Germany starts Euro 2020 on the wrong foot and France shows its credentials. The Germans fell 1-0 due to an unfortunate action in which Hummels put the ball into his own goal. The French, for their part, saw how the assistant on one occasion and on another the VAR canceled a goal by Mabppé and another by Benzema .
The Allianz Arena hosted two of the great favorites of this European Championship. Germany and France , framed in the group of death, came to the clash knowing the victory by 0-3 of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal against Hungary, so they were aware when the ball rolled that it was very important to achieve victory to fight for the first squares with the Portuguese.
As for the line-ups, both came out as expected. Neuer, Kimmich, Kroos Müller and company came out to defend the Die Mannschaft shirt and on the part of the team that Didier Deschamps coaches, the highlight was that trident formed by Benzema, Mbappé and Griezmann , not without forgetting a midfield and a defense that make the French the most complete team of this Euro 2020.
The game started with Germany trying to control the game. Those of Joachim Löw , who will leave the national team at the end of the championship, combined well and found the gaps … until they reached the three-quarter zone, where the midfield and the defense of Les Bleus, led by Raphael Varane told him, as Gandalf al Balrog, “you shall not pass.”
The French were trying to find some against with which to harm the team that played in their country but acted as a visitor in this match. It was difficult for Didier Deschamps’ team , who had the first big chance with a high shot from Pogba and later a shot from inside the area by Mbappé that Manuel Neuer repelled with his fists.
Hummels lends a hand to France
In the 19 ‘came the goal of France , scored by Germany . A play that started on the right wing with Pavard reaches Pogba , who with an exquisite band change gives it to a Lucas Hernández who centers it looking for Mbappé but Hummels , when cutting off the assistance, ended up putting the ball through the squad of its goal. Mazazo for the Germans who dominated the possession of the leather but were seen below on the scoreboard.
The script continued in the same way: Germany dominated but did not bother Lloris . The best opportunities came at fault. One made by Kanté and another by Pogba in the front of the area. In the first Kroos crashed the ball into the barrier and in the other he went over the top sending the ball to the second amphitheater. Gündogan also enjoyed a good chance, but he did not connect his volley well and forgave the draw to France.
But for forgiveness, the one from Del Cerro Grande . The Spanish referee admonished Kimmich in the first minutes for a foul on his teammate Lucas and on the brink of halftime he did not show him the second after kicking the older Hernández in the face. At 1-0, both teams entered the dressing room tunnel, like Havertz as the footballer who had run the most but had barely come into contact with the ball.
In the second act, those from Löw began to risk a little more in the last meters. The problem, which was ahead of its players and could allow more gaps to France and the speed of Mbappé , but the footballer wanted by Real Madrid was not living his best day in the last meters. Of course, he gave a measured pass that left Rabiot alone, but under the pressure of the defender who came from behind he sent his chance to the post.
Germany does not find the goal
The Germans were shaking more and more, but the wall formed by Kimpembe and Varane was always there. Gosens was able to knock down a tower of that defensive wall when he literally ran over a Pavard who was staggered on the green although he was able to continue playing. He bled from the nose and everyone wanted to make sure he was fit, that with the scare that Eriksen gave, there has already been enough in this Eurocup and for the next few years in any competition.
What was said before, Mbappé was not enjoying his most successful night but everything could have changed quickly, but a real goal was annulled for offside. The PSG striker received another beautifully crafted pass from Pogba and made Gosens dizzy with two feints before beating Neuer with a shot so placed that it was impossible to stop him. Flag up and VAR confirming that Kylian was in an out of regulation position when he received the ball.
In the absence of about 20 minutes there began to be movements. Gnabry and Havertz left the field for Werner and Sané to enter. There the German team started to go up and they had to thank Mbappé not having his day … and Hummels for saving the second. Carrerón of the French striker, who could well compete against Bolt, to penetrate the area and, at the moment he loaded his shot, the Borussia center-back appeared to put his foot in the perfect moment to disarm the shot.
Germany was desperate and the French defense shortened every ball that was hovering around its area, waiting for that counter with which to kill the game. Arrive, the occasion arrived. Mbappé and Benzema demonstrated the connection that so many Madridistas expect when the PSG player gave Karim the death pass and managed to make the second of the night, but this time it was the VAR that annulled the 2-0 that the former del Olympique de Lyon. Six minutes were added in the Allianz and six minutes in which those of Löw could not equal the contest in which France , the great favorite to win the Euro, showed their credentials.
