Convincing against Ireland for the Euro 2024 qualifiers, the France team went to Dortmund to challenge a Germany in the middle of a storm. It was Rudi Völler who took his place on the sidelines and not Hansi Flick, dismissed after the correction suffered against Japan last Saturday. In this situation, Didier Deschamps probably did not really know which team he was going to face. Wirtz played in support of Müller, Sané and Gnabry occupying the wings. In this configuration, the Mannschaft took advantage of a poorly inspired 4-4-2 from the Blues. From the first minutes, the Germans took the upper hand and even opened the scoring thanks to Thomas Müller (1-0, 4th) following a combination of Gnabry and Henrichs on the left side. This first goal conceded by the French team since the World Cup final did not wake up Didier Deschamps’ men, who suffered from the opposing game during the first half of the half.
This penalty which could have been whistled on Kolo Muani on a stroller from Rüdiger shook the Tricolores a little. In addition to Gündogan’s exit due to injury, the new Parisian struck above (30th). Tchouaméni (36th, 38th) and Théo Hernandez also tried their luck without much success. The Blues at least had the merit of putting the German defense in danger to start the second half on a better footing. Unfortunately this return to form did not last more than a quarter of an hour. Time for Ter Stegen to repel an attempt from Tchouaméni at the feet of a very clumsy Kolo Muani (57th). The pace dropped and it was especially Germany who finished this friendly match better. Todibo countered Wirtz at the last minute (67th) but Sané doubled the lead by escaping the vigilance of Saliba (2-0, 87th), further validating this tap from ter Stegen on this shot from Griezmann a little earlier (82nd). The Colchonero finally got the better of the goalkeeper from the penalty spot (2-1, 89th) but France is indeed experiencing its first defeat in 2023.
