Germany strike late to draw with France and preserve unbeaten run
Borussia Mönchengladbach captain Lars Stindl scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Germany extended their unbeaten run to 21 matches with a 2-2 draw against France.
Germany 2-2 France
Goals: 0-1 Lacazette (34'), 1-1 Werner (56'), 1-2 Lacazette (71'), 2-2 Stindl (90+3')
Both teams went close to a breakthrough in an entertaining opening at the RheinEnergieSTADION, Mesut Özil forcing Steve Mandanda into a smart stop before the lively Kylian Mbappe went close at the other end. The visitors began to see more of the ball as the first half wore on, however, and took a deserved lead when Alexandre Lacazette slotted home from close range after fine build-up play from Anthony Martial.
Joachim Löw’s troops improved after the break and drew level when Özil released Timo Werner, who kept his composure to bury the ball beyond Mandanda for his seventh goal in ten international appearances. Lacazette looked to have ended Germany’s long unbeaten run when he netted his second of the game with 19 minutes remaining, but second-half substitute Stindl struck with virtually the last kick of the game to earn Die Mannschaft a draw.
Line-ups
Germany: Trapp - Can (Stindl 83'), Hummels (Rüdiger 46'), Süle, Plattenhart - Khedira (c) (Rudy 75'), Kroos - Gündogan (Götze 65'), Özil, Draxler - Werner (Wagner 85')
Subs not used: Leno, ter Stegen, Ginter, Halstenberg, Kimmich, Brandt, Sane
Coach: Joachim Löw
France: Mandanda - Jallet (Pavard 64'), Varane, Umtiti, Digne (Kurzawa 82') - Tolisso, Rabiot, Matuidi (c) (N'Zonzi 64') - Mbappe, Lacazette (Griezmann 76'), Martial
Subs not used: Areola, Costil, Kimpembe, Koscielny, Coman, Sissoko, Fekir, Thauvin
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Stats
- Germany won all ten qualifying games in reaching the 2018 FIFA World Cup, becoming only the second team (after Spain in 2010) to achieve a 100 per cent qualifying record en route to the finals.The world champions boasted 21 different goalscorers in qualifying; more than any other nation.Germany scored 43 goals in total, breaking the record for the most goals scored in a tournament qualification campaign set by Spain ahead of UEFA EURO 2000.Joshua Kimmich set up more goals than any player during European qualifying (nine).The Bayern right-back had started all of Germany's last 24 matches prior to Tuesday's encounter.The teams' most recent meeting was in the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2016, Griezmann netting both goals in a 2-0 defeat for Löw's side.Germany last beat France in the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Mats Hummels scoring the only goal of the game to seal Die Mannschaft's place in the last four of the tournament.These two teams hadn't faced each other on German soil since February 2012. Cacau was on target for the hosts at the Weser Stadium that day, but goals from Olivier Giroud and Florent Malouda secured a 2-1 win for L'Equipe Tricolore.Germany sit first place in the FIFA World Rankings; France are currently seventh.
Want more Bundesliga Action?
As it happened