Even if a German had scored the goal of the evening for France, it was the inevitable conclusion of the world champion's most powerful attack in the first half.

Mats Hummels was unable to react actively to the cross of the French full-back Lucas Hernandez, and so his right shin served as a catapult for the only goal that Tuesday evening in Munich.

For the sake of simplicity, the 2018 world champion included a defender of the 2014 world champion in the decisive scene from the 20th minute, because the outstanding Paul Pogba, who was not disturbed by his opponent Toni Kroos, shifted the game from the right to the left with a pass from the inside of the foot Hernandez had unlocked and the FC Bayern Munich professional, who was familiar with this stadium, immediately acted purposefully.

After all, he had seen out of the corner of his eye that the French star striker Kylian Mbappé was ready for the final shot on goal in Hummels' back.

Joshua Kimmich, who could have harassed Hernandez, did not intervene at this moment and thus offered an example of the inconsistency that was inherent in many German actions in this ultimately unequal duel with the title favorites at this European Championship.

France won their first game in Group F because the Equipe Tricolore was equipped for 96 minutes with the conviction and self-image that nothing bad would happen to them in the Munich arena.

Calculated, clever and callous

Calculated, clever and callous, the champion conquered the rooms in which his own game was started and the opponent could be slowed down as best as possible in his constant eagerness.

You could see from the Germans that they had dark times behind them and that they were still a long way from turning duels with equally strong or stronger opponents in their favor.

But the best players from the Grande Nation, which has produced a wealth of talent over the years like nowhere else in Europe, knew on Tuesday exactly what they can and need to win competitive games like the one against Germany.

“A big game against a strong German team,” said coach Didier Deschamps about the summit of two greats in international football.

He, who as captain of the Equipe de France won the world title in 1998, the European championship in 2000 and also conquered the World Cup as coach of the French national team in 2018, knew how important this opening success was against the Germans. And he knew "our team would be ready" when the game started.

While the Germans were still looking to transfer the good atmosphere in the Herzogenaurach team quarters to an emergency, France, prepared in its own elite school in Clairefontaine, had come to Munich knowing that it could defeat any opponent with its own weapons.

The decisive difference was particularly evident in the midfield.

The Germans did not have a unique piece like Paul Pogba, who brilliantly staged his team's game in close association with N'golo Kanté, the best ball conqueror in the world, on Tuesday.

Kroos and Gündogan are no match

Kroos and Ilkay Gündogan, who should set offensive and defensive light accents in the central midfield, were in all efforts of the natural force of the 1.91 meter long athlete and playmaker Pogba as well as the thoroughness of his 1.68 meter partner with the seventh sense of order for the right Moment to intervene not grown.

"With the second goal we would have been on the safe side," said Deschamps, a gentleman coach, who added that his team "didn't suffer so much" in the second, better German half.

A single dangerous shot by Gnabry, which narrowly missed the goal, was too little to shake this ensemble, which was based on mutual experience.

Ultimately, the coach and Pogba, his leader on Tuesday evening, agreed “that this win is good for us”.

The French can do a lot more than they had to show against the Germans.

In the two offside goals from the second half by Mbappé (66th) and Benzéma (85th), they played their tempo advantages in a remarkable way, without capitalizing on it in these remarkable moments.

There was also a shot from the post by the third midfield patron, Adrien Rabot (52nd), for whom Mbappé had given free rein.

So the opportunities were there to win even more clearly.

Since the world champion leans towards a certain minimalism, as long as the victory does not appear to be in danger, France achieved a 1-0 victory on Tuesday.

Even though Deschamps may have spoken in all his politeness about the fact that this game of “strong against strong” could have been a European Championship semi-final or final, he was exaggerating it a bit. France seemed to be ready for the decisive phase of the tournament that had just started on Tuesday, but the Germans would have to improve enormously if they too want to get close to the big final at the end of the four-week tournament.