Germany are back! Musiala stars in statement win over France

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24 Mar 2024

Julian Nagelsmann's team secures a notable win against France, with Jamal Musiala shining brightly and Florian Witz netting an impressive goal with a powerful strike.

Germany made a bold statement by securing a convincing victory over France in Lyon, showcasing their prowess and establishing themselves as a top-tier team on the global stage.

Main Points

Germany impress in France to win friendly
Wirtz scores after seven seconds to put Germany in front
Havertz adds second after impressive Musiala assist

Match Report

Germany made an explosive start to the game, with Florian Wirtz scoring a remarkable goal just seven seconds after kick-off, inspired perhaps by Christoph Baumgartner's earlier record-breaking goal. Despite France dominating possession in the first half, their attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Marcus Thuram failed to create many clear-cut chances.

In the second half, Germany extended their lead as Wirtz set up Jamal Musiala, who then assisted Kai Havertz for a well-executed goal. Havertz, along with Wirtz and Musiala, formed a potent attacking trio, while the midfield trio of Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan, and Robert Andrich controlled the game superbly.

Although France had a penalty appeal in the 76th minute, their attacks lacked potency throughout the match. Their best chance came late in the game from a Maximilian Mittelstadt clearance, which was cleared off the line by Antonio Rudiger. Germany efficiently managed France's press and secured a comfortable victory.

In summary, Germany displayed excellence while France disappointed, sending a strong message ahead of the European Championships on home soil under the guidance of Julian Nagelsmann.

The MVP

Musiala exerted control over the game and was instrumental in every German offensive move. The French defense struggled to contain the 21-year-old whenever he embarked on his trademark dribbles, ultimately conceding at the beginning of the second half. Musiala has emerged as a central figure for the upcoming 2022 World Cup German squad and has displayed increasing confidence with each performance.

The big loser

Both French fullbacks, Jules Kounde and Lucas Hernandez, struggled significantly against the attacking threat posed by Musiala and Wirtz, leading to their substitutions at the hour mark. However, Kounde appeared to have a tougher time, losing possession ten times throughout the match.

Furthermore, he could be faulted for not doing enough to prevent Germany's second goal. His difficulties against the German attackers underscored the challenges faced by the French defense in containing the dynamic duo.

What comes next?

On Wednesday, Germany will host the Netherlands, aiming to solidify their status as one of the top contenders for the upcoming European Championships, which they will host this summer. Meanwhile, France will need to address several concerns before their match against Chile on Tuesday, as they appeared disjointed in their performance on Saturday.