7-second goal, Kai Havertz magic as Germany beat France
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Germany celebrate beating France || Image credit: Imago

7-second goal, Kai Havertz magic as Germany beat France

Faruq Ibrahim 23:10 - 23.03.2024

Germany returned to winning ways after back-to-back defeats Turkey and Austria with a victory over Kylian Mbappe's France.

Germany beat World Cup finalist France 2-1 to declare their intent for the coming European Championship, which they host.

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The Germans scored twice in the first half thanks to a super early goal from Florian Writz and another late in the half from Arsenal's Kai Havertz.

How it happened

In a breathtaking kickoff, Germany shocked France by scoring immediately. Toni Kroos swiftly played the ball forward to Writz, who capitalised on being unmarked and found the net past Brice Samba.

Shell-shocked by Germany's quick start, the hosts took time to settle into the game. However, they soon began to pose threats to Marc-André ter Stegen's goal. Captain Kylian Mbappé led the charge, but missed opportunities left Les Bleus trailing.

As the first half progressed, France struggled to break through Germany's defense. Despite chances from Adrien Rabiot and Mbappé, they couldn't find the back of the net. Meanwhile, Germany maintained control, with Kai Havertz extending their lead shortly after halftime.

France fought valiantly, with attempts from Aurélien Tchouaméni and Ousmane Dembélé, but couldn't narrow the deficit. Germany's dominance was evident, with debutant Maximilian Mittelstädt and newcomer Deniz Undav both threatening Samba's goal.

Although France's goalkeeper, Samba, kept the scoreline respectable, the loss marked only their second defeat in 10 games since the World Cup final, both against Germany. Meanwhile, Germany's win halted a three-game winless streak, providing momentum as they prepare for the UEFA European Championships.

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