Germany 2-2 Hungary: Leon Goretzka RESCUES Joachim Low's side from Euro 2020 exit with 83rd minute leveller... setting up last-16 clash with England after falling behind twice in Munich thriller
- Group F went right down to the wire as Germany and Hungary met in Munich
- The underdogs went into a shock lead with Adam Szalai, holding it to half-time
- Kai Havertz levelled in the second 45, then Andras Schafer hit back from kick-off
- Germany were out of ideas, before Leon Goretzka finally saved their blushes
- The dramatic draw sets up a mouth-watering clash with England in the last-16
- Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here
In a truly remarkable night of tournament football, England were playing Germany, then France, then Portugal, then Hungary, then Germany again, back to Portugal, and finally, definitely, no doubt about it this time, Germany.
Hungary? Well, they’re gone. And while it will not be in any way consolation, they leave the competition with the admiration of all. Hungary were perceived as no more than target practice in Euro 2020’s group of death.
Yet with six minutes to go in Munich they were not only competing, but qualifying. Germany were going out. A goal from substitute Leon Goretzka changed that, but Hungary ran their supposed superiors far closer than anyone imagined.
Leon Goretzka popped up to rescue Germany from elimination at Euro 2020 against Hungary
The midfielder slammed in the equaliser after facing finishing dead last in Group F late on
Hungary battled bravely but fell short at the last and will go home finishing bottom of Group F
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This was the mightiest fight and if England worry Germany as much next Tuesday, Gareth Southgate’s team will not be castigated, whatever the outcome. Hungary took on the team that looked to have played the best 90 minutes of football in this competition so far – and against Portugal – and came so close to winning.
They showed tremendous guts, too. At one stage Germany were close to eliminated by an Andras Schafer goal that was scored while most fans in Munich were still celebrating the home team’s equaliser.
It was that sort of night. A cavalcade of crazy. That Hungary might qualify at Germany’s expense would have been unthinkable when the draw was made. So when Germany first equalised through Kai Havertz it seemed at least that the normal order had been restored.
It lasted seconds: 91 of them to be precise. In that time, Hungary kicked off, played the ball back, passed it from left to right, pumped it forward, won the second ball after a clearance, played it in again through Roland Sallai and scored.
It was an incredible moment and an incredible goal, capped by incredible bravery from Schafer, who plays his football for FC DAC 1904 Dunajska Streda of Slovakia – although maybe not for much longer.
He was alert to Sallai’s intention and sprinted faster than any German runner including Leroy Sane before diving full length to head the ball past the advancing Manuel Neuer. What a response.
Hungary first went ahead through Adam Szalai, heading in a superb cross in the first-half
The skipper (middle) had a superb game as Hungary repeatedly caused problems on the break
Die Mannschaft were all out of ideas in the first-half as the underdogs defended stubbornly
Hungary had been written off on the night, much as they were immediately the draw was made. Nobody gave Hungary a prayer of emerging from Group F. Instead, it was Germany and their coach Joachim Low who tottered on the brink.
They never led in the game and trailed for 71 of 90 minutes. Low must have imagined this was the last match of an incredible tenure as national coach, including the first World Cup won by a European nation on South American soil.
Ultimately, though, they found a way. That’s what Germany do, isn’t it? Most tournaments they find a means of progress even when they don’t play well. And we admire them for it, in a way we never admire an England team with that same defiant characteristic.
So, twice, Germany got back into the game. First when Peter Gulacsi, the Hungarian goalkeeper, made the most horrible mistake, tearing from his line and missing his punch from a free-kick met by Mats Hummels. The ball looped up and Kai Havertz headed it into the empty net.
Then after Hungary had taken the lead a second time, Germany got the point they needed with just six minutes remaining. Credit Low because it was a combination of his substitutes that saved the day.
Timo Werner and Jamal Musiala involved in the build-up, Goretzka firing the low shot, mildly deflected by Schaffer, to claim second place.
