France vs. Germany: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
On the way to winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Joachim Low’s Germany beat France 1-0 at the quarter-final stage. It may be a much changed side that Les Bleus face, but that doesn’t mean Didier Deschamps will be any less determined to pick up the victory.
Without a competitive game since that defeat in Rio de Janeiro, the next two friendlies against Germany and England will give France a strong test, and, perhaps, an idea of where they are in terms of their preparation for the 2016 European Championships that they will host.
Germany may have have won the last two meetings between the two sides, but before that, France had won five out of the last six meetings. Since becoming world champions, the Germans have lost against Argentina, Poland, the United States and Ireland.
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“I am pleased to obtain in France a taste of what awaits us there next summer,” Low told the press on Thursday, via Eurosport.
"We'll have to wait (and see who will play). Mario Gomez will certainly get playing time. If he has self-confidence, he is a player who is extremely dangerous in the penalty area. When he is in this condition, he can help us.
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Despite it being a friendly, both teams' chances of success next summer will be gauged on how the match at the Stade de France plays out, making it a very intriguing friendly.
Date: Friday, November 13
Time: 8:00 p.m. BST / 3:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
TV Info: TF1 (France), ESPN3 USA (US)
Live Stream: Watch ESPN (US)
Form Lines
| France | Germany |
| Denmark 1-2 France (Friendly) | Germany 2-1 Georgia (Euro Q) |
| France 4-0 Armenia (Friendly) | Ireland 1-0 Germany (Euro Q) |
| France 2-1 Serbia (Friendly) | Scotland 2-3 Germany (Euro Q) |
| Portugal 0-1 France (Friendly) | Germany 3-1 Poland (Euro Q) |
| Albania 1-0 France (Friendly) | Gibraltar 0-7 Germany (Euro Q) |
Predicted Formations
France (4-3-3): Hugo Lloris; Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Raphael Varane, Patrice Evra; Lassana Diarra, Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi; Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Anthony Martial.
Germany (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Matthais Ginter, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Jonas Hector; Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Lukas Podolski; Thomas Muller.
Player to Watch
With both Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena absent from the France squad for the games against Germany and England, it gives a chance for other strikers to stake their claim in the attacking lineup.
Antoine Griezmann has scored five times for Atletico Madrid this season, something that has impressed Deschamps, per FourFourTwo.
The France coach said, "This is a player who has grown through his club change. He is effective, even if he can improve. He continues to benefit his team. If he maintains what he doing now that would be a very good thing."
Whether it be in a two-man attack or cutting in from the left flank, Griezmann will be a huge feature of France's forward play on Friday.
If he can make an impact against the world champions, it will make a huge case for him to start for France going into Euro 2016.
Key Battle
Still only 22, Raphael Varane is France’s vice-captain and quickly becoming one of the pillars that Deschamps is building his team around for the 2016 European Championships.
For Real Madrid, Varane has started nine out of 11 league fixtures this season—making it likely he will surpass the 21 starts he made last year. The centre-back is going to be a key figure for both club and country over the next few years, and he will face a huge battle on Friday night.
Although the German attack may not feature the same names that helped them lift the World Cup, that doesn’t mean they should be feared any less.
Playing against someone like Thomas Muller, who provides a threat from all over the pitch, will be difficult for Varane to track. Constant runners from midfield will look to break in behind and exploit the gaps created by the front line.
Varane will need to be vigilant, aware and at his commanding best.
Odds (via Oddschecker)
Home win: 24/17
Away win: 28/13
Draw: 22/9
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