Match Recap
France walked away with a well-earned 2-0 win over Germany in the UEFA Nations League third-place playoff, held on June 8, 2025, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart.

Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring just before halftime with a clinical finish, marking his 50th international goal—a milestone that puts him among the legends of French football. Later in the second half, Michael Olise sealed the deal in the 84th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error and finishing coolly after an assist from Mbappé.

Germany had their moments: they had a goal from Deniz Undav ruled out by VAR and were denied a penalty after a simulation by Karim Adeyemi. But ultimately, they couldn’t break through a disciplined and compact French defense.

Key Takeaways

• France held strong despite early German pressure, with Mike Maignan and Lucas Digne standing out defensively.
• Germany dominated possession for long stretches but couldn’t convert that into goals.

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💬 German Frustration: Criticism Mounts on Nagelsmann and His Squad

⚠️ Lack of Depth and Tactical Concerns

Former German international Michael Ballack didn’t hold back in his post-match comments. He criticized the team’s lack of control, poor fitness, and the limited impact from bench players like Gosens, Füllkrug, and Gnabry:

“The subs brought neither energy nor quality. That’s a major concern.”

Ballack also pointed to glaring weaknesses in defense—especially on the left side—and noted the absence of key players like Musiala, Schlotterbeck, and Rüdiger made things worse.

🧠 Tactical Adjustments That Fell Flat

Coach Julian Nagelsmann had talked before the game about tweaking the system—possibly returning to a four-man backline and implementing a more aggressive press. He was confident Germany could beat France, as they did back in March.

But on the pitch, those adjustments didn’t pay off. The team struggled to maintain intensity and couldn’t match the structure and efficiency of the French squad.

Nagelsmann emphasized the importance of motivation, especially with the match being played on home soil and the opportunity to earn FIFA ranking points. But that drive never fully translated into performance.

🔍 Bigger Structural Issues?

While players like Wirtz, Füllkrug, and Adeyemi showed some promise, the team lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
Ballack warned that Germany’s problems go deeper than just one bad game. From weak squad rotation to defensive vulnerabilities and an overall drop in intensity, he painted a worrying picture of a team not quite ready for top-level challenges.

Despite the criticism, figures like Rudi Völler have continued to defend Nagelsmann, especially in the wake of previous tough losses like the one against Portugal.

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📌 Final Thoughts

France came into the game with clarity and cohesion—and walked away with third place thanks to that solid team performance. Mbappé delivered as always, reaching a legendary milestone and proving again why he’s one of the world’s best.

Germany, on the other hand, finds itself at a crossroads. The loss exposed problems in player depth, tactical execution, and overall confidence. With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers looming, Nagelsmann and the DFB have some serious work ahead to get this team firing on all cylinders.