Bundesliga
Müller and Sane score as Germany beat France
Thomas Müller and Leroy Sane both scored as Germany began their post-Hansi Flick era with a 2-1 victory over France.
Germany 2-1 France
Goals: 1-0 Müller 4’ (assist: Henrichs), 2-0 Sane 87’ (assist: Havertz), 2-1 Griezmann (pen. 89’)
Germany began at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park determined to make immediate amends for the 4-1 defeat by Japan a few days ago and their intense pressure soon took its toll. Only four minutes were on the clock when Benjamin Henrichs scuttled to the byline down the left before cutting the ball back into the middle for the unmarked Müller to lash in from eight yards. Serge Gnabry very nearly doubled the home side’s advantage a short while later following a lengthy passing sequence that culminated with the Bayern Munich attacker cutting in from the left and firing just wide of the far post. Germany continued to dominate, albeit without seriously threatening to score again, while they prevented France from getting too close to Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s goal.
Germany remained on the front foot after the break, although they had to be wary of a France side that reemerged from the dressing room with greater purpose. Aurelien Tchouameni had a couple of speculative efforts from range and Antoine Griezmann headed wide before Florian Wirtz was presented with the clearest opening of the half, running onto Julian Brandt’s pass into the box only to see his shot from 10 yards blocked by a defender. Germany did add a second in the closing stages when they pounced on some slack passing by France, with Kai Havertz feeding the ball through for Sane to slot past Mike Maignan. Sane was involved at the other end of the pitch too, tripping Eduardo Camavinga in the box to concede a penalty that Antoine Griezmann converted for a late consolation.
Watch: Inside Dortmund's giant Signal Iduna Park
Match stats
- Müller is by far the most experienced international player in this Germany squad with 123 caps (45 goals), of which nine have come against France (two goals).
- Only Lothar Matthäus (150), Miroslav Klose (137) and Lukas Podolski (130) have more caps for Germany than Müller.
- Having won his first eight games in charge – a new national record – and gone unbeaten in his first 13 matches, Flick then managed only three wins in his final 12 fixtures as Germany boss.
- Germany had failed to beat France in the previous six encounters since the 1-0 win in the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. Müller, Antoine Griezmann and Oliver Giroud are the only survivors from that game in Rio de Janeiro.
- No German player has more goals against France than interim coach Völler (three, same as Gerd Müller).
- Eight of the current France squad have played club football in the Bundesliga in Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Kingsley Coman (all Bayern), Ousmane Dembele (Dortmund), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marcus Thuram (Gladbach) and Jean-Clair Todibo (Schalke).
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Teams
Germany: Ter Stegen - Süle, Rüdiger, Tah, Henrichs (Gosens 78') - Can, Gündogan (c) Groß (25') - Sane, Müller (Havertz 64'), Wirtz (Hofmann 78') - Gnabry (Brandt 64')
Unused subs: Trapp, Baumann, Thiaw, Schlotterbeck, Kimmich, Nmecha, Schade
Out: Füllkrug (tendon), Musiala (hamstring)
Coach: Hannes Wolf (caretaker)
France: Maignan - Pavard (Kounde 65'), Saliba, Todibo, T. Hernandez - Coman (Dembele 64'), Tchouameni, Camavinga, Rabiot (Fofana 78') – Griezmann (c), Kolo Muani (Thuram 64')
Unused subs: Samba, Areola, Disasi, Upamecano, Mbappe, Kamara, L. Hernandez
Out: Giroud (ankle)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
As it happened!
2 - 1(1 - 0)
Germany
FINAL
France
90' +1
vs
3 minutes of added time
An important few minutes for Germany now.
90'
vs
The lead is halved!
Griezmann rarely misses from the spot, and he doesn't this time, either.
88'
vs
Penalty to France!
Almost from kick-off, France break forward, and Sane immediately becomes the villain as brings down Camavinga in the area.
87'
vs
Sane gives Germany breathing space!
Surely the hosts have this wrapped up now! Germany win the ball in the midfield, and Havertz finds Sane with a lovely through ball. The Bayern ace makes no mistake as he slots past Maignan to double his side's advantage.
83'
vs
Ter Stegen to the rescue!
The Barcelona shot-stopper has been in top form tonight and produces a fingertip stop here to push Griezmann's curling strike over the bar. From the resulting corner, he gathers Kounde's drive with comparative ease.
