France are up and running at UEFA EURO 2020 after Mats Hummels’ first-half own goal proved enough to secure victory in the Group F opener with Germany – but the margin could have been greater.
Germany started well, but France grew into the game and it was Hummels who fashioned the own goal on 20 minutes. Paul Pogba played a peach of a pass over to the left, where Bayern’s Lucas Hernández made a less assured connection but still caused enough panic to induce the mistake as Hummels speared into his own net.
From then on France were content to sit back, soak up the pressure and use Kylian Mbappé’s speed on the counter. It was the Paris man’s who almost fashioned a second, releasing Adrien Rabiot for a near-post shot that beat Manuel Neuer but not the post.
Joachim Löw moved quickly, pushing Joshua Kimmich into midfield, and suddenly Germany were a renewed attacking force – Serge Gnabry came within a whisker of an equaliser. That was as good as it got, however, and France had two goals chalked off for Mbappé offsides as they nevertheless joined Germany’s next opponents Portugal on three points atop Group F.
France 1-0 Germany
Hummels [OG] (20)
