Germany and France suffer injury blows ahead of crucial final Euro 2020 group matches

Germany and France suffer injury blows ahead of crucial final Euro 2020 group matches

 

Germany and France will be without key personnel as they limber up for their final fixtures of the Euro 2020 group stage.

The two European giants were drawn in Group F ahead of the tournament alongside defending champions Portugal and Hungary, who have benefitted from home advantage in their two games so far.

Dubbed the ‘Group of Death’, it has lived up to its billing so far with some of the most entertaining fixtures of any at the tournament.

France edged out Germany to earn a 1-0 victory in their opener only to draw 1-1 with outsiders Hungary in their second game.

Portugal, meanwhile, produced a late flurry of goals to beat Hungary 3-0 in their first fixture before they suffered a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Germany on Saturday.

This leaves Group F finely poised, with World Champions France on four points, one clear of Germany and Portugal and three clear of Hungary.

Although they have the same goal difference as Portugal, Die Mannschaft occupy second spot due to their superior head-to-head record.

On paper, Joachim Low’s side are in a strong position and will fancy themselves to collect all three points against Hungary at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.

But Hungary proved they can be a difficult opposition to break down after holding out for over 80 minutes against Portugal and limiting France to a draw.

Germany’s task is made trickier by the absence of key personnel, with four of Low’s 26-man squad missing from training on Monday.

Veteran defender Mats Hummels has been suffering with irritation in his patellar tendon and forward Thomas Muller also has a kneecap complaint.

German outlet Bild claims Muller will miss the Hungary fixture while he is also a doubt for the last 16, should his side progress.

Elsewhere, Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was ruled out of training with a calf problem and right-back Lukas Klostermann missed out with an unspecified muscle injury.

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