Preview: Germany vs France - prediction, team news, lineups

Playing off for the consolation of third place in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League, European heavyweights Germany and France will clash in Stuttgart on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts were beaten by Portugal in their semi-final, while Les Bleus fell to Spain in a nine-goal thriller, leaving them both to vie for the bronze medal.

Match preview

Days on from playing host to this year’s Champions League final, Munich provided the stage for Germany’s last-four clash with Portugal, in which the home side continued their quest for a first Nations League crown.

However, for the second straight summer, German fans were left disappointed, as an opening goal from Florian Wirtz was overturned in the final half-hour, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s close-range finish and a Francisco Conceicao rocket consigning Die Nationalelf to a rare home defeat.

The tournament hosts had excelled in making it through to the finals for the first time, winning their group at a canter before defeating Italy in an eventful two-legged quarter-final tie - but only a third-placed finish is still on offer.

Set to kick off their qualifying campaign against Slovakia in September, Julian Nagelsmann's team already have an eye on next summer's World Cup, when they hope to lift FIFA’s top trophy for a fifth time; so another high-profile clash with one of their main rivals should provide some value.

Not only have Germany lost just two of their last 12 home fixtures - Wednesday’s semi-final exit and their Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat to eventual winners Spain - but they have also beaten France in two friendly contests over the past couple of years.

Les Bleus prevailed when it really mattered, though, winning the countries’ most recent competitive meeting at the Euro 2020 finals, and they lead the overall ledger with 15 wins to the Germans’ 11.

The neighbouring nations have a long history of intense duels, with the most notorious being West Germany’s dramatic penalty shootout success in the 1982 World Cup semi-final, which featured an infamous clash between German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher and France defender Patrick Battiston.

Though they have since claimed several major trophies, the French national side have fallen agonisingly short in recent tournaments, losing in the 2022 World Cup final before bowing out at the semi-final stage of Euro 2024.

Hopes of lifting their first silverware since the 2021 Nations League have now ended, too, after the competition’s last two winners met in Stuttgart on Thursday night, with Spain holding off a late Les Blues comeback to reach another final.

Having twice trailed by four goals, France surged back into contention in the closing stages, as debutant Rayan Cherki sparked a revival with his stunning strike, before La Roja defender Dani Vivian turned the ball into his own net; Cherki then crossed for Randal Kolo Muani to head in a fourth, but it was ultimately too little too late.

While they now go into the record books for participating in the highest-scoring Nations League match to date, it was the first time France have conceded five goals in one game since losing 5-0 to England back in 1969.

Having infuriated cautious head coach Didier Deschamps, who was often incandescent on the touchline, Sunday's third-place playoff will provide them with a chance to steady the ship.

After picking up 13 points to top League A Group 2, his team overturned a first-leg deficit against Croatia to progress from the quarter-finals, but bronze is all they have left to play for.

Then, their World Cup 2026 qualifying path will start in early September, as Deschamps aims to sign off with another global success.

Germany UEFA Nations League form:

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France UEFA Nations League form:

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Team News

Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann may rotate his squad for Sunday’s game, with relatively little on the line; that could benefit the likes of Deniz Undav, Pascal Gross, Robin Gosens and Serge Gnabry.  

Back in the fold after nine months out injured, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen should again start ahead of Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel, while captain Joshua Kimmich - a Stuttgart youth graduate - is set to make his 101st international appearance.

Nagelsmann came into this camp without a number of players, including Yann Aurel Bisseck (leg), Kai Havertz (hamstring), Benjamin Henrichs (Achilles), Tim Kleindienst (knee), Jamal Musiala (hamstring), Antonio Rudiger (knee), Nico Schlotterbeck (knee) and Angelo Stiller (ankle).

Meanwhile, Didier Deschamps must make do without several defenders: in the absence of injured trio Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Jules Kounde, recalled Clement Lenglet partnered Ibrahima Konate as France shipped five goals on Thursday. 

Pierre Kalulu, Benjamin Pavard and Malo Gusto will again compete to start at right-back, while Deschamps will weigh up whether to bring either Lucas Hernandez or uncapped Loic Bade in alongside Konate.

Up front, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue resume their now familiar fight for selection; captain Kylian Mbappe is just one goal away from his 50th at international level; Manchester City-linked forward Rayan Cherki hopes to earn his first senior start after impressing from the bench against Spain.

Germany possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Tah, Koch, Anton; Kimmich, Gross, Goretzka, Gosens; Gnabry, Wirtz; Undav

France possible starting lineup: Maignan; Pavard, Konate, L. Hernandez, Digne; Tchouameni, Kone; Dembele, Cherki, Barcola; Mbappe

We say: Germany 2-1 France

While Germany are generally tough to beat on home turf, France - despite posing plenty of danger up front - looked very vulnerable in midweek.

Both teams are weakened by absences, but Nagelsmann’s men are set to edge a tight contest between two old foes.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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