(Football news) On the first day, Germany broke all previous records as they thrashed Scotland 5-1, while Switzerland defeated their Hungarian opponents 3-1.

Germany created tournament history last Friday at the Allianz Arena by crushing a woeful Scotland team, marking the biggest opening win in the men’s competition’s history. They are off to a great start to the European Championships.

That was only one of a stunning seven records broken by Nagelsmann’s ruthless team, who had Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, two 21-year-old sensations, to thank for their early lead. Kai Havertz then scored from the spot following Ryan Porteous’ awful tackle of Ilkay Gundogan.

While Antonio Rudiger’s own goal prolonged Germany’s streak without a clean sheet at major tournaments – which now stands at 13 matches – two thumping Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can strikes either side of the Real Madrid man’s unfortunate contribution spared his blushes and sparked Munich mania.

Taking their rightful place at the summit of Group A – ahead of the Swiss on goal difference – Germany’s top-two finish will be confirmed if they prevail on Wednesday evening, as even if Scotland can stun Switzerland, their inferior head-to-head record would leave them unable to usurp Die Mannschaft.

Nagelsmann’s reign may have got off to a mediocre start, but the Euro 2024 hosts are now riding the wave of a five-match unbeaten sequence – four of which have ended in victory – and they have all the motivation they require to seal their top-two finish against a recent bogey team of theirs.

As well as righting the wrongs of some recent head-to-heads, Germany could also win both of their opening matches at the European Championships for just the fifth time, having previously done so in 1972, 1980, 1996 and 2012; the latter tournament is the only one out of the four that they failed to win.

It has been a little under three years since Hungary dug in for a 2-2 draw against Germany in the Euro 2020 group stage, before managing to take four points off of Die Mannschaft in the most recent Nations League, where Marco Rossi masterminded a remarkable 1-0 win in September 2022.

Adam Szalai was the hero of the hour that day with the game’s only goal – and his final one for the national team before his retirement – but Hungary certainly could have done with his talismanic figure up front during their unsuccessful war with Switzerland over the weekend.

Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer launched the Rossocrociati into a merited two-goal lead before Murat Yakin’s side switched off – allowing Barnabas Varga to cut the deficit in half – but Switzerland withstood late Magyars pressure and restored their two-goal advantage right at the death via Breel Embolo’s delicate lob.

Consequently, Rossi’s troops lie third in the embryonic Group A rankings – which could suffice for a knockout berth based on their performance – and only lead Scotland on goal difference, so their top-two aspirations could come to a swift end in Stuttgart this week.

All in all, the Magyars are now without success in seven matches at the Euros since sinking Austria in the 2016 edition, and only once before have they lost more than one game at a single tournament, suffering that fate in 1972.

The Switzerland-inflicted defeat was just the second that Hungary have experienced in their last 17 matches in all competitions, and while both of those losses have come this month, a 12-match scoring sequence should offer the Magyars faithful the tiniest crumb of comfort.

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