Reigning World Champions France begin their attempt to emulate the French side of 2000 that won the Euros after winning the World Cup but standing in their way here is a German side with a point to prove.
European Championship 2020
Date: 15/06/2021
Kickoff: 20:00
Venue: Football Arena Munich
France head into this tournament as favorites and it is not hard to see why. They’re the reigning world champions and they finished runners up in Euro 2016 which they hosted.
Moreso, they have only lost one of their last 20 games and they have even recalled Karim Benzema after his five-year absence from the national team, signaling their intentions that they want to win it all.
Manager Didier Deschamps will also want to enter the record books as the first person to win both the World Cup & European Championship as a player and a manager. So, France are expected to top the group and will want to get three points on the board on the first attempt.
Since taking the position of Germany head coach in 2006, Joachim Low led Germany to a podium finish in every international tournament between 2008-2016. He’s won the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017. He finished finished runners up in 2008 & in third place in 2012 and 2016 of the Euros and will try to win the one international trophy that has eluded him so far before he steps down as Germany manager.
After the disgrace of 2018 World Cup where they finished last in their group, Germany then went on to finish last again in their inaugural Nations League group. Snce then, Germany have found it rather difficult to string wins together and have found themselves on the receiving end of some shock results and heavy defeats.
After beating France back in the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup, Germany have been unable to get the better of Deschamps’ men in five attempts and will need to end that run now if they’re to be taken as serious contenders.
Team news
France
After both faced injury scares, Karim Benzema & Antoine Griezmann have been passed fit for the game.
Germany
Jonas Hofmann is out due to a knee injury. Meanwhile, Leon Goretzka continues to work his way back from a muscle problem and is unlikely to be risked here.
Team form
France’s last five games: DWWWD
Germany’s last five games: WDWDW
Match stats
France are on a 12-match unbeaten run on German soil (W7 D5).
Germany are winless in 11 games against teams ranked above them on the FIFA rankings (D7 L4).
Betting tips
Four of the last six meetings between these two countries have produced less than three goals and Germany held France to a goalless draw when the two teams last met in Munich. Yet, three of France’s last five matches have witnessed less than three goals.
It’s likely to be another cagey affair here as both sides will want to give nothing away in the first game. Under 2.5 looks a great pick at 8/11.
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Odds subject to change – 18+|BeGambleAware.org – Please gamble responsibly
