Musiala. The Bayern Munich youngster finished high from close range after a pass from Ilkay Gundogan.
But Manuel Neuer was called into action on several occasions and made two excellent saves, one from a Dominik Szoboszlai free kick that sparked huge applause from the home crowd and huge celebrations on the bench.
On the stroke of half-time, Neuer made another clever save; Szoboszlai’s free kick from the left turning in was taken and looked destined to head inside the far post before Neuer saved. However, Roland Salloi, Freiburg’s forward, was on hand to score the rebound.
Unfortunately for Salloi, he was offside. The linesman raised his flag and the video assistant referee confirmed. It was a relief for the hosts. Rudiger and Neuer had a brief chat at that point before the match restarted.
But at half-time, as they walked off the field, Rudiger was absolutely furious about it. He grabbed a member of Germany’s coaching staff and pointed angrily back, where he had won the initial header, and at Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, who had missed the initial header that Neuer had saved.
Rudiger’s problem was that the Germans were looking to maintain a solid line on the edge of their own penalty area. However, in his opinion Havertz had fallen too early and had not been able to hold the line, so Neuer was forced to make a good save. If he couldn’t, he would have counted.
The truth is that it was not the easiest match for Havertz, Hungary was doing so well. The pass was always a little late or his movement was just a meter slower than perhaps it should be.
In the central areas there was not much space for him, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, as well as Ilkay Gundogan, to work. Thus, shortly before the hour, his evening came to an end and Niclas Fullkrug replaced him at the German point of attack.
Germany claimed to be the first team to qualify for the round of 16 with their victory, captain Gundogan’s goals adding to Musiala’s earlier effort in the 67th minute to secure the victory.
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The Three Lions are among the favorites to win this summer’s Euro 2024 and you can get your hands on the new Nike home and away kits before the first whistle.
