Well launched with a view to qualifying for Euro 2024, France visits Germany, future host country but selection in crisis. Follow the match live with commentary from 9 p.m. on the Linternaute.com website.
A little Euro feel. To finish its September gathering, the French team will meet in the Ruhr in Dortmund to challenge Germany. A match without stakes other than that of coming up against an old rival and marking your territory while becoming a little more familiar with the place. Indeed, next June, the Tricolores should be back in the region to compete in the European Championship.
With a fifth victory in as many matches in the qualifying phase, last Thursday against Ireland, they have taken a big step towards the summer meeting and are arriving full of confidence. However, no chance of seeing the same team on the pitch at Signal Iduna Park. Didier Deschamps had warned that he would use this second match to test his men and give some the opportunity to show themselves.
The biggest upheaval should occur in defense where Maignan in goal, Upamecano and Théo Hernandez should continue. Alongside the left-hander from Bayern Munich, the coach should start William Saliba, who has become essential at Arsenal. An unprecedented duo which nevertheless offers a certain potential for solidity and strong mobility capable of containing the races of Brandt and Sané in particular, while posing a complex problem for Havertz, at the very timid start of the season. On the sides, Pavard should have his chance on the right.
If Camavinga will replace Rabiot in the middle next to Tchouaméni, it is up front that eyes will turn with the scheduled return of Randal Kolo Muani. Spared on Thursday, the Parisian striker finally launches his season after an extended summer where he forced his departure from Frankfurt for Paris. Bad news for the German rearguard who will suffer against his speed and who would certainly have preferred to deal with Giroud in a more physical game. The probable presence of Coman outlines the profile of a playful and lively team around captains Griezmann and Mbappé.
If the French team was able to calmly prepare for this second back-to-school match, its German counterpart cannot say the same. Indeed, the Nationalmannschaft continues its crisis and adds a new episode to a painful reconstruction. Appointed in August 2021 to succeed Joachim Löw, Hansi Flick was unceremoniously dismissed last Sunday. Already in difficulty after the new failure of his selection in the group stage of the World Cup, the former coach of Bayern Munich did not survive the shipwreck of his team on Saturday against Japan (1-4).
A crushing defeat which says everything about the wanderings of a team and players who no longer know who they are and what they must do on the pitch together to get by. Faced with the urgency of the situation, the leaders of German football took immediate action and asked Rudi Völler, sports director of the Federation, to take over as interim officer while waiting for a solution (Julian Nagelsmann?) is found. “The match against Japan clearly showed us that we cannot continue like this,” agreed the interim coach. The latter will not be able to perform a miracle and knows that the reception of the French team is double-edged. A victory or even a draw could nourish hope but a new (heavy?) defeat could undermine the morale of a selection which has only won four matches out of the 17 played since March 2022, the last dating back to March 25 against Peru.
Be careful, however, for the Blues who, although they will not hesitate to attack a historic rival, will be wary of their wounded pride eight months before a Euro at home where the Germans will do everything to revive.
The friendly match between Germany and France will take place from 9 p.m. at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund.
The friendly match between Germany and France will be broadcast live on TF1.
The meeting between Rudi Völler’s Germany and Didier Deschamps’ France will be available in streaming on the MyTF1 platform.
Betclic: Germany: 3.10 / Draw: 3.65 / France: 2.20
Parions Sports: Germany: 3.10 / Draw: 3.65 / France: 2.20
Winamax: Germany: 3.00 / Draw: 3.70 / France: 2.20
Germany: Ter Stegen – Kimmich, Thiaw, Rüdiger, Gosens – Can (cap.), Gündogan – Sané, Wirtz, Brandt – Havertz.
France: Maignan – Pavard, Saliba, Upamecano, Theo Hernandez – Chouameni, Camvinga – Coman, Griezmann, Mbappe (cap.) – Kolo Muani.
