Bundesliga
Wirtz scores after seven seconds as Germany beat France
Florian Wirtz netted his first international goal as a clinical Germany side overcame France 2-0 in a confidence-boosting win ahead of hosting EURO 2024.
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France 0-2 Germany
Goals: 0-1 Wirtz 1’ (assist: Kroos), 0-2 Havertz 49’ (assist: Musiala)
Germany enjoyed a dream start as they scored inside the first 10 seconds after catching France napping. Toni Kroos’ long ball forward from kick-off found the unmarked Wirtz 30 yards from goal in a central position. It was an invitation the in-form Bayer Leverkusen attacker was not going to turn down, and he strode forward to the edge of the box before smashing in past France goalkeeper Brice Samba. Julian Nagelsmann’s side remained in control for a while, albeit without seriously testing Samba again, but midway through the half France began to shift through the gears and created chances for Marcus Thuram, Dayot Upamecano, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Jamal Musiala reminded the hosts that they needed to remain on their guard after ghosting behind the defence to receive a Joshua Kimmich pass, but Upamecano scuttled over to block.
Germany struck early in the second half too, with what proved to be the knockout blow. Wirtz picked out another elusive Musiala run, and this time there was no stopping the Bayern playmaker as he dribbled around Samba and pulled the ball back for Kai Havertz to stroke in from close range. Dembélé curled an effort wide as France tried to muster a response, with Aurélien Tchouaméni dragging a shot off target moments later. That was about as good as it got for the 2022 World Cup runners-up, with Germany going closest to adding to the scoreline in the closing stages. Maximilian Mittelstädt saw his goal-bound shot well saved, while substitutes Thomas Müller and Deniz Undav were thwarted by Samba in quick succession, preventing a well-deserved victory by an even higher margin.
Watch: Every Florian Wirtz goal and assist in the Bundesliga
Match stats
- This was Germany’s 12th victory in 34 total encounters with France.
- Kroos, Manuel Neuer and Müller all started Germany’s 1-0 victory over France in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup on the way to winning the tournament – and remain in the current squad.
- Kroos is ninth on Germany’s list of most-capped players (107) but is behind the Bayern pair of Neuer (117) and Müller (124).
- Wirtz's goal was his first at senior international level.
- Nagelsmann coached French defenders Upamecano and Lucas Hernández at Bayern (in addition to Neuer, Müller, Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich).
- Stuttgart trio Undav, Mittelstädt and Waldemar Anton all made their Germany debuts in this game.
Teams
France: Samba - Koundé (Clauss 60'), Pavard, Upamecano, L. Hernández (T. Hernández 61') - Zaïre-Emery (Camavinga 61'), Tchouaméni (Fofana 74'), Rabiot - Dembélé (Kolo Muani 84'), Thuram (Giroud 61'), Mbappé (c)
Unused subs: Areola, Maignan, Konaté, Saliba, Diaby, Guendouzi
Out: Coman (knee), Nkunku (thigh), Griezmann (ankle)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Germany: Ter Stegen - Kimmich, Tah, Rüdiger, Mittelstädt - Kroos (Anton 89'), Andrich - Wirtz (Führich 72'), Gündoğan (c) (Müller 72'), Musiala (Füllkrug 80') - Havertz (Undav 80')
Unused subs: Baumann, Leno, Henrichs, Koch, Raum, Groß, Beier
Out: Beste (groin), Hofmann (hip), Klostermann (thigh), Neuer (groin), Pavlović (tonsilitis), Sané (suspended)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
As it happened!
0 - 2(0 - 1)
France
FINAL
Germany
90' +1
vs
Added time
We're into the first of four minutes of stoppage time.
90'
vs
Waldemar Anton
Toni Kroos
87'
vs
Rüdiger goal-line clearance!
Mittelstädt gets in a bit of a muddle as he tries to clear Mbappé's cross from the left, forcing the ball past Ter Stegen and almost for an own goal. Rüdiger slides in and hooks it clear - with the aid of his own crossbar!
83'
vs
Randal Kolo Muani
Ousmane Dembélé
81'
vs
Samba busy!
The France goalkeeper is forced to make two good saves in quick succession, first to keep out Müller's left-footed effort before denying Undav a goal on his international debut.
80'
vs
Niclas Füllkrug
Jamal Musiala
80'
vs
Deniz Undav
Kai Havertz
79'
vs
So close from Mittelstädt!
Some neat interplay on the right between Müller and Kimmich ends with the latter playing in Mittelstädt, who is charging into the box on the left. His low drive appears destined for the bottom corner, but Samba gets down well to save.
78'
vs
France pushing
With just over 10 minutes left to play France are beginning to crank up the pressure again as they seek a way back into the game. They haven't seriously troubled Ter Stegen in this half yet though.
75'
vs
Andrich has a pop
Müller lays the ball off for Andrich, arriving on the edge of a crowded penalty area, but his shot is blocked for a corner.
74'
vs
Youssouf Fofana
Aurélien Tchouaméni
72'
vs
Chris Führich
Florian Wirtz
72'
vs
Thomas Müller
Ilkay Gündogan
69'
vs
Off the line!
Kimmich gets into space down the right and dinks a cross to the back post to Havertz. He heads it back across goal, but Upamecano clears off the line.
65'
vs
Gündogan thwarted
Germany's high press wins the ball back and Havertz's first-time pass releases Gündogan into the box. He looks certain to score, but Upamecano just recovers in time to prevent him getting a proper shot away.
