Germany are in serious danger of relegation from League A of the UEFA Nations League after Joachim Löw’s side were beaten 2-1 by world champions France in Paris. The result leaves Germany bottom of Group A1 and means the 2014 World Cup winners are reliant on the French beating the Netherlands if they are to avoid relegation. Former Bayern man Toni Kroos had put Germany ahead at the Stade de France with a penalty, but a second-half brace from Antoine Griezmann earned Les Bleus all three points.
“It doesn’t feel good when you lose, especially when you were 1-0 up and felt like you had everything under control. You could see how we upped our game here, but we couldn’t turn that effort into a second goal, ” said captain Manuel Neuer after the game. “You could see we were in no way worse than France,” added Serge Gnabry.
Löw opts for Bayern core
Germany boss Löw made both tactical and personnel changes following the 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands three days earlier. He opted for a back-three, but maintained a Bayern core with Neuer, Mats Hummels, Niklas Süle, Joshua Kimmich and Gnabry. The latter played a direct hand in Germany‘s early lead when he played in Leroy Sane, whose cross into the box was handled by Presnel Kimpembe, before Kroos gave the visitors the lead inside 15 minutes.
Germany failed to convert a number of subsequent chances to double their lead and allowed France to get back into the game when Griezmann headed home Lucas Hernandez‘s cross just after the hour mark. Blaise Matuidi was then fouled by Hummels in the box with referee Milorad Mazic pointing to the spot and Griezmann leaving Neuer no chance. Germany could not find a reply and now their fate in League A is no longer is in their own hands in the wake of this defeat.
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