MY ACCOUNT
Group A3 leaders Hungary take on a Germany side who are yet to lose under manager Hansi Flick in the pick of Friday’s Nations League games.
Germany vs Hungary (Friday, 7.45pm)
The stats
Hungary’s 4-0 win over England at Molineux in mid-June was as surprising as it was emphatic.
With the preceding defeat to Italy the only blot on their copybook after four games, the Magyars lead the way in the group having conceded just three goals so far.
Zsolt Nagy and Roland Sallai have two goals apiece for the competition, as do Germany’s Jonas Hoffman and Joshua Kimmich, highlighting the two sides’ dominance in Group A3.
Only Lorenzo Pellegrini has netted more than once in Italy colours, while England have just one goal to their name in total.
Hungary lead the group by one point — the Germans’ 5-2 win over Italy last time out came on the back of three straight draws in the competition, including a 1-1 June stalemate in Budapest.
Win on Friday night and Hungary will know that Italy are the only side able to stop them advancing to next summer’s Nations League finals — and only if they beat England in Milan.
Prediction
Germany’s solidity under Flick cannot be underestimated and it will surely take a special effort from the Hungarians to become the first side to beat Die Mannschaft under the former Bayern Munich boss.
Marco Reus is out with an ankle injury while midfielder Leon Goretzka and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer are also unavailable for the home side, but Kimmich, Leroy Sane and Thomas Muller should all start.
For Hungary, an eye injury to Sallai, who netted a brace against England, has thrown a spanner into the works, with pressure falling on Dominick Szoboszlai to deliver in attack.
A point away from home might be a realistic target for Hungary against a Germany team who have drawn four of their last five matches.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Montenegro (Friday, 7.45pm)
In Group B3, the battle to join the elite hots up as Montenegro make the short trip to Zenica to face leaders Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The stats
After four matches, the Bosnians remain unbeaten with two wins and as many draws under their belt.
Montenegro are just a point behind, having lost to Finland in the second round of fixtures.
The last meeting between the pair ended in a 1-1 draw in Podgorica, with Lazio’s Adam Marusic coming up with an equaliser for Montenegro late on.
Montenegro are still in the hunt for promotion, after an impressive campaign so far for Miodrag Radulovic’s men, who came up from the third tier of the competition in the last cycle.
Prediction
For all the Montenegrins’ promise, Bosnia are unbeaten in five in all competitions.
A win seals their ascent to the top tier and it is very difficult to see how Radulovic’s side will be able to stop them.
Finland vs Romania (Friday, 7.45pm)
Also in Group B3, the fight is on to avoid relegation with Romania rock-bottom on three points, but their solitary win from their last encounter with Friday’s opponents, Finland, gives them hope of beating the drop.
The stats
However, that 1-0 win over the Finns is the only game in this season’s Nations League in which Romania have managed to score in.
The three they shipped last time out against Bosnia took their total amount conceded to six.
Having excelled to reach the finals of Euro 2020 — their first major tournament appearance — Finland have won just twice since the start of 2021, drawing four times and losing their other six games.
Prediction
The three points Romania picked up when the sides last faced one another may prove immaterial, with Finland fancied to win to secure their survival — and condemn Romania to a stint in the third tier in the process.
Norwich striker Teemu Pukki is his country’s leading all-time scorer with 36 goals and he will be keen to add to that tally in Helsinki.
