It is with a classic of international football that France will begin its Euro 2020. Didier Deschamps' men are traveling to Munich to challenge Germany on Tuesday (9 pm).
A revenge of the semi-final of Euro 2016 which had turned in favor of the Blues (2-0).
Woe to the loser in this group F, considered "the group of death", where the reigning European champion Portugal moves to Hungary a little earlier (6pm).
Before this Franco-German shock, discover the Mannschaft.
Who are the German players to watch?
Seven years after their coronation in Brazil in 2014, some world champions are still in the ranks of the Mannschaft. There is captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, still a prisoner at Bayern Munich. There is also Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, and especially the two ghosts: defender Mats Hummels and attacking midfielder Thomas Müller, recalled for the Euro after two and a half years of banishment to renew the workforce. Joachim Löw's admission of failure? Germany can also count on its versatile leader Joshua Kimmich, whom we see shining well at the Euro, as well as on its formidable attackers: Chelsea attacking midfielder Kai Havertz, Bavarian wingers Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané or even the AS Monaco center-forward Kevin Volland. "In attack,they (the French) are very strong and we have to be ready to have one-on-one actions and win them, ”however stressed Chelsea defender Antonio Rüdiger.
The France team in training before their shock against Germany this Tuesday at the Euro.
A strange dynamic
Before receiving France on Tuesday, Germany let off steam on poor Latvia eight days ago (7-1). But this result is perhaps a sham: Löw's men lost at home on March 31 against modest North Macedonia (1-2) in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. On November 17, they were humiliated by Spain in Seville (6-0) as part of the League of Nations. It was the biggest German defeat since ... 1931. We already know that the eternal Joachim Löw (see below) will give way to the Bavarian coach, Hans-Dieter Flick, at the end of the Euro . The Blues must be wary of talented Germans who could play the card of sacred union. But it is certain that the Mannschaft started major tournaments with more certainty.
To read also: Benjamin Pavard: "If I drink a beer, I have to do sit-ups"
Why does Germany play in black and white?
France plays in a blue jersey, Portugal and Hungary in red, and Germany in ... white, a color absent from its flag. This is not the only selection in this case (Italy, the Netherlands ...), but the choice remains astonishing. This is explained by the black and white colors of the flag of Prussia, incorporated into the German Empire when the latter came into being in 1871. The Empire then adopted a flag with three horizontal stripes similar to that of the Germany today, except that yellow was replaced by white. It remained in force until 1918. These colors (red, black, white) returned to the fore in 1933 under Nazi Germany. In German sport, we adopted a predominantly white tunic to never really take it off. Question of traditions.
The Mannschaft (almost) never misses a tournament
In 21 editions of the World Cup, Germany has registered 19 times and has always qualified.
Only Brazil (21/21) can say the same.
At the Euro, it's almost flawless.
It has registered for 14 of the last 16 editions, and has failed in the qualifiers only once: during its first attempt, in 1968. If we compare to its opponents in Group F this summer, France can boast a 14/16 against the Euro, Portugal an 8/16 and Hungary a 7/16.
Joachim Löw, historic longevity
In Europe, no coach has spent more time on a bench without a break than Joachim Löw in Germany. The former striker took the reins of the Mannschaft in July 2006, at the age of 46. He celebrated his 61st spring this year, after no less than 194 matches. If Germany goes to the Euro final, Löw will hit the 200-game mark before handing over the apron, as was announced several months ago. By way of comparison, Didier Deschamps (52) has led "only" 113 matches at the head of the Blues since his induction in July 2012. If he wants to titillate the record of Löw, he would have to accompany France at least until the 2026 World Cup, or even until Euro 2028. We are still very far from it.
