After losing in the semi-finals, both Germany and France wanted to win the third-place match to save their honor. The home team Germany started better and in the second minute, young talent Woltemade fired a long-range shot to test Mike Maignan but the AC Milan goalkeeper made an excellent save.
Woltemade and Karim Adeyemi then continued to shoot but could not beat the French goalkeeper. The visitors then gradually regained control of the game, in the 21st minute goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen struggled to block consecutive shots from Rayan Cherki and Loic Bade.
Mbappe made his mark in France's victory over Germany (Photo: Getty).
In the 31st minute, Adeyemi fell in the French penalty area but VAR technology denied Germany a penalty. A minute later, Florian Wirtz finished skillfully from outside the box and the ball hit the French goalpost. Five minutes later, Woltemade was again denied a goal by France's Maignan.
Germany paid the price in the 45th minute after missing a series of chances when Mbappe dribbled past captain Joshua Kimmich and fired a powerful shot that left goalkeeper Ter Stegen helpless despite getting a hand to the ball. France led Germany 1-0 after the first half despite having less possession than their opponents.
In the second half, the home team Germany continued to press the field but they were helpless against the well-organized French defense. Coach Deschamps's team played a sharp counter-attacking defense and if goalkeeper Ter Stegen had not played excellently, Germany would have conceded 2 more goals.
Defensive mistakes caused host Germany to lose to France (Photo: ESPN).
The German defense exposed silly mistakes and paid the price in the 83rd minute. A lack of coordination between the two German central defenders brought the ball to Mbappe in the middle of the field and the French captain assisted Michael Olise to finish into an empty net to seal a 2-0 victory.
France finished third overall in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League. In the final that followed, Portugal beat Spain 5-3 on penalties (a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes) to win the title.
Line-up
Germany : Ter Stegen, Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Robin Koch, Raum, Gross, Goretzka, Woltemade, Adeyemi, Florian Wirtz, Fullkrug
France : Maignan, Malo Gusto, Bade, Lucas Hernandez, Lucas Digne, Rabiot, Tchouameni, Thuram, Kolo Muani, Cherki, Mbappe.
Goals: Mbappe (45'), Olise (84').
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/mbappe-toa-sang-giup-phap-danh-bai-duc-o-nations-league-20250609061423910.htm
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