Preview: Germany vs. France - prediction, team news, lineups

Germany have parted company with manager Hansi Flick following an unbelievable 4-1 home defeat to Japan at the weekend.

Match preview

There were scenes of utter disbelief at the Volkswagen Arena on Saturday, as for the second time in 10 months, Japan got the better of Germany.

The manner of the defeat though was the final nail in Flick's coffin, given the manager was already under intense pressure before this month's internationals.

With Germany already through to next summer's European Championships as hosts, they need a result here just to simply restore some confidence in the public before a home finals.

Rudi Voller, Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner will take charge of the side here with the DFB in disarray.

Under Flick, Germany won just one of their six Nations League games last year, before an abysmal group stage exit at the World Cup.

At the World Cup, Germany were out-thought and outfought by Japan, and history repeated itself in Wolfsburg at the weekend.

Shockingly, in his post-match interview, national team captain Ilkay Gundogan came out and said: "Perhaps we think we are better than we actually are."

The 4-1 scoreline could also have been worse had it not been for some Marc-Andre ter Stegen heroics.

Since their early exit in Qatar, Die Mannschaft have played six friendlies, losing to Belgium, Poland, Colombia and now Japan, while also struggling to a 3-3 draw with Ukraine.

Germany are now winless in five games, conceding 13 goals in the process.

The most alarming and scarcely believable statistic is that Germany have won only four of their last 17 matches, against an out-of-sorts Italy, as well as Oman, Costa Rica and Peru.

On the contrary, France are on course to be one of the first teams to join Germany in qualifying for the finals next summer.

Their campaign so far has been a breeze for Didier Deschamps's men, winning all five matches without conceding.

Goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram saw them see off the Republic of Ireland on Thursday night, with a routine 2-0 win in Paris.

The win means France are just one of three nations still with a 100% record after matchday five, along with Scotland and Portugal.

Another success here away to one of the sides expected to compete in the latter stages next summer will be a huge confidence booster for Les Bleus.

France went to Germany at Euro 2020 and won 1-0, albeit in Munich, thanks to a Mats Hummels own goal.

That continued a fine run of form against Die Mannschaft, with the French unbeaten in six meetings, as Germany have not won in this fixture since the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup.

Germany friendly form:

W

L

D

L

L

L

France form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

W

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Team News

There could be wholesale changes in the German side after the humbling defeat on Saturday.

Jamal Musiala is arguably the most notable current absentee for the hosts, as the stricken Manuel Neuer has most likely now lost his place in the side to Ter Stegen.

Leon Goretzka, David Raum, Matthias Ginter, Thilo Kehrer and Timo Werner have all been dropped from the squad following June's internationals.

The absence of Werner means there are no out-and-out strikers in the squad, with Kai Havertz now being used in midfield at Arsenal and Kevin Schade at times being used out wide by Brentford.

One of the more confident and in-form players in the squad is Pascal Gross, and he could be given his first international start after making his debut off the bench on Saturday.

France will be without Olivier Giroud after the AC Milan attacker went off with an ankle injury in the first half against Ireland.

Deschamps could use this game to utilise all of his squad members, so some players who did not start on Thursday may be given an opportunity.

Eduardo Camavinga, William Saliba and Randal Kolo Muani will be among those hoping for a place in the starting XI after being left out at the Parc des Princes last week.

Chelsea duo Christopher Nkunku and Wesley Fofana are among the most notable absentees for the visitors.

Germany possible starting lineup:

Ter Stegen; Henrichs, Sule, Rudiger, Gosens; Kimmich, Gross, Gundogan, Brandt, Muller; Gnabry

France possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Pavard, Saliba, Disasi, T Hernandez; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Griezmann; Coman, Kolo Muani, Mbappe

We say: Germany 0-3 France

France are possibly the most in-form nation in Europe at the moment, and a Germany side with their confidence shattered and no manager may suffer once again.

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