France secured a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Germany in Stuttgart to claim third place in the highly competitive 2024/25 UEFA Nations League, with star forwards Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise providing the crucial goals.
After suffering a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat to Spain in the semi-final, Les Bleus showed signs of vulnerability in the opening stages of the match but gradually found their footing, thanks largely to Mbappé’s landmark 50th international goal scored just before the break.
The Real Madrid forward expertly controlled a pinpoint cross from midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni before slotting the ball past Germany’s goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, giving France the lead and boosting their confidence.
Germany dominated the early exchanges and created several dangerous opportunities, but France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan was outstanding throughout, making a series of crucial saves to keep his team in front.
Maignan was particularly impressive denying attempts from Florian Wirtz and Karim Adeyemi early on, and later managed to tip a deflected shot wide, preserving France’s slender advantage.
Midway through the second half, a potential equalizer by Germany’s Deniz Undav was overturned after a VAR review revealed a foul in the buildup, much to the relief of the French squad.
Despite Germany’s relentless pressure and attacking efforts, their defensive lapses left them vulnerable on the break, which France capitalized on late in the game.
In the 89th minute, Mbappé seized on a defensive error by Robin Koch, driving forward before playing a perfectly weighted pass to Michael Olise, who calmly tapped the ball into an empty net to secure the victory and third-place finish for France.
This win provided a positive end to France’s Nations League campaign, highlighting the attacking prowess and resilience of the team despite the disappointment of missing out on the final.