60'
vs
Eduardo Camavinga
Warren Zaïre-Emery
60'
vs
Olivier Giroud
Marcus Thuram
60'
vs
Jonathan Clauss
Joules Koundé
60'
vs
Theo Hernández
Lucas Hernández
58'
vs
Wide from Tchouameni
Gündogan gives away possession rather too cheaply, deep inside his own half. Thuram barrels forward and passes to Tchouameni, who drills a low shot wide of the upright.
55'
vs
Dembélé goes close
The former Dortmund winger scampers into space down France's right, cuts inside and curls a shot towards the far post that only narrowly misses the target.
52'
vs
Ruthless efficiency
Germany have been clinical with the few chances they've had in this game, scoring twice from three shots on target.
50'
vs
Germany double their lead!
Another fine goal from Julian Nagelsmann's side. Wirtz picks out Musiala as he makes a diagonal run behind the defence. The Bayern dribbler takes it around Samba and pulls the ball back for Havertz, who strokes it into the empty net!
47'
vs
Wide from Havertz
Wirtz slides a ball inside from the left to Havertz, who takes a touch to steady himself before getting a shot away. He strikes it well enough but it rolls wide of the far post.
46'
vs
Peeeep!
The ball is rolling once again in Lyon.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
42'
vs
Even stevens
Germany had the better start, then France had a decent spell of pressure, but now it's more balanced with most of the action concentrated in the middle third of the pitch.
37'
vs
Tah stops Thuram
Mbappé shows his pace down the left in taking on Kimmich and Rüdiger before crossing low to the front post. Thuram gets there first but he can only put the ball out of play for a goal kick under pressure from Tah.
35'
vs
Ter Stegen to the rescue
Dembélé seems to have got the measure of Mittelstädt for now and jinks past him once again, setting himself up for a powerful right-footed shot from an angle. Ter Stegen makes a strong save, with Rabiot putting the rebound over.
31'
vs
Next opening for Germany
Kimmich threads a lovely ball between two defenders after spying Musiala's run. The Bayern attacker gets a shot away from an angle on the right, but clubmate Upamecano scuttles across to block it - before turning and berating his fellow defenders for allowing Musiala to run free.
28'
vs
Keep ball
Germany try to take the sting out of France's momentum by keeping the ball among themselves. They're only around the halfway line and aren't able to get much further forward, but it's a breather at least from that flurry of chances for Les Bleus.
25'
vs
Ter Stegen stops Mbappé!
It's all France now, with chances coming thick and fast. Mbappé skips into the box down the left and tries to chip it over Ter Stegen, but the goalkeeper reads his intentions and makes a good save.
24'
vs
Over from Upamecano
Mittelstädt concedes a free-kick wide on Germany's left, inside his own half. It's whipped to the back post, but Upamecano can't keep his header down.
22'
vs
France building momentum
Dembélé shuffles past Mittelstädt down France's right and although his cross is cleared by Kroos, France come again almost immediately. This time the ball is lofted high towards the back post, where Mbappé brings it down and fires off a shot that whizzes just wide of the post.
19'
vs
Over from Thuram
France's best chance of the game so far falls to Thuram. The home side make headway down the right and are lucky that Kounde's low cross into the middle bounces off a defender's leg and falls kindly for Thuram, but the former Gladbach striker's left-footed strike sails well over.
15'
vs
Dangerous position
Kroos is fouled in a central position, about 40 yards out. For a moment it looks like he might fancy a long-range effort, with goalkeeper Samba a little off his line, but instead he floats a ball towards the back post, looking for Tah. Pavard gets there first though, and France clear.
13'
vs
Nothing middling about Mittelstädt
The Stuttgart left-back has looked right at home on his debut so far and has impressed with his aggressive pressing of Koundé. His already pinned him back into his own half and blocked two of his attempted clearances.
11'
vs
Bright start
Wirtz's strike has naturally given Germany confidence and they've been the better side so far, stroking the ball around the pitch at ease and keeping France well away from Ter Stegen's goal.
6'
vs
Kimmich composed
Mbappé receives the ball wide on the left in a bit of space. He jinks forward for his first tête à tête with Kimmich, but the Bayern man stands his ground and wins the ball easily.
5'
vs
Wirtz on the prowl
The Leverkusen playmaker causes mischief again, receiving a pass form Havertz and striding past Pavard down Germany's left. He slides a ball towards the near post for the onrushing Musiala, but the goalkeeper just gets there first.
2'
vs
Wowzers!
Germany score right from kick-off! Kroos pings a long ball forward to Wirtz, who is all alone in a central position. He advances to the edge of the France penalty area and smashes the ball into the net. What a start!
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
Team news - France
Bayern centre-back Dayot Upamecano starts for the home side, partnered by former clubmates Benjamin Pavard, now of Inter Milan, and Lucas Hernández (PSG). Further forward, former Dortmund winger Ousmane Dembélé begins alongside erstwhile Gladbach attacker Marcus Thuram and superstar Kylian Mbappé.
vs
Team news - Germany
Kai Havertz starts up top ahead of Niclas Füllkrug, with Musiala, Wirtz and Gündogan floating behind him. Leverkusen enforced Robert Andrich begins in central midfield alongside the returning Kroos.
vs
France starting XI
Samba - Koundé, Pavard, Upamecano, L. Hernández - Zaïre-Emery, Tchouaméni, Rabiot - Dembélé, Thuram, Mbappé (c)