Euro 2024 hosts Germany ease to victory against tournament favourites France
Florian Wirtz scored after only seven seconds to set Euro 2024 hosts Germany on their way to a 2-0 win over France in Lyon.
Bayer Leverkusen winger Wirtz crashed in a 20-yard effort after the ball was played upfield from kick-off by veteran midfielder Toni Kroos, returning from his three-year international retirement.
Arsenal midfielder Kai Havertz slotted in a second shortly after the restart as Julian Nagelsmann’s side closed out a much-needed win ahead of the summer showpiece tournament on home soil.
Germany – who had won only six of their last 22 internationals – got off to a flying start when Bayer Leverkusen winger Wirtz crashed home the opening goal just seconds after kick-off.
After the ball was played back to Kroos, the Real Madrid midfielder turned in the centre circle before clipping a pass up to Wirtz, who strode forwards before lashing a shot over Brice Samba from 20 yards.
With the home fans at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stunned, it took a while before Didier Deschamps’ side could regroup.
In the 20th minute, France worked the ball down the left, which eventually fell back to Marcus Thuram on the edge of the penalty area, but his curled shot flew wide of the top corner.
Kylian Mbappe then saw his chip at the near post palmed away by a strong hand from Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen as France continued to press Germany back.
Ousmane Dembele tested Ter Stegen again before Adrien Rabiot fired over from close range as Germany held out to the break.
Nagelsmann’s team talk seemed to have struck the right tone as Germany doubled their lead in the 49th minute.
Jamal Musiala was found in space as he darted into the left side of the penalty area before taking the ball around Samba and cutting it back for Havertz to slot in from close range.
France – whose only loss since the 2022 World Cup final was in a friendly away to Germany in September – again tried to lift themselves, with Dembele’s curling shot from the edge of the box flying just wide.
Germany remained resolute in taking the tempo down before Deschamps made several changes to freshen up his team – with Jonathan Clauss, Theo Hernandez, Eduardo Camavinga and Olivier Giroud all sent on.
While France – who had coasted through their Euro 2024 qualifying group – were seeing more of the ball, there was little end product in the final third.
Germany almost snatched a third with 10 minutes left when an angled drive from Stuttgart left-back Maximilian Mittelstadt, making his senior debut, was tipped past the far post by Samba.
The France keeper then produced another couple of good stops to deny first Thomas Muller and then substitute Deniz Undav.
France were almost gifted a late consolation when Mbappe’s cross through the penalty area from the left was inadvertently kicked onto his own arm by Mittelstadt – with the ball bouncing back towards goal before being shot against the crossbar by Germany defender Antonio Rudiger as he slid in to clear.
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Chelsea's 2023/24 squad: Keep, sell, loan or release this summer
Chelsea's expensive transfer strategy could force them to sell this summer
Blues need more changes after yet another disappointing season
PSR concerns perhaps behind unwanted moves
By Tom Gott
12:00 AM GMT
Palmer has been the star of the show
Palmer has been the star of the show / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
Chelsea's 2023/24 campaign has been little more than an extension of the miserable rollercoaster that was the 2022/23 season.
The Blues have continued to combine enormous transfer spending with conceding four goals at homes to Wolves, making it abundantly clear that further changes to the squad are needed this summer if Chelsea are to salvage their rapidly crumbling reputation.
To make matters worse, the looming threat of a breach of the Premier League's Profit & Sustainability Rules leaves Chelsea braced for a summer transfer window which could be equal parts exciting and devastating.
Here's a closer look at what Chelsea should do with every current member of the squad.
KEEP
Christopher Nkunku
Chelsea fans are still waiting to see a healthy Nkunku / Visionhaus/GettyImages
GK: Djordje Petrovic - Petrovic made the most of his fortunate introduction to the team and has definitely proved himself good enough for this level.
GK: Marcus Bettinelli - A third-choice goalkeeper who is both experienced and homegrown, Bettinelli has real value to this Chelsea squad even if he's not playing.
DEF: Levi Colwill - Colwill is the future of Chelsea's defence. Enough said.
DEF: Axel Disasi - Aside from a few underwhelming showings, Disasi has been a solid addition to this Chelsea squad. He doesn't need to be a permanent starter, but a third-choice role is perfect.
DEF: Benoit Badiashile - When Badiashile is fit and firing, he's a really excellent defender. Very easy to forget he's still only 22.
DEF: Wesley Fofana - In reality, Fofana probably needs a loan to help his recovery from yet another nasty injury. That's probably not happening though, so the Frenchman will get the chance to justify his price tag at Stamford Bridge next season.
DEF: Ben Chilwell - The vice-captain has his shortcomings but there's no way he should be cut loose at this point.
DEF: Reece James - Just one year of healthy Reece James, that's all I ask for.
DEF: Malo Gusto - What a signing this kid has been. Gusto could start for most teams in Europe and has quickly ensured Chelsea don't need to rush James back to action.
