Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On June 8, 2025, the MHP Arena in Stuttgart will host the third-place match of Group A in the Nations League, where Germany will face France. The kickoff is scheduled for 15:00 Central European Time. Let's take a closer look at a bet on the teams' scoring potential in this showdown.
Germany
The German national team, led by Julian Nagelsmann, navigated the group stage with authority, remaining unbeaten: four wins and two draws, boasting an impressive goal difference of 18:4. Their home form was especially dominant — three wins with a combined score of 13:0, underlining the squad's strength on home turf.
In the quarterfinals, Germany faced Italy. The first leg on the road saw Germany claim a solid 2-1 victory. In the return leg at home, the Germans raced to a 3-0 lead but surprisingly switched off, conceding three goals and settling for a 3-3 draw. Nevertheless, on aggregate, Germany advanced to the semifinals.
However, in the semifinal against Portugal, the team looked fatigued, especially in the second half. The midfield and attack struggled to make an impact, and Germany managed just five shots on target. Despite taking the lead through Florian Wirtz, they conceded twice in just five minutes and lost 1-2 — their first defeat in a long time, made even more painful by the home setting.
Now Germany faces France in the battle for third place. It's worth noting that these teams haven't met in an official fixture since 2021.
France
The French national team also made it through the group stage with confidence, despite an opening defeat to Italy. After that, Les Bleus regrouped and went on a strong run: four wins and just one draw with Israel, which came as a surprise. After six matches, France collected 13 points and topped the group thanks to a superior goal difference, edging out Italy.
In the quarterfinals, France took on Croatia. The first leg brought a shock — Les Bleus lost 0-2. But back home, France showed character, leveling the aggregate score, forcing extra time, and then prevailing in a penalty shootout to book their spot in the semifinals.
The semifinal against Spain turned into a real spectacle. By the 55th minute, France were trailing 0-4, but Kylian Mbappé pulled one back. Soon after, Lamine Yamal restored Spain's four-goal advantage, making it 5-1. Yet, France refused to give up, scoring three more times to set up a thrilling finish. Nevertheless, Spain held on for a 5-4 victory, knocking France out of title contention.
Head coach Didier Deschamps has been giving plenty of trust to young talents. Notably, Olise, who dazzled in the club season, as well as Désiré Doué, one of the heroes of the Champions League final. Of course, the key attacking force remains Kylian Mbappé, who continues to deliver at the highest level.
Probable lineups
- Germany: Ter Stegen, Anton, Tah, Koch, Mittelstädt, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Goretzka, Sané, Wirtz, Woltemade.
- France: Maignan, Lenglet, Konaté, Lucas Hernandez, Kalulu, Koné, Rabiot, Olise, Dembélé, Doué, Mbappé.
Interesting facts and head-to-head
- Germany are unbeaten in 17 of their last 18 matches.
- Four of the last five Germany matches have ended with over 2.5 total goals.
- Both teams have scored in Germany's last four matches.
- France have failed to win in four of their last five matches.
Germany vs France match prediction
The third-place match is always a unique occasion, where teams tend to play with more freedom and an attacking mindset. Germany, after losing to Portugal, will be eager to bounce back in front of their home fans. France are an ambitious side, and after a dramatic semifinal against Spain, they'll be motivated to finish the tournament on a high. Both sides have powerful attacking lines and have already shown in the playoffs that they love to play open, entertaining football. My bet for this match is over 3 goals at odds of 1.77.
