PLAYER RATINGS: Who looks like a real gem despite being a late comer to international football? Who stood out for the hosts? And how did Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai fare?

Host nation Germany have confirmed their place in the knockout stages of Euro 2024 after they swept aside Hungary at the Stuttgart Arena.

Jamal Musiala broke the deadlock for the Germans in the first half, after a scramble in the box in which the Hungarians claimed a foul was committed moments before the goal.

German captain, Ilkay Gundogan, then made it 2-0 in the second half with 20 minutes left, finishing off a well-worked move.

The result will add momentum behind the belief that this year's European Championship could offer Germans their first major international trophy since 2014.

Mail Sport's LEWIS STEELE was in attendance at the Stuttgart Arena to run the rule over both sets of players.

GERMANY (4-2-3-1)

Manuel Neuer - 6

Was perhaps flat-footed for an early Szoboszlai free-kick but got across well to palm it away and made a couple of other regulation stops. A quiet night otherwise but would have breathed a sigh of relief when Varga headed over from close range in the second half. 

Joshua Kimmich - 6.5

Made some promising forays forward and perhaps should have done better with a cross on 70 minutes when he might have picked out Musiala. Felt like he was overran going the other way, with the vast majority of Hungary's attacks coming down that side. 

Antonio Rudiger - 6.5

Had little to do in a defensive sense despite some Hungary pressure. Did not put a foot wrong, though. Booked.

Jonathan Tah - 7.5

Made a decisive block to deny Szoboszlai after 29 minutes and was a commanding presence throughout, showing off some speedy pace in recovery runs. 

Maximilian Mittelstadt - 8 (booked)

Stuttgart left back looks like a real gem despite being a late-comer to international football, with this just his sixth cap at 27. Made several incisive crosses and was a constant threat on the ball down the left-hand flank. 

Robert Andrich - 6.5

Wanted a penalty just after the hour mark and looked a complete presence both on and off the ball throughout. Was wise to bring him off after 71 minutes with the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder on a yellow card – in the tournament not the match – and at risk of a ban. 

Toni Kroos - 7

The heartbeat of this team and, even as he approaches retirement, looks every bit as calm and composed as ever in midfield. Will be missed when he's gone. 

Jamal Musiala - 8

Became the first man to take his goal tally to two for the tournament early in the game with a clinical finish – and nearly added a third later in the first half but struck the side-netting in a moment similar to Raheem Sterling against Italy in the 2014 World Cup. 

Ilkay Gundogan - 8.5

Buzzed around and popped up in dangerous areas throughout the match, being unlucky not to score in the first half but made amends later. Jack Grealish's mid-game Instagram post summed him up: 'One of the best I've ever had the pleasure of playing with.' Majestic midfielder. 

Florian Wirtz - 6

Dazzled with some nice flicks and quick feet at times but could not replicate the fine performance that set the tournament alight in the opening fixture against Scotland last Friday, being substituted before the hour mark. 

Kai Havertz - 7

A versatile player who seems to have really grown into the No 9 role – false or otherwise. Makes fluent movement off the ball and stretches the play to create spaces for his team-mates to exploit. Was unlucky not to score early on. Not quite his night but still put in a good shift. 

Substitutes

Niclas Fullkrug (for Wirtz, 58min) - 6

Leroy Sane (for Havertz, 58) - 6

Emre Can (for Andrich, 71) - 6

Chris Fuhrich (for Musiala, 72) - 6

Denis Undav (for Gundogan, 84)

Not used: Oliver Baumann, Maximilian Beier, Pascal Gross, Benjamin Henrichs, Robin Koch, Thomas Muller, David Raum, Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck, Marc Andre Ter Stegen.

HUNGARY (3-4-2-1)

Peter Gulacsi - 7

Made a bit of a mess for Germany's opener as he failed to smother the ball. Made a fine double-save early in the second half when Kroos struck one from distance. Could do little about Gundogan's goal but got down well for several other stops. 

Attila Fiola - 6

Hard luck not to block the ball for Musiala's opener and had a tough time as Germany's forwards interchanged positions and caused all sorts of problems. 

Willy Orban - 6

Probably had hard luck to fall over for Germany's opener, albeit it looked slightly clumsy. Recovered with some big interceptions and tackles. 

Marton Dardai - 5 

Had a horrible task with Musiala and Mittelstadt on his side and struggled at times but also made some vital interventions. 

Bendeguz Bolla - 6 

Some nice mopping up at the back and was a threat going forward, too. But struggled with Mittelstadt's attacking runs down his side. 

Adam Nagy - 5

See above. Many better midfielders have struggled with the challenge of Kroos dictating the tempo and Nagy was another here. 

Andras Schafer - 5 

Both him and Nagy were extremely overran in midfield and struggled to gain a grip of the game, with most of Hungary's attacking play coming down the flanks. 

Milos Kerkez - 7 

Had an extremely promising first season at Bournemouth this season and showed off his talent on the world stage here with several barnstorming runs and punchy crosses down the left-hand flank. 

Roland Sallai - 6.5 

His loose header lost possession for Germany's first goal. Made some positive darts forward and played in a pitch-perfect cross in the second half which was not converted. 

Dominik Szoboszlai - 7.5 

Looked a livewire in the first half and tested the gloves of Neuer early on with a powerful free-kick, then had another fine chance minutes later with a solid volley. Also played a beautiful ball to Sallai, who put the ball in the back of the net but was flagged offside. Faded late on. Booked.

Barnabas Varga - 6.5

Would have breathed a sigh of relief when a defensive header nearly accidentally diverted into his own goal after 41 minutes. Had a huge chance on 60 minutes as he hung in the air but headed over. Booked.

Substitutes

Laszlo Kleinheisler (for Nagy, 64) - 6

Martin Adam (for Bolla, 75) - 6

Zsolt Nagy (for Kerkez, 75) - 6

Kevin Csoboth (for Sallai, 87) (booked)

Daniel Gazdag (for Varga, 87)

Not used: Botond Balogh, Endre Botka, Denes Dibusz, Krisztofer Horvath, Mihaly Kata, Adam Lang, Loic Nego, Callum Styles, Attila Szalai, Peter Szappanos.