Kai Havertz finally equalised on 66 minutes, bundling the ball over the line from a free-kick
The German relief was clear to see but wouldn't last long, as they switched-off straight away
Andras Schaefer sparked jubilant scenes when he equalised straight from kick-off in Munich
Were there positives for England? Most certainly. If Hungary’s forwards can trouble Germany, so can Southgate's. And England have a superior defence, too.
Then again: lads, it’s Germany. Tournaments are like home games for them, no matter the surrounds. Last night was a perfect example of the mentality that makes them such daunting opposition, yet it was impossible not to have sympathy for Hungary as the seemingly inevitable unfolded.
No matter how Group F panned out, even in last place a case could be made for Hungary as one of the teams of the tournament so far. Just to go into the final minutes of their final group game still in touch was an achievement; to do so in a qualifying position with six minutes remaining was nothing less than a miracle.
There are no old-fashioned groups of death when 24 teams are cut to 16 and four of six third-place finishers progress. Yet for Hungary to be thrown in with these three must have felt terminal.
The Christians would have fancied their chances more when drawn against the lions yet, somehow, Hungary have proved a challenge for all.
They only capitulated late in the game against Portugal, then drew with France and Germany.
Winger Leroy Sane had to battle with Attila Fiola, with the left-back having a storming game
The rain thrashed down in Munich at the Allianz Arena to add to the epic scenes on the pitch
Jamal Musiala was superb when he came on, setting up crucial equalising goal
As the home fans hid from the rain at the back of the stand in Munich, so Germany’s players faltered and shrank once challenged by a superb Hungarian goal after 11 minutes.
As France will vouch, Hungary are good on the counter-attack and poor play from central defender Matthias Ginter let them in with initially calamitous consequences.
Hungary’s goal may have begun with a mistake – most goals do – but what followed was football of the highest quality. The ball from the inside right by Sallai was sweet perfection.
It split Ginter and Hummels and fell for captain and striker Adam Szalai. A big man, he stooped low, dropped his head on Sallai’s cross and steered the ball with precision past Neuer. It was a jaw-dropping moment.
German victory was presumed but so was its ease. Now they had a fight on their hands, and it is fair to say they did not always respond well.
True, ten minutes later, a Joshua Kimmich corner found Hummels whose header rattled the bar but this was a rare opportunity. The expected German onslaught simply did not materialise.
There was huge relief for Joachim Low, with the coach leaving his post after the tournament
Germany can look forward to a clash with England in the last-16 after sealing a crucial point
Yes, Hungary were under pressure, because the Germans could do the maths but this never felt a wholly rearguard action.
Hungary were certainly not playing like a team of inferiors. A Sallai free-kick hit the near post and at the point when Karim Benzema scored his second for France, Hungary were actually bumped up to second place with a match at Wembley next Tuesday in the offing.
Of all the scenarios anticipated for Gareth Southgate and his men, that prospect had been barely considered.
It was not to be. England now face a country they have eliminated from the knock-out stage of an international competition just once, in 1966.
If they win on Tuesday it will also be the first knock-out match England have ever won in the European Championship. All to do then. Yet much the same was said of Hungary. Stranger things have happened. They nearly did on Wednesday night.
RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENED...
It's all over. What a fight from Hungary, a really battle for Germany there. Scary times.
Germany break with Sane on the right and the winger has options in the middle, steaming away from the tired defenders.
He could shoot or cross, but does neither, and it's a weak effort that rolls out of play.
The Germans are holding it in the corner for a 2-2 draw with an exhausted Hungary. Incredible from them, but it looks like they're heading home in sensational circumstances.
Still time for another twist in this mental game
Still 2-2 in Budapest, as Germany haul themselves off the bottom.
1st - FRA
2nd - GER
3rd - POR
4th - HUN
MASSIVE GOAL! Musiala, the 18-year-old just brought on as a substitute, is the architect. Has he just saved Germany's tournament, and setup a clash with England in the last-16?
The youngster does superbly on the byline to skip a challenge, come back inside and fire a pass to the edge of the box. Goretzka lays it off for Kroos to hit, but it's blocked. The rebound falls straight back to Goretzka, who leathers it towards goal.
A slight deflection takes the ball past Gulasci, and Germany are alive.
There's still urgency in Germany's attack but they just can't get that golden chance. Kroos tries to make it himself here.
The midfielder drives into the box, pulling-off a clever one-two in a tight area with Gosens and looking to tap the return pass into the far corner. It dribbles just wide.
Group F right now:
1st - FRA
2nd - POR
3rd - HUN
4th - GER
So, England playing Portugal as it stands in the last-16. Germany set for a miserable exit if they can't come up with anything in the final 15 minutes.
Oh. My. Word.
Hungary have scored instantly from kick-off. All their desire, focus and dogged determination on show in that goal. Germany desperately poor.
Szalai dinks the ball over the German defence and Schafer goes after it, racing between the sleeping centre-backs and nodding past the out-rushing Manuel Neuer, who can only turn around and watch the ball roll into the net.
Madness, this.
Massive, massive relief for Germany. You can see it on the fans' faces.
Yet another deep free-kick is swung in by Kimmich and it's another wonderful ball from the Bayern Munich man. Gulasci comes out to punch but misses it. Hummels is underneath it to head goalwards, and Havertz bundles over the line.
As it stands, Cristiano Ronaldo has just bumped Germany back to the bottom of Group F, and back in severe danger of elimination.
The Portugal skipper has just levelled against France from the third spot-kick of the night.
The Germans are getting properly frustrated now. Real stress around.
Fiola continues to cause problems down the left. The left-back goes up against Sane, and the winger goes to ground and intentionally blocks the ball with his hand, right on the edge of the box.
The resulting free-kick hits the side-netting, but times is ticking away right now.
A slow start to the second-half so far with Germany controlling possession, looking for a way through, and finding a road block.
Kimmich swings in another free-kick from deep, and the resulting pin-ball leads to Rudiger hitting a shot on an awkward bounce, failing to trouble Gulasci.
The French have come from behind to lead in Budapest, with Benzema scoring his second of the night. They now lead the group, which as it stands looks like this:
1st - FRA
2nd - HUN
3rd - GER
4th - POR
Hungary get us going again. A massive 45 minutes in this year's Euros coming up.
Benzema has equalised from the spot after Mbappe was fouled inside the box, cancelling-out Ronaldo's own penalty. The battle for top spot is equally fiery. What a group.
Group F as it stands...
1st: FRA- 5pts
2nd: POR- 4pts
3rd: HUN - 4pts
4th: GER - 3pts
P.S. England set to play the holders, Cristiano and Co, as it stands.
This is poised to be some second-half. Sensational work from Hungary.
The hosts started brightly but haven't been totally convincing in attack since, struggling to break down the deep-sat visitors' defence. Meanwhile, Hungary have been superb on the counter-attack, going ahead through Szalai.
Germany are going out as it stands right now. Huge, huge 45 minute of football for the nation.
Botka is down injured and in pain for the visitors, looking to have hurt his angle.
Hungary are growing into this game. A couple more decent half-chances have given the defence a break from the Germans attackers, who are struggling for ideas right now.
Back at Hungary's Puskas Arena in Budapest, Cristiano Ronaldo has put Portugal 1-0 up from the penalty spot against France.
Sportsmail's Matt Barlow reports: 'Fabulous roar in the Puskas Stadium to greet news of the Hungary goal. It started slowly and built to a crescendo and they went wild when the score flashed on the big screen. Even the French and Portuguese joined in. As it stands, Germany in a spot of bother.'
This is a proper, proper game. Loving it, as the rain lashes down ever harder.
Hungary look dangerous on the break and so far are coping well with the Germans' overwhelming possession. Fiola and Szalai link on the left to set the left-back free. He crosses into the box, and the captain can't quite convert.
The first card of the night goes Botka, who slides in on Gundogan from behind and deserves a card for the poorly timed effort.
It's another chance for Kimmich to whip-in a ball, but it's short and Havertz can't pick up the scraps.
