Germany vs. Hungary: Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

On Saturday night, Germany will welcome familiar opponents Hungary to Dusseldorf for their first UEFA Nations League match, marking the beginning of a new era for the national team.

Many key players left the hosts after their elimination from Euro 2024, so a revamped squad will play in their opening game of League A Group 3.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

In the quarterfinals of this summer's European Championship, Spain eliminated Julian Nagelsmann's Germany team in Stuttgart, ending Germany's goal of hoisting the championship on home soil.

Die Nationalelf were not anticipated to get beyond the semifinals after a turbulent year that saw Hansi Flick replaced by another ex-Bayern Munich coach, so Nagelsmann is secure in charge.

With the retirement of veteran players like Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gundogan, Thomas Muller, and Toni Kroos, he will now lead Germany into a new generation as a national team.

In Nagelsmann's debut Nations League season, he will aim to reclaim the global crown and qualify for the 2026 World Cup, so there will be some new faces.

With three losses in his first thirteen coaching matches, the 37-year-old has a 7–3 record. One win came last week in the European Championships when his team beat this week's opponents 2-0 to win Group A.

Germany and Hungary played in the most recent Nations League, although in their two League A meetings in the 2022–23 season, Germany lost both matches at home and only managed a draw away from home.

With 12 victories and 12 draws, Germany leads the all-time head-to-head matchup between the two teams. Hungary's most infamous loss was in the 1954 World Cup final, a contentious match in which legendary player Ferenc Puskas narrowly lost out on the title.

Recent results show that the current side under Marco Rossi almost missed out on advancing to the knockout round of Euro 2024 on goal differential, with three points from as many games in Group A.

Despite winning only two of their past eighteen matches at major events while facing other European teams, the Magyars ended an eight-match losing record at the European Championships with their victory against Scotland.

With only one loss in sixteen games, Hungary advanced to the last Nations League finals, where Italy narrowly defeated them by one point. They were drawn into a group that included England and Germany for the Euros.

Rossi, who was appointed in 2018, will continue to lead his team as they battle it out in Group 3 against the Netherlands and Bosnia-Herzegovina. They hope to finish in the top two and advance to the quarterfinals.

Germany x Hungary Team News

Julian Nagelsmann has named Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich captain, implying that the 29-year-old versatile player would continue to play right back for Germany because numerous long-serving veterans are no longer available.

On Saturday, Kimmich will captain the team for the eighth time. Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller is hoping to make his international debut. Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gundogan are out in the midfield, but the favourites to replace them are Aleksandar Pavlovic, Robert Andrich, and Pascal Gross.

Meanwhile, Leroy Sane isn't fit enough to play and isn't starting, while Antonio Rudiger has gotten some rest.

In the final third, young sensations Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala should start, either to assist forwards Kai Havertz or Niclas Fullkrug, both from the Premier League.

On the other hand, the away squad will be led by Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool, who will likely start alongside Peter Gulacsi (goalkeeper) and Willi Orban (centre-back), two of his former Leipzig colleagues.

With 20 goals, Rolland Sallai of Freiburg in Germany is the highest-scoring Hungarian in the Bundesliga.

Barnabas Varga is recovering from a major head injury he suffered against Scotland. Still, Atilla Szalai, Adam Lang, Laszlo Kleinheisler, Callum Styles, and Atila Fiola were all left out of the Euro 2024 team.

Our prediction

Germany to win

Despite failing to go beyond the group stage in its three prior Nations League appearances, Germany is a heavy favourite to win it all in June.

On Saturday night, Julian Nagelsmann's squad will be able to defeat a stubborn Hungary team because of their wealth of offensive potential.

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