Germany began at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park determined to make immediate amends for the 4-1 defeat by Japan a few days ago and their intense pressure soon took its toll. Only four minutes were on the clock when Benjamin Henrichs scuttled to the byline down the left before cutting the ball back into the middle for the unmarked Müller to lash in from eight yards. Serge Gnabry very nearly doubled the home side’s advantage a short while later following a lengthy passing sequence that culminated with the Bayern Munich attacker cutting in from the left and firing just wide of the far post. Germany continued to dominate, albeit without seriously threatening to score again, while they prevented France from getting too close to Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s goal.
Germany remained on the front foot after the break, although they had to be wary of a France side that reemerged from the dressing room with greater purpose. Aurelien Tchouameni had a couple of speculative efforts from range and Antoine Griezmann headed wide before Florian Wirtz was presented with the clearest opening of the half, running onto Julian Brandt’s pass into the box only to see his shot from 10 yards blocked by a defender. Germany did add a second in the closing stages when they pounced on some slack passing by France, with Kai Havertz feeding the ball through for Sane to slot past Mike Maignan. Sane was involved at the other end of the pitch too, tripping Eduardo Camavinga in the box to concede a penalty that Antoine Griezmann converted for a late consolation.
Watch: Inside Dortmund's giant Signal Iduna Park
Match stats
Müller is by far the most experienced international player in this Germany squad with 123 caps (45 goals), of which nine have come against France (two goals).
Having won his first eight games in charge – a new national record – and gone unbeaten in his first 13 matches, Flick then managed only three wins in his final 12 fixtures as Germany boss.
Germany had failed to beat France in the previous six encounters since the 1-0 win in the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. Müller, Antoine Griezmann and Oliver Giroud are the only survivors from that game in Rio de Janeiro.
No German player has more goals against France than interim coach Völler (three, same as Gerd Müller).
Eight of the current France squad have played club football in the Bundesliga in Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Kingsley Coman (all Bayern), Ousmane Dembele (Dortmund), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marcus Thuram (Gladbach) and Jean-Clair Todibo (Schalke).
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Friendly International International Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Full-time: Germany 2-1 France
Germany kick off the post-Hansi Flick victory with a win! Thomas Müller and Leroy Sane put the hosts 2-0 up and, although Antoine Griezmann scored a late penalty to halve the deficit, Rüdi Voller's charges held on to pick up and important victory.
Almost from kick-off, France break forward, and Sane immediately becomes the villain as brings down Camavinga in the area.
87'
Sane gives Germany breathing space!
Surely the hosts have this wrapped up now! Germany win the ball in the midfield, and Havertz finds Sane with a lovely through ball. The Bayern ace makes no mistake as he slots past Maignan to double his side's advantage.
The Barcelona shot-stopper has been in top form tonight and produces a fingertip stop here to push Griezmann's curling strike over the bar. From the resulting corner, he gathers Kounde's drive with comparative ease.
Germany break, and the Leverkusen attacking midfielder is fond in space in the area, but a heroic French block denies him.
65'
Changes, changes, changes
Five substitutes enter the fray, with former Bayern defender Pavard leaving the pitch as ex-Dortmund winger Dembele and Marcus Thuram, who recently left Borussia Mönchengladbach for Inter, coming on.
France threaten again, this time with Griezmann, but the skipper's header is beyond the post.
57'
Tchouameni denied!
Another long-range drive from the youngster, and this one is on target! Fortunately for Germany, Ter Stegen gets down brilliantly to parry, and Kolo Muani slips as he looks to convert the rebound. Let-off!
The second half hasn't started anywhere near as frantically as the first as the two teams continue to size each other up.
48'
Tchouameni takes aim!
The Real Madrid midfielder strikes from distance, but it well blocked by Can and goes out for a corner which results in nothing.
46'
We're back underway!
The second half is up and running.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Germany 1-0 France
An impressive first half from the hosts ends with a one-goal lead courtesy of Müller's half-volley from close range. Plenty to positive about for Völler, his players and the home crowd!
Ter Stegen is called into action twice in quick succession to deny Tchouameni headers, first from Griezmann's free-kick and then from the resulting corner. Those were France's first two efforts on target of the match.
