Germany qualified for the Round of 16 of Euro 2020 after a dramatic day of play in Group F. The Group of Death in Euro 2020 played true to its moniker, as all four teams were in contention to go to the Round of 16. After a goal-filled night, France, Germany, and Portugal secured their places in the knockout round, in that order.
Germany tied for second place with Portugal in terms of points but pipped the Selecao to second place due to a better head-to-head record. Joachim Low’s team was on the verge of a humiliating group-stage exit. They trailed Hungary twice, but Leon Goretzka’s late equalizer forced a draw and maintained Germany’s contention for Euro 2020.
Germany may have advanced to the final 16, but their performance against Hungary was far from impressive. Die Mannschaft, like in their first game against France, were unconvincing.
When Low’s team gets into gear, they can be brutal, but they’ve struggled to stay consistent in recent months. In a 2-2 draw in Munich on Wednesday, Hungary took advantage of Germany’s vulnerabilities. After keeping Die Mannschaft at bay for over 80 minutes, the Hungarians were fortunate not to win the game.
Germany’s problems with crosses and set-pieces were exposed once again by Adam Szalai’s opening. At the same time, Andras Schafer’s strike was identical to Die Mannschaft’s goals against France and Portugal.
The three-back setup is effective, but Low’s men are battling with positioning, and they are sure to be exposed against stiffer competition.
Germany has set up a last-16 match against England, which will undoubtedly put them to the test. England, like France and Portugal, has some of the world’s top attacking players.
Germany’s performance against Hungary demonstrated that they still have a long way to go. Unfortunately, Low only has a few days to prepare his team for such a significant game.
