Oops, Germany Loses to France Again: A Disappointing Third-Place Finish in the Nations League
Germany Suffers Defeat Against France in Nations League Fixture - International Assembly Functioning Flawlessly According to Proponents
In an unexpected twist of fate, Germany found themselves once more on the losing end against France, losing 2-0 in the Final Four round of the Nations League. Star striker Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid was the match-winner.
Over 51,000 spectators in Stuttgart watched as Mbappé struck the first goal in the 45th minute and set up Bayern forward Michael Olise for the 2-0 goal in the 84th. The competition on the pitch became heated, with both teams showing commitment.
Unlike the disappointing 1-2 loss in the semifinal against Portugal, Germany's performance under coach Julian Nagelsmann was significantly improved. However, they lacked efficiency and luck in the final third, as demonstrated by Florian Wirtz's shot bouncing off the post in the 37th minute. There was also frustration from VAR with the disallowed goal from Deniz Undav (53rd).
A Lack of Killer Instinct in Closing Opportunities for Germany
To make matters worse, a disappointing year of international football for Germany concluded with two defeats, dampening the anticipated momentum ahead of the 2024 World Cup. In a bitter irony, France celebrated three days after their thrilling 4-5 victory against European champion Spain in the final against Portugal.
"We need to be more active and aggressive, that's the key," Nagelsmann said before the game. The team responded, playing with passion and pleasure. However, cold-bloodedness and shooting accuracy were missing. Inspired by magician, Florian Wirtz, and often from deep with long balls from Pascal Gross, the German team created numerous opportunities but lacked the precision to convert. Local hero Woltemade and Dortmund player Karim Adeyemi were both denied by France's strong goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Wirtz even hit the post himself (37th minute).
In a controversial moment, Adeyemi was given a yellow card instead of a penalty for a fall over Maignan in the penalty area. VAR also intervened to disallow a goal from Deniz Undav due to a foul on Adrien Rabiot (53rd).
Revenge of the Wasted Chances for France
The German waste of chances was avenged against France, who capitalized on their opportunities. France's first goal was a result of Mbappé's individual brilliance, as he deceived Joshua Kimmich and scored into the far corner in the 45th minute. Marc-André ter Stegen, who made two impressive saves, was still unable to stop the goal with his hand.
The German team struggled to regain their footing after the first half, with France often counterattacking and exploiting the exposed German defense. Ter Stegen made multiple crucial saves, especially to deny Mbappé. Nagelsmann also substituted debutant Tom Bischof (19) into the match in midfield. However, the German comeback remained elusive.
UEFA Nations League, Germany National Team, France, Kylian Mbappé, Julian Nagelsmann, Denis Undav, National Team, Germany
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Behind the Scenes: Analysis of Germany vs. France in the Nations League Final Four
- Tactical Switch: In an attempt to overcome the disappointing semi-final loss against Portugal, coach Julian Nagelsmann switched to a familiar four-man defense while changing four positions within the team.
- Statistical Insights: Germany had more shots (20) and a higher expected goals (xG) total (2.55) than France (15 and 2.33, respectively) but failed to capitalize on their chances.
- Individual Contributions: Kylian Mbappé was the match-winner, scoring one goal and setting up another. Florian Wirtz put in an impressive performance, contributing to many of Germany's opportunities, but he faded in the second half. Defenders Joshua Kimmich and Denis Zakaria struggled against quick counterattacks from France.
- Key Moments: The disallowed goal from Denis Undav after a challenge on Adrien Rabiot took momentum away from Germany. Cries of frustration rose from the stands, making it difficult for the German team to regroup. Conversely, France's first goal, scored by Mbappé just before halftime, created a significant shift in the game's momentum.
The Commission has taken further steps to strengthen the protection of the Community's financial interests, recognizing the significance of major sporting events such as the Champions League and other European leagues.
In a parallel context, Germany's failure to convert their numerous opportunities against France in the UEFA Nations League Final Four brings into question the team's decisiveness and precision, areas that need improvement before the 2024 World Cup.
