The previous two World Cup winners failed to live up to their billing as Germany and France played out a 0-0 draw in their Nations League opener as decent stoppers Neuer & Areola stole the show.
Match Events
18' Werner's shot stopped by Areola
Chance for Werner! The striker is drifting all over the final third of the pitch, and he's finally able to unleash the first shot of the game. It's a slightly underhit one after he cuts in from the left channel, but Areola still has to pull off a decent save to deal with it.
37' Neuer denies Giroud's header with a fine stop
Giroud goes close! France have created very little so far but almost take the lead through Giroud. The striker rises high in the middle of the box and latches onto a well-placed cross from Kante, but Neuer is there to parry it away from the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
45' Giroud's shot from very close range misses to the left
49' Griezmann's shot saved by Neuer
Chance for Griezmann! A quick breakaway from France should be dealt with by Germany, but Kroos falls asleep on the ball and gifts it back to Griezmann. The forward quickly shoots from the edge of the box, but his powerful effort is fired straight at Neuer.
57' Werner's low cross blocked by Areola
63' Griezmann's thumping strike parried away by Neuer
Thumping strike from Griezmann! Now it's the Atletico Madrid forward's turn to try and find the back of the net from distance, but his thumping effort is parried away by a decent diving save from Neuer.
64' Reus' shot saved by Areola
What a stop by Areola! Reus looks certain to fire Germany into the lead after latching onto the ball on the edge of the box, but his first-time strike is pushed round the post by a brilliant diving save from Areola.
74' Great save from Areola
What a save by Areola! It looks certain Ginter is going to head Germany into the lead from the resulting corner, but Areola somehow manages to get a hand to the defender's close-range header to deny him. World class!
Match reports:
France boss Didier Deschamps stuck with 10 of the players who started their final triumph against Croatia at Russia 2018, with an injury to captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris enforcing his only change.
Deputy Alphonse Areola impressed on his debut with a string of late saves.
It showed Germany belatedly shifting into gear after a forgettable opening hour, but it will take more than this for Joachim Low's men to shift the gloom that lingered after their group-stage exit and Mesut Ozil's international retirement.
France right-back Benjamin Pavard was left with stud marks down his neck after Antonio Rudiger clumsily but unintentionally trod on him, while Joshua Kimmich took an arm to the face from Blaise Matuidi during a robust opening.
N'Golo Kante's searching ball from the left saw Olivier Giroud draw a plunging save from Manuel Neuer and France's Chelsea striker just failed to turn in a cutback from the lively Kylian Mbappe in first-half stoppage time.
Antoine Griezmann engineered space in the Germany area but Neuer grasped his eventual shot at the second attempt.
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper was more impressive when Griezmann tried his luck from distance in the 64th-minute before opposite number Areola did brilliantly to tip Marco Reus' curling shot behind.
Areola kept out a stinging Mats Hummels strike after Thomas Muller inexplicably opted to chest rather than head his Bayern colleague's cross.
An overhit Muller centre almost caught out Areola and the PSG goalkeeper's best moment came from the resulting corner, denying Matthias Ginter with a superb reaction save.
Kante's heavy touch late on in his own box almost cost the world champions, but he recovered to block from substitute Ilkay Gundogan and preserve the stalemate.
Line-ups
Germany XI: M. Neuer, J. Boateng, M. Hummels, T. Kroos, T. Müller, M. Reus, A. Rüdiger, L. Goretzka, M. Ginter, T. Werner, J. Kimmich
Subs: Petersen, İ. Gündoğan, M. ter Stegen, Schulz, J. Draxler, N. Süle, J. Brandt, J.Tah, Kehrer, Sané, Havertz
France XI: B. Matuidi, O. Giroud, A. Griezmann, A. Areola, R. Varane, S. Umtiti, P. Pogba, N. Kanté, L. Hernández, B. Pavard, K. Mbappé
Subs: A. Rami, B. Costil, S. N'Zonzi, D. Sidibé, Benjamin Lecomte, B. Mendy, F. Thauvin, N. Fekir, T. Lemar, C. Tolisso, P. Kimpembe, O. Dembélé
IndikaAsiriSR4
97
Throwback Boots to Zidane in '98🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
Dannydrexx
92
The 2014 champions prove that they were there before,,at the end
prvkr
72
In the first half we controlled the ball pretty much.. Had some good chances..but the luck didn't favour.. France on the other hand had some pretty good C.Attacks and Mbappe really showed some admirable skills but our defenders were active enough to put a stop on those.. That ball from Mbappe to Giroud and his little back flick really scared me as the net was open.. We still lack the performance I was hoping for.. In the second half we were a bit better.. Some decent chances were created.. Neuer has got the confidence back he needed.. But clearly Areola has stole the show in the second half.. A dream debut for him.. I wanted to see Brandt but didn't get to.. And even tho Ginter had a good game, I missed Kimmich's attacking game tonight.. Please don't misplace him in the MF again Löw.. Anyway, it was kinda passive match today.. But we retained a clean sheet and a point which could be very important later in this tricky formatted completion.. Best of luck in the upcoming rounds DFB.. Über Alles 🇩🇪🇩🇪
Sterzil
67
Who thought of rues??he played really well too he created so many chances and was causing problems for the French team he played brilliantly well he should have caused because in terms of chances he was well open and agile...Still a great game from both player and team France were very hard they played a difficult game too...Good Luck
preciousgeoffrey59
51
It was a really engaging battle between the two countries and I think is just the fair results result thou Germany a little bit better
IndikaAsiriSR4
26
Benjamin Pavard after Taking Antonio Rudiger's Boot to the Neck.....😱😱😱😱
EAsoft
21
What a French defence lead by Giroud
TonyV25
18
Areola Man of the match
hjtheviper
15
which show. it's the most boring match I've watched for some months now.