Germany hosts Hungary as sports and politics mix

• France's showdown against Portugal lacks punch • Spain set to bring in Busquets to avoid debacle • Lewandowski looks to find a way past Sweden

Both Germany and Hungary are trying avoid early elimination from the European Championship.

The Hungarians need to win when the teams meet on Wednesday, the Germans don't.

The match will take place following a request to light the stadium in rainbow colors to protest what the Munich city council said was the "homophobic and transphobic legislation of the Hungarian government."

UEFA turned down the council's application. It previously gave the go-ahead for Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to continue wearing a captain's armband with the rainbow colors "considering that it was promoting a good cause, i.e. diversity."

It will be the first competitive match between Germany and Hungary since the "Miracle of Bern" in the 1954 World Cup final, when the West German team came from behind to defeat a Hungarian side considered to be the best in the world 3-2.

Hungary coach Marco Rossi's current team can't be compared to the "Mighty Magyars" of yesteryear, but it can still reach the round of 16 after defender Attila Fiola scored in a 1-1 draw with World Cup champion France.

Goretzka is likely to make his first start amid injury worries for Germany coach Joachim Löw. Influential forward Thomas Müller is doubtful with a knee injury sustained in the win over Portugal and defender Mats Hummels had a tendon problem in his knee. Both were recalled to the squad specifically for the tournament because of their experience and they've had a major impact.

Whoever Löw opts for will have to contend with a well-drilled defense. Hungary will have to do without a full stadium of support for the first time. Both its previous games took place in Budapest, the only venue at the tournament to allow full capacity.

Hungary captain Ádám Szalai, who went off after receiving a blow to his head against France, has been cleared to play.

France's showdown against Portugal lacks punch

France advanced without kicking a ball, and Portugal can move on as well even with a loss on Wednesday.

Hardly the heavyweight showdown many had hoped for in a match pitting defending champion Portugal against World Cup champion France, and Cristiano Ronaldo against Kylian Mbappe.

Results on Tuesday guaranteed France a spot in the round of 16. A one-goal loss for Portugal should be enough as long as Hungary doesn't win in Germany in Group F's other game.

Still, that's unlikely to alter France coach Didier Deschamps' way of thinking, and he is thinking only of first place.

Portugal can still win the group by beating France, but it depends on what happens in Munich in the match between Germany and Hungary.

Germany and Portugal have three points and the same goal difference, while Hungary is last with one point and must win to advance.

With an attack that is the envy of most coaches, it seems odd that France is not yet clicking in attack.

Mbappe netted a career-high 42 goals for Paris Saint-Germain this season, while Karim Benzema scored 30 for Real Madrid and moved into a tie for fourth on the all-time list of scorers in the Champions League with 71.

Yet neither has scored so far at Euro 2020.

Benzema is getting more criticism than Mbappe, however, and the players are trying to sound reassuring. After Antoine Griezmann backed him, so did left back Lucas Digne.

Spain set to bring in Busquets to avoid Euro 2020 debacle

Spain may summon its most experienced player for its most important match at the European Championship.

Sergio Busquets is set to return for the match against Slovakia on Wednesday, when "La Roja" faces the possibility of an embarrassing elimination in front of its fans.

Only victory for Spain will be enough to ensure a spot in the round of 16 at Euro 2020.

A draw may be enough, but only if Poland doesn't defeat Sweden in the other Group E match. Both games will be played at the same time.

Spain coach Luis Enrique hasn't confirmed Busquets as a starter, but he had said the player was ready to play from the moment he rejoined the squad. The Spanish soccer federation said Busquets was picked to speak alongside Luis Enrique at the team's prematch news conference on Tuesday.

Azpilicueta himself may be another veteran called upon to help the Spanish squad as it faces elimination. The 31-year-old Chelsea right back has yet to play at Euro 2020 as Luis Enrique preferred to use Marcos Llorente in the position.

Jordi Alba had taken over as captain in the absence of Busquets. The national team's longtime captain, Sergio Ramos, was not called up after playing sparingly in the final part of the season with Real

Madrid because of injuries. The decision to leave him out of the squad even though he would have been fit to play by the time Euro 2020 started drew a lot of criticism against Luis Enrique, with many saying the team was left without a true leader.

Slovakia needs a draw to guarantee its spot in the next round. It is making its second consecutive appearance after debuting at Euro 2016. Both Slovakia and Spain were eliminated in the round of 16 in 2016. Spain last missed the knockout round in 2004.

Lewandowski looks to find a way past Sweden

Robert Lewandowski is facing another early exit from a major international soccer tournament.

Unless, that is, Poland can find a way past one of the tightest defenses at the European Championship.

Beating Sweden is Poland's only route to the knockout stage of

Euro 2020 — and that's something no team has managed in seven games in 2021.

Where there is Lewandowski, though, there is hope for Poland.

Sweden, after all, has four points from its opening two games in Group E — a 0-0 draw against Spain and a 1-0 win over Slovakia — and was assured of qualifying for the round of 16 because of the results of Monday's games.

A win would secure a first place in the group. Then again, so might a draw.

Sweden is one of three teams yet to concede a goal at Euro 2020, along with Italy and England. Given that stat, and the team's inclination to defend compactly and in numbers especially when it doesn't need to attack, it explains why Poland is facing such a tough task.

Lewandowski has only advanced from the group stage once in three appearances at either a World Cup or a European Championship with Poland. That was at Euro 2016, the first time the continental tournament had been expanded to 24 teams.

While 67 goals in 121 games for Poland is a amazing record, the Bayern Munich striker is often starved of quality service at major tournaments when the standard of opposition increases. He has only three goals in 13 games at a World Cup or European Championship.

Poland, which is in last place in the group with one point, could be without defender Jan Bednarek and midfielder Jakub Moder because of injury.

Sweden coach Janne Andersson may decide to change his lineup now that qualification is guaranteed, and give some game time to fringe players.

Dejan Kulusevski could return for Sweden after being left on the bench against Slovakia. The winger had just returned to full training after completing a period of self-isolation after contracting the coronavirus.