Hungary tried their best today, but it wasn’t enough for Germany’s not-so-sharp squad.
Jersey Swap: Willi Orban
RB Leipzig can be proud of their center-back, as Orban shined at the defense for Hungary. Putting aside the two goals conceded, Orban had the most tackles in the match and played the full 90 minutes with full effort. His performance did slightly decline towards the end of the game, but did incredibly well to keep Germany at bay (at least as much as he could). With zero fouls committed and a 100% success rate in winning ground duels, Orban was definitely the best Hungarian on the pitch.
Der Kaiser: Joshua Kimmich
Julian Nagelsmann should seriously consider handing over the captaincy to Kimmich. The Bayern Munich star put in some serious efforts today, including a wonderful goal line clearance to deny Hungary a redeeming goal. Playing at right back, he created the most chances for Bayern, played the full 90 minutes, and wasn’t dispossessed from the ball. The defensive line is looking more and more solid, and although the squad played quite far up occasionally, it’s definitely shaping up to be a very good defense. Kimmich’s performance at the back was key to keeping out Hungarian attackers, and there were plenty opportunities for them to score.
Fußballgott: Toni Kroos
Could there ever be any other man for the job? Kroos, yet again, completed the most passes in the match, an incredible 124 passes with a 95% success rate. He’s a magician with a ball and there’s no doubt about it. Hungary did a good job of shutting down Kroos as much as he could, but despite their efforts to neutralize his play-making, he still deserves this award. He was perfect in the back, and perfect in the midfield. Give yourself a pat on the back Kroos, you’ve done it again.
Der Bomber: Jamal Musiala
Bayern’s wonderkid proves that he deserves that title every match he plays. Musiala was close to perfect this game, and he was what Germany needed to compensate for Kai Havertz’s lackluster performance. This kid is going places, and he’s getting there as fast as he can. His goal was sublime and he took as many chances as he could. Although he didn’t play the full game, he definitely put in his best for the time he was on the pitch and is learning with each game. Nagelsmann may be trying to make sure his star gets the rest and doesn’t risk an injury, and that’s the smart thing to do.
Meister of the Match: İlkay Gündoğan
Despite some concerning performances during the friendlies, Gündoğan made sure to redeem himself tonight. He was on point during the game, and his positioning was consistently perfect. He did his job by not only scoring that goal, but by creating the chances Germany needed too. With an assist and a goal under his name today, Gündoğan more than deserves this award.