Arsenal’s Kai Havertz surpassed superstar Kylian Mbappe as Germany defeated France in Lyon at Euro 2024.
The Arsenal striker scored in a comfortable German win three minutes into the second half after Jamal Musiala rounded France goalkeeper Mike Maignan after running through Florian Wirtz’s clever pass. It was Wirtz who had scored the opener just six seconds into the match.
Mbappé almost provoked a late comeback for the French. He broke down the left side a minute before the end, but when his cross was only half cleared by debutant Maximilian Mittelstädt, Antonio Rüdiger hammered the ball onto his own crossbar.
Mbappe then crossed again from the left, but this time substitute Olivier Giroud fired wide before France were booed at the final whistle.
The narrative coming into the match was that struggling Germany would suffer against Mbappe, but it was his future Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos who had the bigger impact in scoring the first goal on his return from international retirement.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz scored Germany’s second goal in the 2-0 win over France in Lyon
Florian Wirtz opened the scoring in Lyon after just seven seconds with a stunning finish
Wirtz imagined celebrating his team’s first goal with teammates during the international friendly between France and Germany at Groupama Stadium
Julian Nagelsmann was delighted with his team’s performance on Saturday evening
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Wirtz took advantage of the assist to open the scoring with a record-breaking goal.
It took the Bayer Leverkusen player just seven seconds to score his first goal for his country.
Kroos floated a clever ball to Wirtz who had found space between the French lines and he buried a shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Kroos, 34, played his first game for Germany since retiring after a 2-0 defeat to England in July 2021 at the last European Championship. Convinced to come back by Julian Nagelsmann he led the match after that early blow for the French.
The Wirtz goal, recorded at seven seconds, was the fastest in Germany’s history, beating Lukas Podolski’s goal against Ecuador in 2013.
Christoph Baumgartner’s six-second goal earlier on Saturday for Austria against Slovakia is the only international goal scored faster.
Kroos had spoken about the importance of connecting with Wirtz pregame and the connection had been immediate for Nagelsmann, who needed a win after two draws and a defeat in Germany’s last three games.
Mbappe did his best to level the score before half-time, but he shot over from Ousmane Dembélé’s cross and it was then denied by a fine save from Marc Andre ter Stegen.
Kylian Mbappe failed to stage a late comeback from booed France
The Paris Saint Germain attacker caused all kinds of problems on the French left, the German right back Joshua Kimmich. And Dembélé extended them to the other flank.
But with Antoine Greizmann missing due to an ankle injury, France lacked the invention in the first half to really trouble the defense, well set up by another future teammate of Mbappe, Rudiger.
It was the first time since 2017 that Griezmann had missed a match against France and it was a reminder that he is as important to them as Mbappe.
Didier Deschamps made changes on the hour after Havertz got the second German goal just after the restart. Giroud, Eduardo Camavinga, Theo Hernandez and Jonathan Clauss came on for the ineffective Marcus Thuram, Warren Zaire-Emery, Lucas Hernandez and Jules Kounde.
The changes made little difference as Germany was still dominant. They had won just six of their last 22 caps and only last September did they make Hansi Flick the first ever German national coach to be sacked.
Nagelsmann spoke last week about wanting to sort out his future before the start of the European Championship, and German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf had made positive noises about him remaining in charge after the summer tournament.
This win increases the chances of that happening, although Germany still have to get through a home game against the Netherlands on Tuesday before Nagelsmann announces his squad for the tournament.
Mbappé continued to cut a frustrated figure in the second half. He hit the ball over Kimmich on the left and raced into space, but when he then floated the ball harmlessly into Ter Stegen’s hands it was the perfect illustration of a disappointing evening for the PSG striker.
Deniz Uzdav, the Brighton striker on loan at Stuttgart, made his debut from the bench
Germany felt comfortable enough to bring on Thomas Müller for his 127th cap and there was also a late run-out for Brighton striker Deniz Undav. The 27-year-old, currently on loan at Stuttgart, made his debut.
Mbappe played the 90 minutes and Rudiger almost put his cross past his own keeper, but it would have been difficult for Germany if they had not held on to win.
Kroos shot wide from distance in the final substitution. A goal for him would have capped his impressive return. With him pulling the strings in midfield alongside Barcelona’s Ilkay Gundogan, Germany may feel less pessimistic about the European Championship kick-off against Scotland on June 14.
France will hope Griezmann is fit to start the tournament for them. Captain Mbappe will need his support if they are to improve on this performance, which did nothing to justify their status as tournament favorites.
