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• 'We can do things better' - Nagelsmann frustrated as Germany denied win

  Julian Nagelsmann insists Germany "can do things better" after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Hungary due to a last-gasp penalty.

  Felix Nmecha had given the visitors the lead in the 76th minute, but Dominik Szoboszlai equalised in the 99th minute from a controversially given penalty for an alleged handball by Robin Koch.

  Nagelsmann's side had also had a Leroy Sane goal disallowed by VAR before Kai Havertz struck the post moments after coming off the bench.

  While the result of the match had no bearing on the standings – Germany had already secured top spot with a game to spare – it did end a three-game winning run.

  Germany have now scored in their last 12 matches, including friendlies, but Nagelsmann was still left frustrated by the disjointed nature of their performance in Budapest.

  "To be honest, I don't really want to talk about the game. I think we can do things better," he told ZDF.

  "We took too long in the first half to get things together, partly especially in the twenty minutes before the break."

  On the penalty decision, Nagelsmann said: "I spoke to the referee after the game and asked if he also saw the game against Spain [at the Euros]. I don't think he understood what I said.

  "I don't think it was a penalty at all. [Robin] Koch turns away from the shot and draws his hands closer to his body."

  Germany will find out their opponents for the Nations League quarter-finals in Friday's draw.

• Hungary 1-1 Germany: Late penalty forces visitors to settle for a draw

  Germany were denied victory away to Hungary in their final Nations League group game after conceding a 99th-minute equaliser to a Dominik Szoboszlai penalty.

  Julian Nagelsmann made nine changes from Germany's 7-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina last time out, with this match confirmed as a dead rubber before kick-off, and they struggled for fluency in the first half.

  Germany failed to have a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes and lost the xG battle 0.51-0.17.

  Things soon picked up, with Leroy Sane having a goal disallowed following a VAR review before Kai Havertz hit the post with a volley just three minutes later, having only come on as a substitute a minute before. They had their goal after 76 minutes when Felix Nmecha was quickest to react to a rebound to score his first international goal.

  But Hungary were not to be denied after appeals for a penalty in the 97th minute for an alleged handball against Robin Koch. Following a VAR review, the spot kick was given and Szoboszlai earned a point for the hosts.

  Germany's position as winners of Group A3 had already been secured prior to this match, as had Hungary's finishing place of third. Nagelsmann's side will now advance to the Nations League quarter-final, where they will face a second-placed side from League A. Hungary, meanwhile, will face a second-placed side from League B in a relegation play-off.

  Data debrief: Germany keep scoring streak going

  Germany extended their run of scoring in Nations League matches to seven consecutive games with their 1-1 draw in Budapest.

  Nagelsmann's side conclude their group campaign with 18 goals in six matches, helped by their 7-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina last time out.

  Following their draw today, Germany have now scored in 12 straight matches, including friendlies.

• Michael Johnson optimistic about bright future for field events amid rise of track-centric meets

  Legendary sprinter Michael Johnson, the founder of the upcoming Grand Slam Track (GST) series, is confident that field events will not be sidelined despite the emergence of track-only competitions like GST and September's all-woman Athlos NY meet. Instead, Johnson envisions a future where field events flourish in their own right, buoyed by specialized leagues and platforms.

  Grand Slam Track recently announced its inaugural season for 2025, with meets scheduled in Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. As excitement builds for the all-track format, concerns have surfaced about the potential marginalization of field events like the shot put, discus, javelin, and triple jump. However, responding to a query from Sportsmax.TV, Johnson dismissed these fears, offering a compelling case for optimism.

  “I think you will see quite the opposite,” Johnson said. “Ryan Crouser, the Olympic champion and world record holder in the shot put, is going to start his vision for a throws league that is specifically for the throws where the fans who actually appreciate those events and understand the great athleticism that is required for those events can actually be closer to the action. And so those events don’t fall secondary to what’s happening on the track, and I have offered my support to Ryan for that.”

  

  Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and former 200m and 400m world record holder, pointed to Crouser’s initiative as an example of how specialized leagues can elevate field events.

  “So I don’t think you will see those events continue to go away. I think it’s the exact opposite,” Johnson continued. “I think that there has been inspiration around how you now create leagues for those events as well, where you can make those events more prominent.”

  Field events have experienced a resurgence in recent years, with Caribbean athletes making significant strides on the global stage. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott and Grenada’s Anderson Peters have won Olympic and World Championship medals in the javelin. Jamaica's Roje Stona set an Olympic record to win gold in the discus, with compatriot Rajindra Campbell claiming shot put bronze. Dominica’s Thea LaFond made history by winning her country’s first Olympic medal, a gold in the triple jump, ahead of Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts, a two-time World Championship silver medalist.

  Johnson believes specialized leagues and tailored events are key to ensuring that these athletes and their disciplines receive the recognition they deserve.

  “Right now, they’re getting lost in a huge stadium where fans far away can’t actually see and appreciate the athleticism,” Johnson explained. “So I think that this [Grand Slam Track] paves the way for a brighter future for the field events.”

  Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season promises to bring a fresh, dynamic format to track events, while Johnson’s endorsement of field-event-specific leagues highlights his broader vision for athletics as a sport. With initiatives like Crouser’s throws league on the horizon, Johnson’s optimism reflects a shift toward creating dedicated platforms for all disciplines to shine.

   The 2025 GST series, set to kick off with a meet in Kingston from April 4-, marks an exciting evolution for the sport. As Johnson’s vision takes shape, the future appears brighter not just for track athletes but for the field-event stars whose talents deserve a stage of their own.