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FRANCE VS GERMANY

France 2-1 Germany match report: UEFA Nations League

Two goals (a superb header and a penalty) from the Atlético Madrid striker saw France come back from Toni Kroos' first-half spot-kick.

Griezmann scored twice to give France a comeback win
GONZALO FUENTESREUTERS

France 2-1 Germany: match report

Antoine Griezmann hit a second-half double on Tuesday night as France came from behind to beat Germany in Paris and took a giant stride towards booking their place in next June's UEFA Nations League finals.

Germans led at break after good first-half display

Defeat at the Stade de France leaves the Germans staring down the barrel of relegation from League A, despite a showing that was a clear improvement on Saturday's 3-0 thumping by the Netherlands.

Griezmann beats Neuer from the penalty spot to clinch all three points for France.
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Griezmann beats Neuer from the penalty spot to clinch all three points for France.Matthias HangstBongarts/Getty Images

Indeed, Joachim Löw's men could well have scored more than one in a lively first-half display that saw Toni Kroos give the visitors a 14th-minute lead from the spot after Presnel Kimpembe was penalised for a handball.

Griezmann at the double as Les Bleus turn it around

However, France took the initiative in the second 45, and after Griezmann had expertly headed the hosts level from Lucas Hernández's left-wing cross, the forward then completed the turnaround with ten minutes remaining, converting from 12 yards when Mats Hummels was adjudged to have felled Blaise Matuidi in the box.

France just a point off ensuring finals berth, Germany facing drop

Victory leaves Les Bleus needing just a point against the Netherlands next month to be sure of reaching the finals. For Germany, meanwhile, only a win over the Dutch can possibly save them from the drop - and if the Oranje beat France three days earlier, they will already be down by the time they host Ronald Koeman's side in Gelsenkirchen.

France sit top of Group A1 with seven points, while defeat in Paris leaves Germany languishing on just the one point.
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France sit top of Group A1 with seven points, while defeat in Paris leaves Germany languishing on just the one point.

France 2-1 Germany: as it happened

France vs Germany: match preview

Germany find themselves in a battle to keep their UEFA Nations League hopes alive as they visit world champions France in Saint-Denis, Paris, this evening (20:45 CEST).

Germany in need of a win at Stade de France

Having kept his job despite Die Mannschaft's shock first-round exit at this summer's World Cup, there are renewed question marks over the future of coach Joachim Löw after his side fell to a comprehensive, 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands in Group A1 on Saturday - their fifth loss in nine matches in 2018.

That reverse leaves the Germans bottom of the group with one point from two games, and they must now win tonight if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for the finals next June. If they lose, meanwhile, they could even host the Dutch in the section's final fixture on 19 November with relegation to League B already confirmed.

France closing in on finals qualification

By contrast, the French head into tonight's clash top of the group and in pole position to reach the finals. Indeed, victory over Germany - against whom they are unbeaten in four matches - would leave Les Bleus needing just a point against the Netherlands on 16 November to be certain of qualification.

France vs Germany: confirmed line-ups

France: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Hernández, Pogba, Kanté, Mbappé, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud

Germany: Neuer, Ginter, Süle, Hummels, Schulz, Kehrer, Kimmich, Kroos, Sané, Werner, Gnabry