On Sunday afternoon, the MHP Arena in Stuttgart will host a high-stakes UEFA Nations League third-place playoff between football heavyweights Germany and France. Both teams enter this contest eager to bounce back after tough semifinal losses that dashed their hopes of lifting the trophy. Germany, the tournament hosts, fell 2-1 to Portugal despite taking an early lead, while France suffered a heart-stopping 5-4 defeat to Spain in a thrilling encounter where they nearly completed a remarkable comeback from four goals down.
Germany’s journey to the semifinals was marked by strong performances, topping their group and edging past Italy in the quarterfinals. However, their maiden Nations League title bid ended abruptly with Portugal’s late surge. Coach Julian Nagelsmann, facing the challenge of several key absences due to injury—including Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, and Kai Havertz—has made strategic adjustments to his lineup. Notably, Niclas Füllkrug replaces Nick Woltemade upfront, while Pascal Groß is expected to add creativity in midfield. Marc-André ter Stegen retains his place between the sticks, and Joshua Kimmich is set to earn his 101st cap, underscoring his importance to the squad.
"We'll definitely change a few things, even if it's not 100 percent decisive," Nagelsmann commented ahead of the match. "Our defensive alignment depends on the opponent. When defending man-to-man, you have to adapt individually. Tomorrow, we want to force high ball wins. The depth of their squad is impressive – a tremendous depth of talent in every position. When France gets into their stride, they're difficult to stop. We already showed in March that we can beat them. Tomorrow we want to keep them out of dangerous areas and build more possession ourselves. If we control the ball, we definitely have the quality for a strong performance." His predicted starting XI includes Ter Stegen; Kimmich, Tah, Koch, Raum; Groß, Goretzka; Adeyemi, Wirtz; Füllkrug, and Woltemade.
On the other side, France’s squad also bears the scars of recent battles. After their stunning 5-4 loss to Spain, where they trailed 4-0 and 5-1 before mounting a spirited late rally, coach Didier Deschamps is looking to regroup. Injuries have sidelined defenders Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé, and William Saliba, while Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola have withdrawn from the squad. Rising star Rayan Cherki, who made a significant impact off the bench in the semifinal, is poised to earn his first senior start. The defense could see the inclusion of Lucas Hernandez and Malo Gusto, aiming to fortify the backline. Kylian Mbappé, France’s talisman, will again lead the attack as he hunts his 50th international goal, currently sitting on 49.
Deschamps shared his thoughts on the team’s recent performance and the upcoming match: "It’s a mixed bag because there were lots of good things to take away but not everything should be thrown in the bin. But when you concede five goals, you didn’t do things right. There are things that need to be corrected but there are a lot of good things. We have great potential up front. We were punished because we were up against high-level opponents who were very efficient. It's going to be a different game. We have less time to recover. There will be changes for Germany and in our side. We will try to recover and win that." The French lineup is set to feature Maignan; Gusto, Bade, L. Hernandez, Digne; Rabiot, Tchouaméni; Thuram, Cherki, Mbappé; and Kolo-Muani.
The historical rivalry between Germany and France adds an extra layer of intrigue to this encounter. Their head-to-head record is closely contested with France holding a slight edge of 15 wins to Germany’s 11 across official competitions and FIFA friendlies. Their last competitive meeting was at Euro 2020, where France secured a narrow 1-0 victory. However, Germany has enjoyed recent success in friendlies, winning twice against France in 2023 and 2024. This rich history includes iconic matches like the 1982 World Cup semifinal, a testament to the fierce competition between these European giants.
Both teams are aware that this match serves as a final opportunity to evaluate their squads before the World Cup 2026 qualifiers begin in September. With that in mind, the stakes are high despite the third-place status. The game promises to be a fascinating tactical battle, with Nagelsmann’s desire to control possession and force high ball wins clashing with Deschamps’ intent to harness his team’s attacking potential and resilience.
Fans across the globe will be tuning in to catch the action. In the United Kingdom, the match will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video, while viewers in the United States can watch via fuboTV, Fubo Sports Network, ViX, and Tubi. The kickoff is scheduled for 2pm BST (9am ET, 6am PT), with Slovakian referee Ivan Kružliak officiating and Italian VAR official Michael Fabbri overseeing video reviews.
As the teams take to the pitch, all eyes will be on the emerging talents and established stars alike. Liverpool’s soon-to-be signing Florian Wirtz, who scored against Portugal, is expected to be a key figure for Germany’s attack. Meanwhile, Manchester City transfer target Rayan Cherki could make a memorable senior debut for France, injecting youthful energy into the side. And of course, Mbappé’s quest for his 50th international goal adds an individual milestone to the collective ambition.
Betting markets currently offer close odds, reflecting the balance between the sides. Germany is priced at +138 to win, France at +160, with the draw at +250. The total goals market favors over 2.5 goals at -200, indicating expectations of an open, attacking game.
With both teams eager to salvage pride and set a positive tone for the future, the Nations League bronze medal clash promises drama, skill, and fierce competition. Germany will look to leverage home advantage and tactical discipline, while France will rely on their attacking flair and resilience. Whether it’s a tightly fought tactical contest or a high-scoring spectacle, football fans are in for a treat in Stuttgart this Sunday.
