why the Blues excelled against Germany

First game, first reviews. The Blues, on Tuesday night, won with a goal to zero against Germany, at the Allianz Arena, between Bayern Munich. During a very large part of the meeting, the France team left the ball to the Mannschaft, to say that it only suffered would be really very reductive.

However, this is what we can read here and there this Wednesday morning. Some say they are disappointed, others frustrated, by a team which has a very high level of staff and which would have ” put the bus down “. We understand them, but this is not necessarily the reality. Moreover, their evening opponents, except perhaps the Atalanta player Robin Gosens, greeted a nice match of the band to Didier Deschamps and they were even proud of their performance.

We can also understand them. Throughout this great confrontation, very technical, tactical and athletic, the Germans had possession of the leather (62%, 65% in the second half) and they are also ahead at the level of expected goals (0.43 against 0.11). This is exactly where the Blues were excellent. Despite possession of the ball, the Germans have framed only one attempt (out of four) like the France team. Dangerous situations, the Löw players did not really have.

The Blues won the duels

This owes in part to the power of the midfielder (Pogba-Rabiot-Kanté) and a very solid defense. In the fight, and we expected these duels, the Blues were much better (25 won, including 13 for the only Pogba, against 19). Consequently, the Germans had more bullet losses (70 against 62).

In addition, as we know, the French are very technical. In terms of dribbling, the world champions are still ahead (75% successful against 14%). If they made fewer passes (198 against 358), fruit of the game against fast transitions, they were the most dangerous. The two goals (one from Mbappé and one from Benzema), rightly refused for offside, could have increased the score. As in 2018, the Habs were strong and lethal and, despite everything, mastered their subject very well.