PLAYER RATINGS | Germany 0-2 France: Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise hand Nations League third-place to Les Bleus | OneFootball

UEFA Nations League, Third place play-off, 08/06/25

France secured the 2024-2025 UEFA Nations League third place after defeating Germany in Stuttgart in the play-off. Kylian Mbappé scored his 50th France goal before half-time. In the final ten minutes, the skipper gifted Michael Olise the chance to settle the tie. After shipping 5 goals to Spain, Les Bleus still looked ragged at times, but they remained solid.

The Match

France were indebted to a solid opening minutes from Mike Maignan. The Chelsea FC target produced big saves to deny Woltemade and Adeyemi as Germany found it way too easy to pin down Les Bleus in their half. Deschamps’ experimental defense with Lucas Hernandez, making his first start in over a year, and rookies Malo Gusto and Loïc Badé was too easily exposed and carved open.

France dusted themselves off to loosen Germany’s grip on the proceedings. In his debut start, Rayan Cherki injected directness and pace to unsettle Julian Nagelsmann’s men. The Lyon Academy product was the first Frenchman to register a shot on target, forcing Marc-André Ter Stegen into a strong save at his near post. The Barcelona goalie was on cue again to parry Badé’s header away in the resulting corner kick.

France’s work nearly came undone after Germany were awarded a penalty at the half-hour mark with Karim Ademeyi falling in the penalty box after a slight contact from Hernandez. The decision was eventually overturned, resulting in the Borussia winger’s booking for diving. Maignan came up big again in tipping away a Woltemade deflection at his near post.

In the first minute of injury time, Les Bleus went ahead courtesy of Kylian Mbappé’s 50th France goal. The Real Madrid centre-forward controlled a cross from his club teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni before curling a right-footed effort that Ter Stegen could only deflect on his left post and in.

Minutes into the second half, Mbappé could have doubled his side’s lead, but he scuppered his trademark first post finish. France’s blushes would be saved again by VAR. Deniz Undav thought he had restored parity, but Niclas Füllkrug fouled Adrien Rabiot in the build-up.

As Germany put men forward to snatch an equalizer, their midfield became way more open. France had many opportunities to put the third-place playoff to bed, but Thuram and Mbappé were notably not clinical enough on the counter. In the end, Germany would provide the chance for France to settle the tie. Robin Koch allowed Mbappé a free run into Die Mannschaft‘s half, and the Real Madrid unselfishly gifted Olise a second France goal in an empty net.

In the end, it was a reassuring win and performance from France. Now, the focus turns to next fall’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

France player ratings

Mike Maignan – 7

The AC Milan goalkeeper had an off game against Spain in the semis. Today, he delivered a performance more suited to his status as France’s best shot-stopper. The Chelsea target pulled off four saves in the first half alone and was the reason Germany were not out of sight in the first ten minutes. He remained imperious in the second half.

Malo Gusto – 6

Loïc Badé – 7

The Sevilla centre-back was thrown in at the deep end, given it was his first senior start for Les Bleus. The Rennes centre-back had a rough start, but he kept a cool head and excelled with his assured distribution and aerial presence. He deserved to be given more starts, but this means leaping ahead of both William Saliba and Ibrahima Konaté…

Lucas Hernandez – 5

Lucas Digne – 4

Aurélien Tchouaméni – 5

Adrien Rabiot – 5

Randal Kolo Muani – 3

The PSG loanee was, by a mile, the player with the least influence on proceedings for France. He lost most of the few balls he was given and squandered chances to double his side’s lead. Replaced by Désiré Doué.

Rayan Cherki – 5

The Manchester City target was at the heart of most of France’s forays forward in the first half. Cherki’s showing, three days after his eye-catching cameos off the bench against Spain, was tarnished by his wastefulness. Replaced by Michael Olise, who was on cue to score France’s second with a tap-in.

Marcus Thuram – 4

Kylian Mbappé – 6

The Real Madrid centre-forward scored his first goal from open play with Les Bleus in over a year and a friendly against Luxembourg, which puts him one goal short of Thierry Henry’s 51-goal record. He then benefited from a blooper at the back from Germany’s centre-backs to lay it on a plate for Olise to make it 2. Other than that, he was way too wasteful.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval