A flame to keep alive: Germany, the host country, must confirm its sparkling start to its Euro-2024 on Wednesday against Hungary in Stuttgart in Group A, while the Croatia of the eternal Luka Modric, 38, is playing for its survival against Albania.
After its demonstration during the opening match against Scotland (5-1), the Mannschaft wants to ride this positive wave which has swept across the country (22.5 million viewers) and continue its mission of redemption with of his audience.
“I don’t want to put the brakes on the euphoria, that’s what all of Germany’s football world has aspired to for so long,” explained German metronome Toni Kroos, 34, who wants to treat his farewell to his sport and his country.
It is against Hungary, known to be tenacious but beaten from the start by Switzerland (3-1), that the Mannschaft, a serious contender for the title, will try to get closer to qualifying for the round of 16 and keep away the bad memories of all these early eliminations since 2018 (World Cup-2018 and 2022, Euro-2020).
Coach Julian Nagelsmann, a great architect of the German revival with strong choices that have so far paid off, called on Tuesday not to underestimate an opponent who has posed him serious problems over the last three years (two draws, one defeat). : “Hungary is under a little more pressure than us and will have to play more offensively than against Switzerland, because a defeat could be synonymous with elimination,” he said. “They are a very experienced team who play very well and are determined. I have coached some of their players, I know what they are capable of.”
The ex-Bayern coach is wary of a team that is “very good in transition play”, with “two attackers who are good at heading” and Liverpool attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, formidable from afar and “on shots from feet stopped.”
Before this second German meeting, Croatia of the immutable Luka Modric, 38 years old, will have no room for error against Albania in Hamburg, where the large communities of nationals of the two countries will meet to push their team towards a surge.
The “Vatreni” (the Ardents), one of the most consistent nations in recent years (3rd in the 2022 World Cup, finalist in 2018, finalist in the 2023 Nations League), must indeed react after a failed debut against a sharp and efficient Spain (3-0).
Any result other than a victory would push Croatia to the brink of elimination and rush Modric towards the end of his (probable) final international tournament, as Spain and Italy face off on Thursday in a clash resembling group B final.
Scotland, humiliated by Germany (5-1), will seek to glean its first points against Switzerland to keep hope alive among its supporters, almost 200,000 who came to support their team.
Today’s program:
2:00 p.m.: Croatia-Albania (beIN Sports)
5:00 p.m.: Germany-Hungary (beIN Sports)
8:00 p.m.: Scotland-Switzerland (beIN Sports)
