France 1-0 Germany: 5 Talking Points as world champions record statement victory

#3 Germany lacked cohesion and pace upfront

France v Germany - UEFA Euro 2020: Group F

Serge Gnabry and Kai Havertz were stationed alongside Thomas Muller in attack for Germany on the night. While the trio looked star-studded on paper, they didn't combine particularly well and lacked the pace required to take on the French backline.

Gnabry is blessed with incredible pace and acceleration, but the Bayern Munich man failed to deliver the goods on the night and missed a glorious chance to equalize in the second half. Havertz, meanwhile, has never been known for his pace. Chelsea's UEFA Champions League hero had a few neat touches, but he didn't make his presence felt over the course of the 90 minutes.

Muller worked hard and came close to scoring with a glancing header in the first half, but that was all the impact he had on the game. With Germany set to come up against Portugal later this week, Joachim Low could be tempted to hand starts to Timo Werner and Leroy Sane to inject more pace and directness into his side.

#2 Pogba and Griezmann always save their best for France

Over the years, Paul Pogba has often been slated for his failure to perform for Manchester United as well as he does for France. Since his move to Barcelona, Antoine Griezmann has been accused of the same, which brings us to the question - how can two world-class footballers look a shadow of themselves while playing for their clubs?

The answer is quite simple. Pogba and Griezmann have been given the freedom to play to their strengths for France and more importantly, they always play in their preferred positions. The former is one of the most talented midfielders of the modern era and has played his best football alongside N'Golo Kante, who acts as the insurance policy in the center of the park.

Griezmann for France can be such a force. He's damn near a box to box forward. Does everything from winning tackles in his area to linking up play on the other end.
— Zito (@_Zeets) June 15, 2021

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Griezmann, on the other hand, has been given the license to roam in the final third for France, allowing him to play his best football. At Barcelona, he is often shafted out wide to co-exist with Lionel Messi, who is understandably given the freedom to operate as he pleases in attack.

The two players were on top of their games for France, with Pogba winning the Man of the Match award for his outstanding display.

#1 Mbappe and Benzema showed signs of a budding partnership for France

Karim Benzema's addition to an already star-studded French attack is bad news for the rest of the teams in the competition. The Real Madrid striker received a surprise call-up ahead of Euro 2020 and has slotted in seamlessly, with Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe completing the front three.

Benzema and Mbappe combined well together against Germany, indicating that they're on the same wavelength as each other. France's attackers were given a lot of freedom in the final third, with the trio often interchanging positions to cause chaos amongst the German rearguard.

The mutual admiration between Mbappe and Benzema off the pitch is well-documented, but they also showed signs of promise on the field in their first competitive game together. Both players combined well with one another to put the ball into the back of the net in the second half, but neither of the goals stood due to two close offside calls.

Karim Benzema is such a stellar addition to the France squad. His selfless work and presence allows Kylian Mbappé to shine and play more freely. Not to mention the supply Benzema gives Mbappé and the threat Benzema is offensively himself. Great, great partnership.
— Maxi (@MaaxiAngelo) June 15, 2021

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Including the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Kingsley Coman and Wisam Ben Yedder, Deschamps is blessed with plenty of attacking superstars at his disposal. The spotlight, though, will undoubtedly be on Mbappe, Benzema and Griezmann, as the trio look to wreak havoc in the games ahead.

Also Read: Jim Beglin column - 5 players who could impress in unfamiliar positions