France got the bronze medal at the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League following their 2-0 victory over hosts Germany in the third-place playoff at Stuttgart’s MHPArena.
Although the match was not so attractive, the Germans started with souped-up energy and took five shots in the opening six minutes. Nick Woltemade and Karim Adeyemi both tested Mike Maignan, while Lucas Digne bravely blocked Niclas Fullkrug’s strike.
France, however, kept steady, Loïc Badé’s header causing Marc-André ter Stegen to make a reflex save.Germany believed that they got a penalty after Adeyemi was tackled in the box, but VAR decided it was a foul play and gave a yellow card to the forward for simulation. Florian Wirtz later hit the post and Maignan denied Woltemade before France struck against the run of play.
On the verge of the first-half, Kylian Mbappé received Aurélien Tchouaméni’s cross, dribbled inside, and scored a precise goal.Mbappé was on the verge of scoring his second after the break, and Deniz Undav had a goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up.
France confirmed the victory late on as Mbappé became creative, delivering the ball for Michael Olise to easily put it in.
The victory gives France their second Nations League podium finish, while Germany still have no medal in the competition.
