The UEFA Nations League kicks off tonight and the first match of the newly formed tournament sees Joachim Loew’s men host world champion France at the Allianz Arena.
Germany, which had a disastrous campaign in Russia, will be looking to bounce back with a win against France.
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Leroy Sane, who was controversially left out of the World Cup squad, is back with the team that sees only three new additions. Hoffenheim’s Nico Schulz and Nils Petersen, who is replacing Mesut Ozil after he announced his international retirement recently, are the other two entrants.
Didier Deschamps has retained most of his triumphant squad – only Captain Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda will miss the game with injuries. This could mean a Les Blues debut for PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Loew is expected to continue with the 4-3-3 formation that has served him well in the past while Deschamps should continue with the 4-4-2 that won France the holy grail.
Form guide
Germany: Last five matches (most recent first): LWLWL
France: Last five matches (most recent first): WWWWD
Potential starting XI
Germany: Manuel Neuer; Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels, Niklas Sule, Nico Schulz; İlkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Leon Goretzka; Thomas Muller, Timo Werner, Leroy Sane
France: Alphonse Areola; Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez; Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante; Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Blaise Matuidi; Olivier Giroud.
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