Griezmann Double Plunges Germany's Loew Into Deeper Trouble
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published October 17, 2018 | 04:03 AM
Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Oct, 2018 ) :Antoine Griezmann hit a pair of second-half goals as world champions France came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday and cast further doubt on Joachim Loew's future.
Toni Kroos struck a 14th-minute penalty for Germany, but Griezmann engineered a rousing fightback in the first game between the nations at the Stade de France since the November 2015 friendly that was overshadowed by a series of terror attacks on the French capital.
France coach Didier Deschamps fielded an almost identical team to the one that started the World Cup final, Presnel Kimpembe the lone exception in place of the injured Samuel Umtiti.
Germany's chastening 3-0 defeat by the Dutch on Saturday prompted Loew to make five changes, as he injected additional pace into the attack with the inclusions of Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry.
Kylian Mbappe's electrifying speed was soon on display, but Hugo Lloris initially proved the far busier of the two goalkeepers as Germany sought to end a run of three competitive matches without a goal.
Lloris, who missed last month's opening 0-0 draw in Munich, was forced to hack clear early on when N'Golo Kante's intervention sent the ball rolling towards his own goal.
However, he was beaten on 14 minutes when Kroos struck from the spot after Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Kimpembe was penalised for a handball as he slid to block a Sane cross.
Lloris guessed correctly and dived to his left although the Tottenham keeper could only help the ball into the corner of the net.
Germany immediately threatened a second as Sane burst clear on the halfway line, but his pass for Timo Werner was pushed away from the RB Leipzig striker by an outstretched Lloris.
France, unbeaten in 14 matches since a friendly loss to Colombia in March, were again indebted to Lloris when he scrambled a Matthias Ginter effort behind after a chance fell invintingly to the defender at a corner.
- Griezmann steps up - Olivier Giroud lifted over a difficult chance from a Lucas Hernandez cross just before half-time, shortly after a teasing Griezmann delivery eluded a lunging Mbappe in the Germany box.
A vastly improved France nearly equalised through Mbappe minutes into the second half, the teenager denied by Manuel Neuer's left boot as he bore in on goal.
Sane scuffed wide from a Nico Schulz cut-back, but France levelled on 62 minutes as Griezmann rose magnificently to head a driven Lucas Hernandez cross beyond a helpless Neuer.
Gnabry, making first Germany appearance since Nov 2016, intercepted a risky Kimpembe pass and saw a rasping 25-yard strike fisted away by Lloris.
But France were awarded a penalty of their own 10 minutes from time when Paul Pogba slipped in Blaise Matuidi, the Juventus midfielder upended by Mats Hummels as he tried to round Neuer.
Griezmann smacked the resulting spot-kick past Neuer to condemn Germany to an alarming sixth defeat in their last 10 outings, and rule Loew's side out of Nations League title contention.
France, who top the section on seven points, take on the Netherlands in their final game on November 16 in Rotterdam, while Germany must beat the Dutch in Gelsenkirchen next month if they are to avoid relegation.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 9 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 09 May 2024
IHC adjourns PTI founder, Qureshi's appeal till Thursday
CDWP recommends 3 projects to ECNEC for approval
Tarar assures APNS to resolve issues of newspaper industry
Pakistan urged to capitalize on economic stability, for Tobacco Tax Reforms
N. Macedonia polls set to upend ties with EU neighbours
Croatia's ruling party reaches coalition deal with right wing
Bayern coach Tuchel makes three changes for Madrid showdown
Olympic flame arrives on French soil for Paris Games
Punjab Finance Minister announces expansion of Social Protection Authority's man ..
Kenya inks deal to end doctors' strike
More Stories From World
-
Australia, Tuvalu to launch climate and security pact this year
15 minutes ago -
Putin to mark Victory Day emboldened by Ukraine gains
15 minutes ago -
Australia, Tuvalu to launch climate and security pact this year
15 minutes ago -
Marquez eyes French MotoGP victory but plays down title talk
25 minutes ago -
Canada regularization of undocumented migrants in jeopardy
35 minutes ago -
China's Xi in Hungary to celebrate 'new era' with Orban
45 minutes ago
-
Marquez eyes French MotoGP victory but plays down title talk
45 minutes ago -
With cameras absent, US public tunes out of Trump trial coverage
45 minutes ago -
Former Fiji PM Bainimarama handed one-year prison sentence
55 minutes ago -
School's out: how climate change threatens education
1 hour ago -
N. Macedonia set for rocky ties with EU neighbours as opposition wins vote
1 hour ago -
Nuggets' Jokic scoops third NBA Most Valuable Player award
1 hour ago