Match #12: France vs Germany

  

AB:

The early match of the tournament, France are the pre-tournament favourites, and Germany always perform above expectations at big tournaments. Expect a close game, with both teams boasting of real talent in their forward line, but where the match will be won is in midfield. Pogba and Kante for France and Kimmich and Goretzka for Germany makes for a mouth watering matchup.

I expect Kante to win a ball in a dangerous area and transition quickly to the talented forward line for France. Germany will rely on Sane, Gnabry and Werners pace on the break. Also interested in how Low incorporates Havertz into the team, given that he ended the season on top form.

I am going for France to win 2-0, but this could well be one of the defining games of the tournament


dark7knight: Iam hoping this match doesn't disappoint, and going by the friendly match which they used as a rehearsal, Germany likely to line up with 3 at the back, as Rudiger has been playing well for Chelsea in such a formation, and to provide better protection to Hummels & Ginter/Sule, all a tad slow apart from Rudiger. this also allows Germany to get the best out of Gosens who also lines up as a wingback in the same formation for high flying Atalanta. The only compromise to this formation is sacrifcing Kimmich from the middle and playing him as a RWB. To provide some protection to the defence, most likely Gundogan & Goretzka would play, but it could also be Kroos there. Now the Q is with Werner out of form & even Sane not having a good season,  who leads the line: recalled Muller, Gnabry, Havertz maybe? Or do they play Gundogan, Goretzka & Kross in the middle with Muller & Werner up front? Whatever it is, they do have decent options off the bench to affect changes- Florian Neuhas in mid & Jamal Musiala, Sane, Gnabry, Havertz in attack..

The difference with France being that the starting 11 doesn't have the look of requiring any subs,  unless things just doesn't work out- though Giruod, Thuram, Dembele, Coman can provide something different if they come on at some point, but the drop in quality from starting 11 to subs is stark. So going for a 2-2 draw here, with both sides cancelling each other.

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