Mbappé Shines as France Clinches Third Place Over Germany
Kylian Mbappé led from the front as France wrapped up their Nations League journey with a solid 2-0 win over Germany, taking third place in style. The showdown in Stuttgart may not have had a trophy at stake, but it packed more drama than anyone expected.
Germany came out swinging, desperate to give their home crowd something to cheer about. In just six minutes, they fired five shots on goal. But France held firm. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan stayed alert, and Lucas Digne’s perfectly timed block kept Niclas Füllkrug from opening the scoring.
The game’s first big twist came just before the half-hour mark. Germany’s Karim Adeyemi went down in the box, prompting the referee to point straight to the spot. But after a lengthy VAR check, the call was overturned — and Adeyemi picked up a yellow card for diving.
France responded just before halftime with a moment of class. Aurélien Tchouaméni floated in a pinpoint cross, and Mbappé made it look effortless — controlling the ball, shifting past his marker, and calmly slipping it past Ter Stegen.
Germany thought they had a lifeline early in the second half when Deniz Undav found the net, but VAR intervened again, calling out a foul in the build-up. That missed opportunity seemed to sap their momentum.
From there, France controlled the pace. Mbappé kept pushing, with Marcus Thuram hitting the post and Ter Stegen forced into some sharp saves. In the closing minutes, Mbappé sprinted clear and teed up Michael Olise, who tapped in the second to put the result beyond doubt.
For France, this third-place finish adds to their Nations League legacy, following their 2021 title. As for Germany, it’s back to the drawing board — another campaign ends without a medal.
Meanwhile, all eyes now shift to the final tonight, where Spain and Portugal will battle it out for top honors.
