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MUNICH. — Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola spared his side’s blushes with a string of fine second-half saves as France battled to a 0-0 draw with Germany in their Nations League opener last night.
While France took to the field for the first time as newly-crowned world champions, Germany were looking to rebuild after a disastrous World Cup campaign.
“It was a good first step today. It was about showing people that we aren’t just pulling on the national team shirt as if it were a training bib,” Thomas Mueller told ZDF.
“It was about regaining the values and the credit that we have earned over the last 10 years, and which we lost at the World Cup.”
After a conservative first-half performance, Germany upped the ante in the final 30 minutes of the game, but were repeatedly denied by Areola, France’s third-choice goalkeeper standing in for the injured Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda.
“We had three or four good chances which Areola saved really well,” Germany defender Mats Hummels said.
“We wanted to focus more on defensive stability, and we had a good balance today between defence and attack.”
After a painful World Cup post-mortem, Joachim Loew had promised a greater focus on defensive stability, and the Germany coach would have been happy after 20 minutes as his side kept France away from goal at the Allianz Arena.
“Today was about staying stable at the back and waiting for the chances to come at the other end,” Loew told ZDF.
“I think that worked out well.”
Germany, though, initially enjoyed little success at the other end.
Timo Werner, who looked dangerous switching between the left and right flanks early on, was the first player from either side to unleash a shot, as he tested Areola on 17 minutes. Yet it was France who had the best chance of the first half, 10 minutes before half time, as an Olivier Giroud header sent Manuel Neuer scrambling across his goal to beat the ball away.
Meanwhile, Gareth Bale grabbed centre-stage as vibrant Wales tore Ireland apart in the first competitive game of the Ryan Giggs era last night, launching their Uefa Nations League campaign in style with a 4-1 win.
The home side ensured the game was over as a meaningful contest by half time, blowing Ireland away with goals from Tom Lawrence, Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
With confidence surging, the men in red scored a fourth goal 10 minutes after the break when Bale set up Connor Roberts, who rifled the ball past Darren Randolph.
Shaun Williams grabbed a consolation when he robbed Ramsey outside his own box and dinked the ball over Wayne Hennessey.
“We had to put a good performance in, first home game of the new regime,” Bale told Sky Sports.
“We wanted to show what we were capable of and make a statement.
“We’re looking to win every game and win the group. The manager is trying to stamp his own style on the team. There’s a lot to improve on, but there’s a lot to enjoy.”
The victory might not have erased the pain of Wales’ World Cup elimination last October when Ireland won 1-0 at the same Cardiff City Stadium venue.
But the manner of the performance, with talented youngsters Ethan Ampadu, 17, and 21-year-old David Brooks excelling on their first competitive starts and Bale at his brilliant best, gave a tantalising glimpse of a bright future.
“Ethan is a talented player,” Giggs said.
“Even more so than that, as a person, he’s so balanced and mature for such a young player. He’ll be a magnificent player.” — SuperSport.
Online Reporter