France vs Germany on opening night of Nations League

Germany, which had a disastrous campaign in Russia, will be looking to bounce back with a win against world champion France.

Published : Sep 06, 2018 20:15 IST

France's players arrive for a training session in Munich, southern Germany on Wednesday.
France's players arrive for a training session in Munich, southern Germany on Wednesday.
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France's players arrive for a training session in Munich, southern Germany on Wednesday.

The UEFA Nations League kicks off tonight and the first match of the newly formed tournament sees Joachim Loew’s men host world champion France at the Allianz Arena.

Germany, which had a disastrous campaign in Russia, will be looking to bounce back with a win against France.

Explainer: International football set for its facelift with UEFA Nations League

Leroy Sane, who was controversially left out of the World Cup squad, is back with the team that sees only three new additions. Hoffenheim’s Nico Schulz and Nils Petersen, who is replacing Mesut Ozil after he announced his international retirement recently, are the other two entrants.

Didier Deschamps has retained most of his triumphant squad – only Captain Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda will miss the game with injuries. This could mean a Les Blues debut for PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

Loew is expected to continue with the 4-3-3 formation that has served him well in the past while Deschamps should continue with the 4-4-2 that won France the holy grail.

 

Form guide

Germany: Last five matches (most recent first): LWLWL

France: Last five matches (most recent first): WWWWD

Potential starting XI

Germany: Manuel Neuer; Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels, Niklas Sule, Nico Schulz; İlkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Leon Goretzka; Thomas Muller, Timo Werner, Leroy Sane

France: Alphonse Areola; Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez; Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante; Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Blaise Matuidi; Olivier Giroud.

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