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| Germany vs France: Nations League 2025 Third-Place Match Preview, Kickoff Time, Lineups & Score Prediction. |
After heartbreaking semifinal losses, Germany and France are set to face off in the 2025 UEFA Nations League third-place playoff this Sunday in Stuttgart. While it's not the final either team was dreaming of, there's still plenty of pride on the line in this battle of European giants.
Let’s break it all down—preview, team news, predicted lineups, and of course, score prediction.
So, What Happened in the Semis?
Germany, the host nation, fell short in a tight 2-1 loss to Portugal, despite strong support at home. Meanwhile, France went through an absolute rollercoaster against Spain, eventually losing 5-4 in one of the most chaotic games in Nations League history. Believe it or not, Les Bleus were down 5-1 with just over 20 minutes to go and nearly pulled off the comeback of the century.
France previously lifted the Nations League trophy in 2021, while Germany was hoping to win it for the very first time. Instead, both teams now find themselves battling it out for third place—and a bit of redemption.
Head-to-Head Stats? It’s Neck and Neck
There’s not much separating these two when it comes to recent meetings. Out of their last 10 matches, both teams have 4 wins apiece, with 2 draws in between. Fun fact: Germany actually won the last two encounters, including a 2-0 friendly win back in March 2024.
Match Info: When and Where?
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📍 Venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany
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📅 Date: Sunday, June 8, 2025
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⏰ Kickoff Time: 2:00 PM BST / 9:00 AM ET / 6:00 AM PT
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⚖️ Referee: Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia)
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🎥 VAR: Michael Fabbri (Italy)
Recent Form: Who’s Looking Better?
Germany's last 5 matches:
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Lost 1-2 vs Portugal
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Drew 3-3 vs Italy
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Won 2-1 vs Italy
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Drew 1-1 vs Hungary
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Won 7-0 vs Bosnia
France's last 5 matches:
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Lost 4-5 vs Spain
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Beat Croatia on penalties (2-0, 5-4p)
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Lost 0-2 vs Croatia
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Beat Italy 3-1
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Drew 0-0 vs Israel
Both teams have had their ups and downs, but France definitely has the edge when it comes to firepower.
Germany Team Update
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann isn’t expected to overhaul his squad, but a few tweaks are on the cards. Niclas Füllkrug should replace Nick Woltemade up front, and Pascal Groß could get a start in midfield.
Keep your eyes on Florian Wirtz—the youngster lit up the semis and is reportedly heading to Liverpool this summer. With Jamal Musiala out, Wirtz will be key in leading Germany's attack.
Defensively, Antonio Rüdiger and Nico Schlotterbeck are out, so expect a back three featuring Robin Koch, Waldemar Anton, and Jonathan Tah.
Germany predicted lineup (3-4-2-1):
Ter Stegen; Tah, Koch, Anton; Kimmich, Goretzka, Groß, Mittelstädt; Sané, Wirtz; Füllkrug
France Team Update
On the French side, coach Didier Deschamps might reward Rayan Cherki with a start after his exciting cameo off the bench against Spain. Lucas Hernandez and Aurélien Tchouaméni could also return to add some fresh legs.
While Désiré Doué was a standout in the Champions League final, he may start from the bench in this one. The attacking trio of Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Kylian Mbappé is expected to stay intact.
France predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Maignan; Gusto, Konaté, L. Hernandez, T. Hernandez; Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Cherki, Olise, Dembélé; Mbappé
Where to Watch Germany vs France
Here’s where you can catch the action live:
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USA: fuboTV, Tubi, ViX, Fubo Sports Network
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UK: Amazon Prime Video
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Mexico: Sky Sports
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Canada: Not televised
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Indonesia: Broadcast info TBA (Check local listings or streaming platforms)
Score Prediction: Who Takes the Bronze?
Third-place games usually have less pressure, which means more goals and more fun for neutrals. Germany will have the home crowd, but they’re missing key players and looked shaky at the back against Portugal.
France, on the other hand, have depth and serious attacking options. If they can tighten up defensively, they should be able to edge this one.
Predicted final score:
🇩🇪 Germany 2-3 France 🇫🇷
Even though it's not the grand finale, Germany vs France promises to be an exciting, high-energy showdown. With pride and a bronze medal on the line, expect both teams to go all out—and maybe even treat us to a few more screamers!
Grab your coffee (or your popcorn, depending on the time zone), and enjoy the ride.
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