France 1-2 Germany: As It Happened

International Friendly: France v Germany, Stade de France, Paris.

Result: France 1-2 Germany

In the end this result was about right. France didn't particularly deserve to be ahead at half-time and they certainly didn't deserve anything after the Germans staged a stirring second half recovery.

Mathieu Valbieuna's opening goal on the tick of the break was flattering for the French who looked second best throughout long periods of the opening half.

Joachim Low's side were more classy and composed, but their end product often let some gorgeous approach play down.

France did impress in parts with Franck Ribery a peripheral menace, yet their interval lead papered over many cracks the Germans exposed.

Benxzema's fierce 30-yard free kick left Rene Adler standing, and when Moussa Sissoko reacted first to nod the loose ball back across the box, Valbuena was alert to glance home the breakthrough.

After the restart Germany were immediately on the offensive and equalised after the hosts gifted the visitors possession.

Substitue Etienne Capoue was errant and Ikay Gundogan took advantage to slide through Thimas Muller to clip past Hugo Lloris.

From there on  it was anybodies game but Germany again showed their superiority. Mesut Ozil slipped through a ball biblical proportions for Sami Kehira to to bag, and from then on Germny held the lead.

In terms of international friendlies this was one of the better ones, and I hope you–like I–enjoyed it from start to finish.

Thanks for tuning in.

Goals: Valbuena 45' (FRA); T. Muller 51', Khedeira 71' (GER)

Starting Lineups

France (433): Lloris - Debuchy, Sakho, Koscielny (Rami), Evra - Matuid (Capoue)i, Sissoko (Giroud), Cabaye - Valbuena (Menez), Ribery, Benzema.

Germany(4231): Adler - Lahm, Mertesacker, Hummels, Howedes - Gundogan, Khedira - T. Muller, Podolski (Schurrle), Ozil - Gomez (Kroos)

Kick-off 15.00 p.m ET

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