78'
vs
Jonas Hofmann
Florian Wirtz
78'
vs
Youssouf Fofana
Adrien Rabiot
78'
vs
Robin Gosens
Benjamin Henrichs
77'
vs
Under 15 minutes remaining
Can Germany hold on for a morale-boosting victory?
67'
vs
Wirtz effort blocked
Germany break, and the Leverkusen attacking midfielder is fond in space in the area, but a heroic French block denies him.
65'
vs
Changes, changes, changes
Five substitutes enter the fray, with former Bayern defender Pavard leaving the pitch as ex-Dortmund winger Dembele and Marcus Thuram, who recently left Borussia Mönchengladbach for Inter, coming on.
65'
vs
Jules Kounde
Benjamin Pavard
65'
vs
Ousmane Dembele
Kingsley Coman
64'
vs
Marcus Thuram
Randal Kolo Muani
64'
vs
Kai Havertz
Thomas Müller
64'
vs
Julian Brandt
Serge Gnabry
58'
vs
Griezmann wide!
France threaten again, this time with Griezmann, but the skipper's header is beyond the post.
57'
vs
Tchouameni denied!
Another long-range drive from the youngster, and this one is on target! Fortunately for Germany, Ter Stegen gets down brilliantly to parry, and Kolo Muani slips as he looks to convert the rebound. Let-off!
55'
vs
Antonio Rüdiger
53'
vs
No openings to report
The second half hasn't started anywhere near as frantically as the first as the two teams continue to size each other up.
48'
vs
Tchouameni takes aim!
The Real Madrid midfielder strikes from distance, but it well blocked by Can and goes out for a corner which results in nothing.
46'
vs
We're back underway!
The second half is up and running.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +1
vs
One minute of added time
Not many stoppages in this half so only 60 extra seconds.
43'
vs
Wide
Theo Hernandez does well to cut in from the left and fire a shot off, but it is never troubling Ter Stegen.
41'
vs
Pascal Groß
38'
vs
Tchouameni twice denied!
Ter Stegen is called into action twice in quick succession to deny Tchouameni headers, first from Griezmann's free-kick and then from the resulting corner. Those were France's first two efforts on target of the match.
35'
vs
France neutralised so far
Germany have not been quite as threatening as the half has progressed, but they have done well to stop their opponents from creating any real openings.
25'
vs
Gündogan off
A blow for Germany as the captain departs. Müller takes over the armband.
25'
vs
Pascal Groß
Ilkay Gündogan
24'
vs
Lovely from Coman
Coman has been France's brightest light so far, and he almost creates an opening as he twists and turns his way into the box before the ball just runs away from him and out for a goal-kick.
19'
vs
Counter wasted
Germany break with Müller, who has Wirtz and Sane alongside him. The path to both is obstructed, though, and the Bavarian ultimately sees his pass to the latter cut out.
16'
vs
Müller off target
The forward is clearly feeling confident as he tries to flick a Wirtz cross beyond Maignan, although it flies high and wide.
15'
vs
Germany in control
The game has settled down a little, but Gündogan and Co. are enjoying plenty of possession and are looking comfortable right now.
10'
vs
Gnabry wide
The Bayern winger has been heavily involved already in the opening 10 minutes, and while his effort from the left-hand side of the box is comfortably wide, the effort is a further example of Germany's intent.
8'
vs
Fantastic energy
You can applaud the way Völler's players have come out and attacked this encounter. The lead is deserved, and the desire is clear for all to see.
3'
vs
What a start!
A fantastic beginning to this game for Germany, who take the lead. The moves comes from the left flank, as Gnabry and Henrichs combine before Müller's fires in from the middle of the box. Lift-off!
3'
vs
High press from the hosts
Germany are giving their opponents no time on the ball in the early stages here, pressing at every opportunity.
vs
We're off!
Germany get us underway in Dortmund.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
Out on the pitch
Ilkay Gündogan leads Germany out onto the turf at the home of his former club Dortmund. We're moments away from kick-off now!
vs
Germany starting XI
Ter Stegen - Süle, Rüdiger, Tah, Henrichs - Can, Gündogan (c) - Sane, Müller, Wirtz - Gnabry
vs
Germany subs
Subs: Trapp, Baumann, Thiaw, Schlotterbeck, Kimmich, Havertz, Nmecha, Schade, Brandt, Hofmann, Gosens, Groß
vs
France starting XI
Maignan - Pavard, Saliba, Todibo, T. Hernandez - Coman, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Rabiot – Griezmann (c), Kolo Muani