UEFA Euro 2020: France win after a German finds the back of the net!

France's Kylian Mbappe, centre, salutes the fans after the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between France and Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. France won the match 1-0. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, Pool)

It was a night when it all went wrong for Hummels. He scored the only goal when Germany beat France in the World Cup quarter-final seven years ago. But this time, he found the back of the net for the wrong team as France beat Germany 1-0 to go second on the table in Group F behind Portugal. France was the more dominant team throughout the match, making blistering runs into the German box, causing all sorts of problems for the German defence. They would have been at least 3-0 ahead, had they not overrun their dashes forward. Two of their goals were ruled offside.

The first half was played well by both sides. The opening few minutes were full of action. A header by Hummels gave Germany the first chance on goal, Kimmich picked up a yellow card and plenty of heavy challenges all in the first 10 minutes. Pogba’s header went over the bar in the 16^th minute. A minute later, Mbappe burst infield from the left, beat Ginter and smashed a shot at the German goal, but it was saved by a diving Neuer.

Couple of minutes later, Pogba opened up Germany with a brilliant cross on to the pat of Hernandez who was running in from the right. He hammered the cross in search of Mbappe who was running down the center. Hummels under pressure from Mbappe, tried to block the pass but ended up hitting into his own goal. Germany almost equalised straightaway when Gosens cross was headed wide by Muller. France was letting Germany have the ball but were attacking at the counter. Germany looked comfortable on the ball, but the goal changed the dynamics of the match.

France was much more clinical with their possession in the second half and were causing all sorts of trouble for the German backline with Mbappe’s pace proving to be too much for Germany. Hummels was the most undone by Mbappe and his pace. But the German kept his nerve and was lucky with his tackles, the most notable coming in the 78^th minute when he brought down Mbappe in the penalty box. Mbappe had beaten him for sheer pace and was flying down the face of goal, before a desperate sliding tackle from Hummels averted the danger. France had another golden chance in the 52^nd minute when Mbappe released Rabiot down the right. The Frenchman hesitated for a moment before taking a shot which hit the post and went wide. Griezmann was running in support and had Rabiot passed it to him, it would have been a simple tap-in. France scored in the 66^th and 85^th minute only to see both goals denied due to offsides. Mbappe was involved in both attempts. The first one was sheer brilliance from him where he toyed with the defence before slotting one in the corner. The second attempt involved him leaving the French defence in his wake and sending a pass onto the path of Benzema who just had to tap in the ball.

Like Italy, Belgium and Portugal, France have also made a statement with their performance and have shown why they are hot favourites to win the title. They can play a lot better and that is a very worrying factor for the other teams. Germany once again finds themselves in a familiar situation of being knocked out in the group stages. They will have to conjure something special if that are to win against Portugal next. France, meanwhile will take on Hungary.