After crushing Scotland in their opening game at Euro 2024, Germany faced Hungary in their second match. The Real Madrid defender expressed his displeasure with his former Chelsea team-mate’s decision-making despite Germany leading before halftime

Antonio Rudiger has no problem telling people when he’s unhappy.

And even though Germany led 1-0 at the half against Hungary in Stuttgart during their Euro 2024 match, winning 2-0 and advancing to the round of 16 with one game remaining, the Real Madrid defender expressed his displeasure to a member of the coaching staff.

After beating Scotland in the opening match of the tournament, Die Mannschaft had not had it all their own in the first half, but they took the lead thanks to a close-range strike from Bayern Munich’s youthful player, who was set up by Ilkay Gundogan.

However, Manuel Neuer saw action on several occasions and produced two outstanding stops, one from a freekick by Dominik Szoboszlai that caused a lot of excitement among the home crowd and on the bench.

Neuer produced another deft stop just before halftime. Szoboszlai’s left-curling freekick appeared to be headed inside the far post, but Neuer made the save. But Freiburg forward Roland Salloi was there to convert the rebound.

Salloi was, regrettably, offside. The Video Assistant Referee verified when the linesman raised his flag. As a relief for the hosts, it was. A brief exchange of words took place between Rudiger and Neuer just before the game resumed.

Havertz had dropped deep, was beaten in the air by Willi Orban and Germany’s players were struggling to catch up

But Rudiger was enraged about it all during the half, as they were leaving the field. Angrily pointing to the back, where the first header had been won, and Arsenal attacker Kai Havertz, who had missed the initial header that Neuer had saved, he seized a member of the Germany coaching staff.

The Germans’ attempt to maintain a strong line on the boundary of their own penalty area was Rudiger’s grievance. But Havertz had, in his judgment, dropped too soon and failed to hold the line, forcing Neuer to make the crucial save. If he couldn’t have, it would have been valid.

To be honest, Havertz found it difficult to participate in the game, even when Hungary was winning. His movement was a yard slower than it needed to be, or the pass was always a bit late.

The middle spaces were too small for him, Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and Ilkay Gundogan to all operate in comfortably. Thus, his evening came to an end shortly before the hour, with Niclas Fullkrug taking his place at the German attack’s turning point.

With their victory, Germany made history by becoming the first team to advance to the round of 16. Captain Gundogan’s strikes, coupled with Musiala’s earlier effort in the 67th minute, sealed the deal.