MID: Moises Caicedo - Despite what social media might suggest, Caicedo has been a very solid player in his first year at Chelsea. Give him time (and a manager who doesn't want to watch him suffer) and let's see how this goes.
MID: Enzo Fernandez - There's a real player in there somewhere. Figuring out how to get Enzo ticking again should be one of the top priorities this summer.
MID: Romeo Lavia - If his legs will stop teasing us, 2024/25 could be the year in which Lavia really announces himself to Chelsea fans.
MID: Conor Gallagher - PSR fears might force Chelsea to cash in on Gallagher, but that should only be a last resort. He's been reliable in all sorts of midfield roles and is the kind of non-flashy player that can hold a team together.
MID: Carney Chukwuemeka - On the rare occasions he's been healthy, Chukwuemeka has balled out this year. Get this nightmare season over and done with, and let's see what he can do next year.
FWD: Mykhailo Mudryk - If he stays as a winger, Mudryk needs a loan. If he's willing to shift into the central role in which he has caught the eye recently, maybe he can stay around.
FWD: Christopher Nkunku - A healthy Nkunku will almost feel like an entirely new signing.
FWD: Cole Palmer - Even the biggest Cole Palmer fan would admit they did not see this sort of season coming. What a player.
FWD: Nicolas Jackson - Jackson has enjoyed a quietly outstanding debut year in England. Chelsea could do a whole lot worse than keep their faith in him for another year at least.
LOAN
Noni Madueke
Madueke has been on the fringes / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages
GK: Gabriel Slonina - A busy loan with Eupen has set Slonina up for a more high-profile switch to a team playing European football.
GK: Lucas Bergstrom - Bergstrom's loan with Brommapojkarna runs until January 2025, so he'll remain away from the club for at least the first six months of the coming season.
DEF: Alfie Gilchrist - His loveable style of throwing his head at anything and everything has absolutely won over Chelsea fans. Time to see what he can do in a regular starting role in the Championship.
MID: Cesare Casadei - Recalling Casadei from his loan with Leicester was pretty pointless. He needs to keep his development going.
MID: Lesley Ugochukwu - After a few short appearances and a nasty injury, Ugochukwu could do with finding a temporary home away from Chelsea.
MID: Andrey Santos - It took until the week before the March international break for Santos to make his first league start of the season across loans with Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg. What an utterly wasted year.
FWD: Diego Moreira - Diegzy has built up a bit of a cult following on social media but is yet to show anywhere close to the ability required to stay at Chelsea.
FWD: Angelo - Injury may have ended Angelo's time with Strasbourg prematurely but the Brazilian can leave this season with his head held high after proving he has what it takes to shine in a top European league. More of that next year please.
FWD: Noni Madueke - For whatever reason, Madueke has struggled for minutes this season. If he's going to be restricted to four league starts again next season, let's get him out on loan.
FWD: David Datro Fofana - Fofana struggled at Union Berlin but is absolutely torching Turf Moor with Burnley. There should be a real market for another Premier League loan next season.
FWD: Deivid Washington - Remember when Mauricio Pochettino told us Washington was there to help the first team? What a good joke that was.
SELL
Raheem Stirling
Sterling should be moved on / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages
GK: Robert Sanchez - Sanchez has been absolutely fine this year, but there's just no point keeping him around when Petrovic is the starter now. He can actually bring in a decent fee.
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga - Unfortunately, it looks like Real Madrid won't be tempted into signing Kepa permanently. At least his reputation was already so low that a year on their bench won't have done any harm.
DEF: Trevoh Chalobah - Look, Chalobah is a good player. He's a Premier League player, for sure. Chelsea should be keeping him around, but with the financial situation how it is, a sale seems like the right move.
DEF: Ian Maatsen - Whether Maatsen should have been pushed out this summer is a debate for a different day, but the stars have aligned and it's time to cash in on the Dutchman for what could be a cool £35m fee.
DEF: Malang Sarr - Chelsea can only dream of selling Sarr, whose big-money contract doesn't expire until 2025. This one has contract termination written all over it unless a mystery suitor crawls out of the woodwork.
DEF: Marc Cucurella - It's safe to say £62m on Cucurella may not have been the move. Little more than a backup at this point, Chelsea should cash in as soon as possible.
FWD: Romelu Lukaku - If Lukaku fancies not alienating literally every team that wants to sign him, that'd be wicked.
FWD: Raheem Sterling - Sterling's time at Chelsea hasn't exactly gone to plan. The club's highest earner has not justified that status and the money raised from his sale could go a long way to helping in another position.
FWD: Armando Broja - It's clear Broja doesn't have a future at Chelsea. He's a solid top-flight striker and should receive several offers, although the Blues' dream of selling him for £50m is well and truly over.
RELEASE
Thiago Silva
Silva's contract is up this summer / Richard Heathcote/GettyImages
DEF: Thiago Silva - Nothing but respect for Silva, who has been a loyal servant to Chelsea in their darkest times. That being said, Father Time waits for no man, and it's time for a jovial parting of ways when his contract expires.
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