Kylian Mbappe netted his 50th international goal as France clinched a 2-0 victory over Germany in the UEFA Nations League third-place play-off in Stuttgart.
The French captain showed composure and class to score just before the break. He later assisted Michael Olise’s late strike to ensure France ended their campaign on a high.
Germany started brightly and created several chances, but were left frustrated by a mix of wasteful finishing and VAR drama.
In the first half, Karim Adeyemi won a penalty after going down under pressure from Mike Maignan – only for the referee to reverse the decision and book him for simulation following a VAR review. It was the first sign of things going south for Julian Nagelsmann’s side.
Although France took the lead in the 45th minute through Mbappe – who finished brilliantly after a slick pass from Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni – Germany refused to lie down. But despite applying pressure, their final-third play lacked efficiency. Florian Wirtz hit the post and Adeyemi saw three attempts denied by Maignan.
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Moreover, Germany were again denied by VAR when Deniz Undav found the net early in the second half. However, the joy was short-lived as Niclas Fullkrug was adjudged to have fouled Adrien Rabiot in the build-up. That decision further drained Germany’s momentum and raised frustration on the sidelines.
While the hosts continued to push forward, France always looked dangerous on the counter. Marcus Thuram came inches close to doubling the lead with a curled effort that smacked the post. Mbappe also forced a flying save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen and missed two other close chances before redeeming himself late on.
In the 84th minute, he capitalised on Robin Koch’s error and squared the ball to Michael Olise. The Bayern Munich playmaker tapped into an empty net for his first international goal. That moment sealed France’s win and left the home fans in stunned silence.
Nagelsmann’s men have now gone three games without victory, while France recover from their semi-final heartbreak against Spain with a performance full of sharpness and maturity.
Tags: Kylian Mbappe, Julian Nagelsmann, Michael Olise, Robin Koch, Adrien Rabiot, Niclas Fullkrug, Marcus Thuram, #UNL, #GERFRA, third-place play-off, Uefa Nations League, Les Bleus, Florian Wirtz, France, Germany, Stuttgart, Deniz Undav.
