The Germany national side including Borussia’s Jonas Hofmann lost at home against Hungary 1-0 in their UEFA Nations League matchup. In the U21 international friendly between Germany and France, Manu Koné and Nathan Ngoumou prevailed over Luca Netz and Jordan Beyer.
Germany experienced defeat against Hungary in their fifth game and, in doing so, were eliminated from contention of winning the group. Jonas Hofmann featured in the starting eleven and started the game at right back. He could do nothing to prevent Adam Szalai’s backheel goal (24’) that put Hungary 1-0 up. At half time, Germany head coach Hansi Flick responded by bringing on Thilo Kehrer for Serge Gnabry. This change moved Hofmann from right back into midfield. The hosts raised their intensity and the pressure, even creating a few good chances to score, but ultimately they couldn’t find a way to get the ball in the back of the net. In the final group game, which has no sporting significance at this point, Germany will play England on Monday (20:45 CEST).
“We were lacking a lot of things in the first half,” an annoyed Hofmann explained at the final whistle. “After the break, we tried to play quicker Of course, we were dominant, but we only created a few clear-cut chances to score. We were missing that final pass and that last accurate cross. We never had a free shot in the box. We possess the quality to play out the game, but we were just too poor today. That defeat won’t knock us down, it sucks today, but we won’t let it get to us.”
Japan defeat the USA without Scally
Under the watchful eye of the injured Ko Itakura, Japan beat the USA 2-0 in an international friendly in Düsseldorf. Joe Scally did not feature for the US-boys. Daichi Kamada put Germany’s world cup group-stage opponents ahead in the 24th minute. Kaoru Mitoma (88’) put the game to bed late on. The US national team have another friendly against Saudi Arabia in Murcia, Spain, on Tuesday (20:00 CEST). Japan face off against Ecuador on the same day, again in Düsseldorf (13:55 CEST).
Algeria win with Bensebaini
The Algeria national side, who unfortunately missed out on World Cup qualification, beat Guinea 1-0 in their international friendly. Ramy Bensebaini featured from the start on the left side of defence. The Desert Foxes dominated the match but had to wait a long time before Islam Slimani (78’) scored the winner. Algeria host Nigeria in another international friendly on Tuesday (21:00 CEST).
U21: Koné and Ngoumou come out on top against Netz and Beyer
France U21, with Manu Koné and Nathan Ngoumou in their ranks, got the better of Germany U21 with Luca Netz and Jordan Beyer in their 1-0 win. All four Foals started the match. Beyer and Netz as part of the Germany back four, Koné as a central defensive midfielder and Ngoumou as right winger. The goal was scored by Amine Gouriri (52’) for the much superior French side. As the game progressed, the Foals quartet were substituted: Koné and Ngoumou came off in the 64th and 65th minutes respectively, and Netz and Beyer made way in the 76th and 84th minute. Germany U21s will take on England on Tuesday (20:45 CEST). France U21s will face off against Belgium on home soil on the same day (21:00 CEST).
