(Football news) When the first group was decided with England, Germany and Italy, many didn’t believe Hungary would top the group. Hungary stunned hosts Germany 1-0 courtesy of a sensational goal from Szalai's to stay on course for a Nation's League final four spot with one game left to play. The 34-year-old captain, who will now end his international career after their last League game against Italy on Monday, raced to the near post and brilliantly flicked the ball into the net with his heel from a corner in the 17th minute to leave goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen stunned.

Germany started the match on the back foot from the start and ter Stegen, featuring in the absence of Manuel Neuer who subsequently got tested positive for COVID-19, had to rescue them in the 25th minute when he stopped Daniel Gazdag's effort from close range. The hosts lacked any energy and posed no real threat as they had to wait 27 minutes before firing a shot towards the Hungary goal, with Leroy Sane's coming the closest in the entire match when his long-range effort flew high over Peter Gulacsi's crossbar. The home side were much sharper after the half time break and had lots of possession but they carved out very few chances with lone striker Timo Werner getting no service.

Hungary also beat England 4-0 away in June, which was the Three Lions worst home defeat for 94 years. Hungary are top of the group on 10 points with Italy second on eight after beating England 1-0 and Germany are in third place on six points as this was the first defeat suffered under coach Hansi Flick in their penultimate game before the World Cup in November, and they too can no longer qualify for the Nations League final four as England are bottom off the group and relegated to league 2.

"Adam Szalai really deserves all the praise," said Hungary's Italian coach Marco Rossi. "In the first half we performed well, in the second we had to defend very deep. We can crown it all in the match against the Italians. It will be a special match for me against Italy. We are happy that we got 10 points from five matches. No one believed that."

"The team just got a wake-up call. It is better to be frustrated to lose today and not top the Nations League group … at this moment in time, it is better now than at the World Cup," Flick said. It is also a personal motivation for everyone to give it all (against England) on Monday and put in the work in the next six weeks to add these few percentage points that we need to add. The defeat opened our eyes. The first half was very bad. We were not active and without any confidence. The second half was good but we had far too few chances to score."

Also read: England relegated in UEFA Nations League after loss to Italy