35'
France neutralised so far
Germany have not been quite as threatening as the half has progressed, but they have done well to stop their opponents from creating any real openings.
Coman has been France's brightest light so far, and he almost creates an opening as he twists and turns his way into the box before the ball just runs away from him and out for a goal-kick.
19'
Counter wasted
Germany break with Müller, who has Wirtz and Sane alongside him. The path to both is obstructed, though, and the Bavarian ultimately sees his pass to the latter cut out.
16'
Müller off target
The forward is clearly feeling confident as he tries to flick a Wirtz cross beyond Maignan, although it flies high and wide.
15'
Germany in control
The game has settled down a little, but Gündogan and Co. are enjoying plenty of possession and are looking comfortable right now.
The Bayern winger has been heavily involved already in the opening 10 minutes, and while his effort from the left-hand side of the box is comfortably wide, the effort is a further example of Germany's intent.
8'
Fantastic energy
You can applaud the way Völler's players have come out and attacked this encounter. The lead is deserved, and the desire is clear for all to see.
A fantastic beginning to this game for Germany, who take the lead. The moves comes from the left flank, as Gnabry and Henrichs combine before Müller's fires in from the middle of the box. Lift-off!
3'
High press from the hosts
Germany are giving their opponents no time on the ball in the early stages here, pressing at every opportunity.
We're off!
Germany get us underway in Dortmund.
Kick-off!
Out on the pitch
Ilkay Gündogan leads Germany out onto the turf at the home of his former club Dortmund. We're moments away from kick-off now!
Germany team news: Three changes
Rudi Völler, meanwhile, has brought in three fresh faces to Germany's team. Joshua Kimmich, Nico Schlotterbeck and Kai Havertz are the casualties, with Niklas Süle, Benjamin Henrichs and Thomas Müller replacing them respectively.
The biggest surprise from Deschamps' team sheet is the omission of Paris Saint-Germain's Mbappe, who is only on the bench. He is one of six players who drops out of the starting line-up from that beat Ireland. The Bundesliga is represented by Bayern's Kingsley Coman, while his club teammate Dayot Upamecano is on the bench.
Dortmund's home ground will provide the backdrop to this match-up, and will also host games at Euro 2024 next summer.
Head-to-head
This will be the 33rd meeting between the two sides, with the first match-up taking place in 1931. France prevailed 1-0 on that occasion, and won by the same scoreline at Euro 2020 in what was the last time these two met. In fact, Germany have not defeated their European neighbours in six games - their previous triumph was at the 2014 World Cup, when Mats Hummels scored the only goal of the game as Joachim Löw's men got the better of a quarter-final clash before going on to win the trophy.
Les Bleus beat Ireland 2-0 on Thursday as they continued their procession towards Euro 2024 qualification, and will therefore arrive in Dortmund with plenty of confidence. Olivier Giroud, though, will not be part of the squad after suffering an ankle injury in that last game. The nature of the encounter could see Didier Deschamps rotate his squad, although any starting XI he fields will be full of quality.
Germany team news
One of Flick's final acts was to appoint Ilkay Gündogan as captain, so he is likely to start. Thomas Müller came on from the bench last time out, and could be in line for a starting berth here, although Jamal Musiala is out with a back problem. Six Borussia Dortmund players are in contention to feature at Die Schwarzgelben's Signal Iduna Park.
Rudi Völler, Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner in charge tonight
With little time to bring in a permanent replacement, Rudi Völler will be on the bench tonight, flanked by assistants Wolf and Wagner. Völler, of course, is the current Director of the German national team and previously coached the side for four years between 2000 and 2004, while Wolf and Wagner are in charge of the U20s.
Germany's 4-1 defeat against Japan was the final straw as Flick left his role in the aftermath. After winning each of his first eight games in charges, the former Bayern boss led the team to just four victories in their next 17 outings, while they also crashed out in the group stages of the World Cup in Qatar.
Germany's post-Hansi Flick era begins with the visit of the current FIFA World Cup runners-up and the two-time champions. You can follow all the build-up and live action here!
