Germany break French jinx with a come from behind win

France’s forward Franck Ribery (R) congratulates Germany’s defender and captain Philipp Lahm after a friendly international football match between France and Germany on February 6, 2013

Germany finally broke their 26 year old jinx against the French at the Stade de France, Paris on Wednesday as they came back from a goal down to register a memorable night in Paris in an international friendly. This victory also meant that the Germans won their first match of the calendar year for the first time since 2008.

Second half goals from Thomas Muller and Sami Khedira were enough to see Germany past a spirited French team who had taken the early courtesy of a Mathieu Valbuena header.

The French were looking to carry on their good form of late, having drawn against World and European Champions Spain and scoring a victory over Italy in recent months. However, their form at home continues to be uninspiring as the Germans proved to be a bridge too far for the world’s seventeenth-ranked team.

The match got off to spritely start as it was home team that looked to settle down more quickly. However, the first chance fell the visitor’s way as a tackle ricocheted the ball which fell to Mesut Ozil, who controlled brilliantly with his thigh; but just as he was about to shoot on goal, the ever-aware Hugo Lloris rushed from his goal line to deny the Real Madrid star the opportunity to put Germany in front.

The Germans with their intricate interweaving of passes and pace on the offence are a treat for the eyes and it was them who looked confident as the first half saw them often making the midfield their own playing ground.

French skipper Hugo Lloris was not getting a minute’s rest as he was once again called into action on 20 minutes when Mertesacker directed his header from a corner towards goal. Lloris, however, was on hand to tip the ball onto the crossbar.

While the German were doing their deeds through nifty passing, the French had a certain Franck Ribery in their team who came to the fore on 25 minutes as he skinned Mertesacker for pace but misplaced his cross into the box. The ball fortunately found Karim Benzema who laid off beautifully for Marseille man Mathieu Valbuena, only to see the midfielder blast high and wide.

Valbuena returned the favour a few minutes later as he played Benzema in on goal via a delightful chip but with only Adler to beat, Benzema scuffed his shot while looking totally uncomfortable and diffident as he went one-on-one with the German no.1.

However, the French pressure finally paid dividends when a Karim Benzema effort from a free-kick rattled the crossbar only to fall onto the head of Moussa Sissoko. The in-form Newcastle midfielder coolly headed the the ball into the path of 5ft 4in Valbuena who slotted in with his head for his first-ever headed goal.

The start of the second half saw a flurry of substitutions from both teams and the substitutes made their presence felt soon enough. Etienne Capoue who had just come on for Matuidi gave the ball away cheaply in his own half 6 minutes into the second half and it was another substitute -Germany’s Ilkay Gündogan – that picked up the pieces and played in Thomas Muller, who coolly lifted the ball over the onrushing Lloris to bring the German back on level terms.

Both team were going for the kill in the second half which made it an enjoyable game to watch. While Patrice Evra looked to threaten down the flanks, it was Valbuena on 64 minutes who once again carved out an opportunity. After a neat 1-2 play with Karim Benzema, Valbuena saw his effort just wide of the top corner as he tried to curl one in from the edge of the box.

France were looking menacing after conceding as Benzema carved out yet another chance, this time on the right wing as he played in a low cross which Ribery met coming in from the left. He should buried the opportunity but his composure in the final third had been lacking in the game.

But the Bayern Munich man was full of running and trickery on the night. He turned Hummels inside out on 71 minutes, but a team shot did not match up to his build up play.

Just as France were starting to impose themselves, a piece of sheer magic from Mesut Ozil cut open the French defence on 76 minutes. The midfield craftsman moulded his body to shoot but it was just a misdirection as he played a exquisite ball through to Sami Khedira who made no mistake with the finish to give Germany the upper hand. A goal scored in Paris but made in Madrid.

Germany’s midfielder Sami Khedira (C) celebrates with Germany’s midfielder Thomas Mueller after scoring against France

It seemed to knock the stuffing out of the French team as they looked heart broken and despondent while the Germans took control of the midfield and the game. As the Germans played around the French midfield stringing together 20-odd passes, the French looked to be out of ideas and played early balls into Benzema – who looked to be completely lacking confidence as one superb lifted ball from Yohan Cabaye hit the French forward on his back.

Ribery wasn’t finished though; on 89 minutes, he came down the left this time, beating Lahm for pace. A neat cut-back from Evra had found Ribery, who made space for himself but shot too close to Adler. Cabaye was there on the rebound, but the Germans’ flailing bodies were enough to snuff out the attempt.

The French created two late opportunities as Benzema looked to be in on goal but for last ditch tackle from Hummels, who had been immense in the game except for the odd occasion up against Ribery.

In the dying minutes, Ribery again created himself an opening and yet again Hummels was Germany’s man on the spot. Cabaye had the last go at goal but it was Hummels’s partner at the back – Mertesacker this time – who got the block in which turned out to be the final action of the game.

And that’s how it finished. 2-1 to the Germans, which would do their world ranking of number 2 no harm, while it was not the ideal warm-up for France leading up to their World Cup qualifier against Georgia; but they will certainty have a lot of positives to take forward from the game.