Germany 0-0 France
Germany and France played out a draw tonight at the Allianz Arena in a game lacking in goals but packed with quality.
This was the big match on the opening night of the UEFA Nations League and, despite the scoreline, it didn’t disappoint. Some of the best players in the world were on show, and this was a game full of world-class action.
This is the start of a long road back for Germany, and Joachim Low’s side played with the passion so lacking at the World Cup. They held the 2018 Champions and could have won.
Highlights of the game
Germany started the brighter with a look of intent to banish to history their humiliation in Russia. And Timo Werner got round the back of the France defence, but his dangerous ball in was cut out by the perfectly positioned N’Golo Kante.
Les Bleus quickly got into their stride with Lucas Hernandez stretching the German defence down the left wing. Low’s team lacks pace at the back, and France’s speed would test it severely. But despite Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann lurking, the hosts defended well enough to repel the threat.
And France keeper Alphonse Areola was the first to be called into action when Jerome Boateng put Timo Werner in, on the left side of the penalty area, and the RB Leipzig forward stung the stopper’s hands.
France came the closest to scoring in the first half when N’Golo Kante put over the perfect cross for Olivier Giroud to direct his header towards the bottom corner, but Manuel Neuer got down well to turn the ball away.
Mbappe is about to start a three-match ban in Ligue 1, having picked up a red card against Nimes, so he was ready to leave everything on the pitch tonight. He didn’t have much of a sniff in the opening period but did force a regulation save from Neuer with a curling free-kick as France finished the stronger.
Giroud almost opened the scoring seconds before the break when he flicked a Mbappe cross just wide.
France opened the second half on the front foot: when Benjamin Pavard found Griezmann, the Atletico man tested Neuer with a low shot. Then Areola was back in the action when Thomas Muller fired low towards the bottom corner. And as the game began to stretch, first Griezmann almost finished a beautiful France move, and then Areola made a great reaction save to deny a first-time effort from Marco Reus.
Germany began to dominate, and Areola was again on call to make a spectacular save when defender Mats Hummels, of all people, was on the end of a fast break. The young French keeper then pulled out his best save of the night, with lightning reactions, when Matthias Ginter thought he’d scored with a header. If you didn’t see it live, take a look at the UEFA Nations League 2018 highlights.
Key statistics
Germany started the match with seven of the team which played South Korea in their last game at the World Cup, while France started with ten of their final side, only goalkeeper Hugo Lloris missing out to be replaced by Alphonse Areola. And the debutant played a blinder.
Our UEFA Nations League 2018 odds on this game had the draw at 3.15; it was a fair enough result but the hosts had the edge over 90 minutes.
Germany had more possession in the first half with 57 per cent to 43, but it was a tight opening, with only six shots and three each. But Germany stepped it up in the second half, winning the shot count by 13 to eight in the end and forcing Areola into five good saves.
Low admitted that arrogance played a part in Germany’s spectacular demise at the World Cup, but there was no lack of effort here. You could tell there were points at stake, and probably more for the hosts.
What’s next?
France are the best team in the world at the moment, and they face one of the past masters of world football, the Netherlands, on Sunday, before Ronald Koeman’s team meets Germany on Saturday 13th. Make sure you join in the action with us, right here at SBOBET.
The inventors of Total Football have failed to reach the last two major tournaments and have been sadly missed. Koeman was an imperious player for the Dutch and he could be the man to rejuvenate this team. And they made a good start tonight, coming from behind to beat Peru 2-1.
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