Kylian Mbappé was the star once again as France defeated Germany 2-0 to finish third in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League. The exciting match was played at the MHPArena in Stuttgart, and although it wasn’t the final, both teams fought hard for the bronze medal. With plenty of action, close chances, and two goals, it was definitely a game where Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams to Score (BTTS) seemed very likely — even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect that in the end.
A Fast and Furious Start
Nobody really wants to play in a third-place game, especially after losing a semifinal. But Germany came out strong and determined to win in front of their home fans. In fact, they had five shots in just the first six minutes!
Nick Woltemade and Karim Adeyemi both tested France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan early. Then, defender Lucas Digne made a brave block with his head to stop a shot from Niclas Füllkrug. Germany was attacking from all sides and really looked like they were going to score first.
France was on the back foot for a while and didn’t create much in the early stages. Their only big chance before the 30-minute mark came from a header by Loïc Badé after a corner. His effort forced German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen to make a brilliant save by diving fully across his goal.
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VAR Drama and Close Calls
The game nearly changed when Karim Adeyemi got behind the French defense and went down in the box after trying to get around Maignan. The referee at first gave Germany a penalty, but after a long VAR check, it was ruled that Adeyemi had dived. Not only was the penalty canceled, but he also got a yellow card for simulation.
Germany didn’t let that slow them down. Florian Wirtz hit the post with a nice side-footed shot, and a few minutes later, David Raum crossed to Woltemade, but once again Maignan was ready and pushed the ball out for a corner.
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Mbappé Strikes Right Before the Break
Just when it looked like Germany might take the lead, France scored! A minute before halftime, Aurélien Tchouaméni sent in a cross that Mbappé controlled beautifully. He quickly turned, cut inside, and placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net. It was a fantastic finish that showed why he’s one of the best players in the world.
France went into halftime leading 1-0 — even though Germany had been the better team in the first 45 minutes. This was one of those games that truly felt like it had Over 2.5 goals written all over it, with end-to-end chances and high pace.
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Second Half Full of Action
The second half started with another Mbappé chance. He got in behind again and shot from a tight angle, but this time it hit the side netting. That miss seemed like it might be important, especially when Deniz Undav scored for Germany about seven minutes later.
However, VAR stepped in once again. The replay showed that Füllkrug had pushed Adrien Rabiot in the build-up, so the goal was disallowed. Germany just couldn’t catch a break.
France almost added a second goal when Marcus Thuram hit the post after a great move from Randal Kolo Muani. Ter Stegen also made two big saves — one from a Mbappé volley and another from Thuram — to keep his team in the game.
It was turning into a real thriller. Anyone watching would’ve been sure this was a classic BTTS (Both Teams to Score) kind of match. With so many chances and near-misses, it felt like goals were just around the corner for both sides.
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France Finishes the Job
Finally, in the 84th minute, France scored again. Mbappé broke away from the tired German defenders, pulled the goalkeeper toward him, and then unselfishly passed to Michael Olise. Olise calmly tapped the ball into an empty net, making it 2-0 and sealing the win for France.
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What This Means
With the win, France earned the bronze medals in this year’s Nations League. They now have a full set — they won the gold in the 2020/21 edition. Germany, on the other hand, still haven’t won any trophies in this tournament and will be disappointed, especially after losing back-to-back games on home soil for the first time since 2023.
Even though the final score was 2-0, the match was full of drama, chances, and VAR decisions. On another day, both teams could’ve easily scored, making it a perfect example of a game where BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals are solid picks for fans and bettors alike.
In the end, Mbappé was the hero again — scoring one and assisting another — showing that even when the stakes aren’t highest, he delivers.
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