Nations League live ticker: Germany challenges France
After the disappointing performance against Portugal, France now awaits Germany in the third-place match. This is already the best placing for the German national team in the Nations League. Follow the match live.
The German national football team will play against France in Stuttgart on Sunday (3:00 p.m./RTL and DAZN) for third place in the Nations League. Coach Julian Nagelsmann's team missed the final in Munich, which they had originally hoped for, due to a 2-1 semifinal defeat to Portugal . The French lost 5-4 to Spain. The final between defending champions Spain and Portugal will take place this evening (9:00 p.m./RTL and DAZN) in Munich.
Nagelsmann is demanding an improvement from his national team players after their performance against Portugal and a positive finish to the Nations League. The German national team qualified for the finals for the first time and will definitely finish the Nations League with their best placing to date. They recently recorded two wins against France. Coach Didier Deschamps has announced numerous changes to the World Cup runners-up compared to the spectacular semifinal against Spain.
The 2-1 defeat against Portugal in the Nations League semifinal saw the German national team drop 11.71 points in the FIFA World Rankings, which determine the seeding. The gap to ninth-place Italy threatened to grow to more than 20 points had the Squadra Azzurra won the World Cup qualifier in Norway on Friday. However, Italy suffered a 3-0 defeat.
To qualify for the top pot, Germany must move up at least one place and reach ninth in the world rankings after the conclusion of World Cup qualifying in November. However, as things stand, they can only earn just under 20 points from their six World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg. Furthermore, Croatia and Morocco, in eleventh and twelfth place in the FIFA rankings, are closing in on the German national team.
The Nations League third-place match against France or Spain on Sunday (3:00 p.m./RTL/DAZN) in Stuttgart therefore has an important sporting component. The prominence of the opponent in a match with around 15 points could mean another double-digit score for the complex FIFA rankings.
It would help the German national team if a better-placed team unexpectedly failed to qualify for the World Cup. If Germany lands in Pot 2 in the draw, Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo, would again be a possible early opponent in the World Cup group stage. An unpleasant clash with co-hosts Mexico in difficult climatic conditions is also possible.
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