Euro 2021: in Munich, the Blues win the shock against Germany
The French Kylian Mbappé still impressed with his speed.
Here against Mats Hummels, unhappy scorer against his camp.
AP - Matthias Hangst
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
4 min
France entered its Euro with a first victory against Germany this Tuesday, June 15 in Munich.
The Mannschaft offered victory to the Blues with a goal against their camp of Mats Hummels in the first period.
Publicity
Read more
From our special correspondent in Munich,
Finally.
Four weeks after the list announced by Didier Deschamps, the Blues began their Euro with a meeting at the top, against Germany, at home, in Munich.
On the playing field of Bayern Munich, at the Allianz Arena, - where the Blues had taken out Portugal in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup -, 14,000 spectators, privileged, were able to see the last two champions evolve of the world.
Hummels the lucky evil
Deprived of the ball early in the game, the French opened the scoring in the 20th minute after a goal against his own Mats Hummels, who deflected the ball into his own goal from the shin, after a cross from Lucas Hernandez.
Three own goals have been scored so far in this Euro: Demiral with Turkey, Szczesny with Poland and now Hummels with Germany.
Tunic with two stars on the shoulders, the Blues trod the lawn with the status of the team to beat.
A historic rival, Germany got rid of France in the 80s until the quarter-final in Brazil in 2014. Since then, the trend has been reversed.
Tonight, the Mannschaft fell once again on a bone, despite four chances in the first period, like that of Tony Kroos who wound up a shot from the right.
The ball went over the goal of Lloris (27th).
Goal denied for Mbappé and Benzema
From now on, the Tricolores hold the dragee high with XXL attackers like Mbappé, who hit the frame in the 17th minute, and whose first offensive, at the entrance to the surface, was countered by Toni Kroos ( 8th).
The PSG player was denied a goal in the second half for an offside position (66th).
From this first meeting at the top, we will remember the still exceptional form of N'Golo Kanté or the rigor of Raphaël Varane.
Adrien Rabiot, for his part, had an impeccable first period with 96% of successful passes (22/23).
The former Paris Saint-Germain player also touched Neuer's post in the second half (52nd).
As for Paul Pogba, very involved, he reigned over the midfielder in the first period and split with a header from a corner, passed just above the cages of Manuel Neuer (16th).
Karim Benzema, back in Blue, saw himself as Mbappé refused a goal, while he had shot Neuer with a shot from the right (85th).
Germany have never lost their first game in 10 appearances
If the theory of a decisive first match is less strong than during a World Cup - a final phase at 24 leaves a larger margin to qualify for the second round - France still had its place to hold.
Even if the Blues suffered at the end of the game.
From Germany, - no shot on target in the first period - we will remember in particular this attempt by Gnabry who took over from the right a center from Gosens, at the entrance to the surface.
But his shot grazed the bar of Lloris, who had no stopping to make this evening (54th).
Since the establishment of the group stage in 1980, Germany had never lost its first match in 10 participations.
France, which eliminated the Germans in the last Euro in the semi-finals, entered the competition with a first victory synonymous with confidence.
But there is still a long way to go before hoping, as in 2018, to descend the Champs-Elysées in a double-decker bus.
Next stop, Hungary, on Saturday.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Euro 2021
Sports
France
Germany