Germany vs France

In the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League third-place playoff, European powerhouses Germany and France will face off in Stuttgart on Sunday afternoon.

Germany suffered a semi-final loss to Portugal, while France fell to Spain in a thrilling nine-goal match, setting the stage for both teams to compete for the bronze medal.

Just days after hosting the Champions League final, Munich was the backdrop for Germany’s semi-final against Portugal. The hosts, aiming for their first Nations League title, took an early lead through Florian Wirtz, but late goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Francisco Conceicao secured a rare home defeat for Die Nationalelf.

Germany had dominated their group and overcome Italy in a dramatic quarter-final, but now they must settle for a shot at third place. With their World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Slovakia looming in September, Julian Nagelsmann’s squad is already looking ahead to a potential fifth world title. Facing France, a key rival, offers valuable preparation.

Germany have been strong at home, losing only twice in their last 12 matches—against Portugal in this tournament and Spain in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. They’ve also defeated France in two recent friendlies, though France won their last competitive encounter at Euro 2020 and hold a 15-11 edge in their historical matchups.

The rivalry between these neighbors is storied, with West Germany’s dramatic 1982 World Cup semi-final penalty shootout victory—marked by Harald Schumacher’s infamous collision with Patrick Battiston—remaining a defining moment.

France, despite their recent successes, have faced heartbreak in major tournaments, including a 2022 World Cup final loss and a Euro 2024 semi-final exit. Their hopes of adding to their 2021 Nations League title were dashed in a high-scoring semi-final against Spain, where they trailed by four goals before a late comeback fueled by Rayan Cherki’s stunning debut goal, an own goal by Dani Vivian, and a header from Randal Kolo Muani. Despite the rally, Spain held on, making this the highest-scoring Nations League match ever and the first time France conceded five goals since a 1969 loss to England.

Didier Deschamps, visibly frustrated during the semi-final, now looks to stabilize his squad in this playoff. After topping League A Group 2 with 13 points and overturning a deficit against Croatia in the quarter-finals, France are left chasing bronze. Their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign begins in September, with Deschamps aiming for a triumphant finale.