Leroy Sane is seeing a lot of the ball and doing well with it so far. The former Man City star wins the ball back in his own half and works the ball out to the exceptional Kimmich, who floats a ball into the box.
It's too high for Havertz but Sane uses his pace to regain possession, and Germany begin to build again. Total domination of possession in front of the deep Hungarian setup.
Kimmich whips-in a corner and Hummels rises highest, powering his header to bounce back off the crossbar.
Moments later, Ginter manages a stabbed effort inside the box, firing it straight at Gulasci. Germany's pressure is building and building, good urgency from Low's team.
A HUGE goal in Group F. The underdogs are ahead and, as it stands, Germany will finish BOTTOM of the group and crash out.
The two front-men link-up, with Sallai whipping in a phenomenal early ball into the box. Szalai is in the middle, getting between Ginter and Hummels to place a diving header past Neuer.
A stop-start game so far with fouls breaking up play, as both sides get stuck in.
Hungary's best chance of the opening minutes saw Hummels slide in to make a key block inside the box after Sallai's cross in.
Germany have instantly seized control in this one, with the first shot going to the hosts.
A high long-ball over the top is taken down expertly by Kimmich as he rushes into the box, unleashing a shot from a tight angle on the byline and doing well to get the shot on target.
The angle is too tight and Gulacsi makes a low stop.
Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry get us underway in Germany's blacked-out kit, with the all-in-white Hungarians pressing from the start at Bayern Munich's stadium.
With 15 minutes to go until kick-off, here is a final reminder of tonight's teams...
GER: Neuer; Ginter, Hummels, Rudiger, Kimmich; Gündogan, Kroos, Gosens; Havertz, Sane, Gnabry
HUN: Gulácsi; Nego, Botka, Orban, Szalai, Fiola; Kleinheisler, Nagy, Schäfer; Szalai, Sallai
Tonight will be Joachim Low's final game as Germany manager if things go against the hosts tonight.
Low's 15 years in charge of his national team will come to an end after Germany leave this tournament, with ex-Bayerm Munich coach Hansi Flick coming in as replacement.
After his team's last win, Low will be confident his side can at least extend his tenure by another game...
The Germans have been kicking-back and relaxing inbetween matches.
For England fans tuning-in, tonight's game is crucial.
Germany, France and Portugal could all be waiting in the next round, but who should the Three Lions look to avoid most? Here's our verdict...
HUN: Gulácsi; Nego, Botka, Orban, Szalai, Fiola; Kleinheisler, Nagy, Schäfer; Szalai, Sallai
GER: Neuer; Ginter, Hummels, Rudiger, Kimmich; Gündogan, Kroos, Gosens; Havertz, Sane, Gnabry
Five minutes now until we'll get our teams for tonight, with both sides set to name their strongest XI's.
As Portugal can attest, Germany are a threat to everyone in this tournament.
Joachim Low's side came alive against Cristiano Ronaldo and Co last time out, blasting to a 4-1 victory and playing around them with ease.
The Germans sensationally crashed-out of the World Cup at the group stage in 2018, and they'll need a result tonight to avoid a repeat.
They certainly have the form...
It's been an entertaining tournament for the four group of death teams at Euro 2020, with the qualification spots coming right down to the wire.
France are already through, but both Germany and Hungary could be reliant on what goes on when Portugal take on Les Bleus tonight.
Get all the info you need here...
As rainbow-clad supporters swarm the Allianz Arena, get the lowdown on UEFA's decision...
Match-goers are making their feelings clear in Munich after UEFA's decision to block the city from lighting up the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours for this match.
The plan was intended as a direct response to Hungary's government passing new anit-gay laws in the country, but it was bizarrely stopped by the Euro 2020 organisers.
Good evening and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of the Group F clash between Germany and Hungary.
Thanks to their draw with France, the visitors to Munich can still qualify with victory tonight, but the Germans' thrashing of Portugal will have them quaking before kick-off.
Stay tuned right here for all the build-up and live updates from TOBY MILES.
Host commentator