Hungary coach Marco Rossi criticised the decision to allow Germany’s opening goal as his side lost 2-0 to the Euro 2024 hosts in Stuttgart on Wednesday. Jamal Musiala gave Germany the lead in the first half after he was set up by Ilkay Gundogan, but Hungary players were incensed a foul was not given for a challenge on defender Willi Orban. “I’ve never complained in my career as a player or coach, I’ve never looked for excuses, but what the referee did tonight… the referee used a double standard,” said Rossi.

“The referee allowed a goal on a push on Orban. Second half in a similar situation on (Germany midfielder Robert) Andrich, the referee whistled a foul.”

Rossi also took aim at the video assistant referees for not intervening, with Musiala’s goal allowed to stand after a short VAR check.

“In my perspective Germany would have won anyways, but the referee was the worst on the pitch,” he said.

“I told my players they have nothing to regret. Germany for me is the big favourite to win the Euros but they didn’t need help from the referee to win, especially against a team like Hungary.

“Let’s see when Germany plays a team like France if a foul is given or not.”

Gundogan, who later scored Germany’s second goal, said he was bemused by the reaction of the Hungary players.

The Barcelona midfielder insisted he had done nothing wrong while jostling for the ball with Orban, eventually pulling it back for Musiala to score after the centre-back tumbled to the ground.

“I was quite surprised that he or his Hungary team-mates were a bit angry about it,” said Gundogan.

“I don’t know what it looked like on TV. I played in the Premier League for seven years, if you gave that foul in the Premier League then I think everyone would be laughing on the floor.”

Hungary take on Scotland in their final game in Stuttgart on Sunday knowing victory is imperative if they are to reach the last 16.

“We have a foot out of the Euros, we’re not out of it mathematically,” said Rossi.

“In the final game we’ll try everything to win, we don’t want to exit without getting a single point. I don’t think we deserve to be on zero points at this stage of the competition.”

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said his side understood Friday’s 5-1 thumping of Scotland in the Euro 2024 opener was just a “first step” for the tournament hosts. Germany, who have struggled at major tournaments for most of the past decade, blew the Scots off the park. “The team is conscious that this was a first step,” said Nagelsmann as Germany eye a record-breaking fourth European title. “But it was very good and very important and was something that we can build on.”

Germany opened the scoring just 10 minutes in through Florian Wirtz, with man-of-the-match Jamal Musiala adding another on the 19-minute mark. 

Kai Havertz scored from the penalty spot to give Germany a 3-0 half-time lead after Ryan Porteous received a straight red for a studs-up challenge on Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan. 

Niclas Fuellkrug and Emre Can then both added second-half goals. 

The coach said he “would have signed on the dotted line” before the match to guarantee his side performed like they did on Friday, “even if I didn’t expect it”.

Nagelsmann, who only took over as Germany manager in September, said he was particularly pleased by his side’s reaction to conceding a late goal while 4-0 up. 

“We didn’t let in any chances from open play. It was a very good sign for the team to be so pissed off that we conceded that goal.

“That shows the hunger that they had today.”

Havertz said his team had laid down a marker to the rest of the teams in Germany for the tournament. 

“I think that when you win 5-1, it’s a message. But it’s just the beginning. 

“We saw the quality we have in the team, how good the players are. We’re going to come up against other difficult opponents.”

Having set up Musiala’s goal and converted a penalty, Havertz now has four goals in his past seven Germany matches. 

“I think we felt this energy in the stadium from the first minute,” the 21-year-old said. 

“The whole country is behind us, we saw it at the training centre. We’re aware of it.”