On 8 June 2025, two of Europe’s greatest football nations – Germany and France clashed in the Nations League third-place play-off. Each entered a strong lineup because it was an opportunity to play for bronze after failing to reach the final.

The lineups taken together are a reflection not just of the coaches’ plans for this game but also of how they approach it, and there are subtle but important differences in style and outlook between the German and French squads. They both leaned on a blend of veteran stars and rising starlets.

Starting Lineups

Germany (4-1-3-2 Formation)

Germany fielded players with a classic back four, holding midfielder and creative players that are for links and breaking lines between France midfielders.

Goalkeeper

• Marc-André ter Stegen — Commanding presence between the posts and crucial in organizing the defence.
  

Defenders

• Joshua Kimmich (Captain) — Anchored the midfield when necessary but also contributed defensively; tactically versatile.
• Robin Koch — Solid and composed, reading the game and maintaining defensive shape.
• Jonathan Tah — Aerially strong and calm in build-up play, essential in duels with rapid attackers.
• David Raum — Full-back providing width and support on the left flank.
  

Midfield

• Pascal Groß — Operated as a deeper midfielder with defensive responsibilities.
• Leon Goretzka — Box-to-box engine, providing drive and physicality between defence and attack.
• Florian Wirtz — Creative force in the attacking midfield with vision and forward pace.
  

Attack

• Nick Woltemade — Played as part of the attack with pace and directness.
• Karim Adeyemi — A fast, dynamic forward tasked with stretching France’s defence.
• Niclas Füllkrug — Target striker, strong in hold-up play and presence in the box.
  

Substitutes used:

• Deniz Undav
• Serge Gnabry
• Tom Bischof
• Maximilian Mittelstädt
  (used at various stages to add fresh legs and different attacking options)
  

France (4-2-3-1 Formation)

France’s lineup highlighted their traditional reliance on fluid attacking players and technically gifted midfielders. They set up to control possession, use quick transitions and exploit spaces behind the German defence.

Goalkeeper

• Mike Maignan — One of France’s most reliable shot-stoppers, commanding his area.
  

Defenders

• Malo Gusto — Energetic right-back with attacking support responsibilities.
• Loïc Badé — Physical centre-back with good positioning.
• Lucas Hernandez — Experienced defender, strong in duels.
• Lucas Digne — Left-back focused on overlapping runs and crosses.
  

Midfield

• Aurélien Tchouaméni — Midfield anchor, strong in duels and passing.
• Adrien Rabiot — Central midfielder with both defensive and creative duties.
  

Attacking Midfield / Forward Roles

• Randal Kolo Muani — Played as a wide forward with trickery and pace.
• Rayan Cherki — Creative and unpredictable, offering flair in the attacking third.
• Marcus Thuram — Strong presence in the wide forward role, linking midfield to the striker.
• Kylian Mbappé (Captain) — The focal point of attack, lethal in one-on-one situations and scoring opportunities.
  

Substitutes used:

• Michael Olise
• Manu Koné
• Désiré Doué

       Used to inject additional attacking threat and fresh creativity later in the match.

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Tactical Comparison & Roles

Defensive Organisation

• Germany opted for a disciplined structure with the emphasis on shape and resilience. With Kimmich in the heart of both defence and midfield, they sought to be compact.
• France played with a back four of ball-playing and dribbling defenders. Their midfield partnership was trying to dictate the tempo and keep the ball moving.

Midfield Battle

The battle in the middle of the park was key:

• Germany’s midfield balance that mixed Goretzka’s energy with Wirtz’s creativity and Groß’s discipline.
• The access point of Tchouaméni and Rabiot was to stifle German forward play, but also trigger French attacks.

Attacking Strategy

• Germany: Adeyemi and Woltemade, the latter playing in wide positions then central ones to stretch backline cover out and open up space for penetrating balls as well.
• France: over-reliance on Kylian Mbappé’s pace, movement and finishing was supplemented only by the free-form inventiveness of Cherki, Kolo Muani.

Substitutions and Strategic Adjustments

The substitutions on both sides speak to coaching emphasis:

• Germany also made attacking substitutions with Serge Gnabry and Deniv Undav to change the dynamic of their attack when chasing the game.
• France subs, such as Michael Olise, were introduced to keep attacking legs fresh and run at tired defenders. It paid off when Olise scored late in the match.

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Match Outcome

Germany had tried hard but they eventually fell 0-2 to France, whose goals came through:

• Kylian Mbappé (45’) — Cool as you like to get the goal scoring going.
• Michael Olise (84’) — Pounced late to secure the win for France.

Why the Lineup Choices Mattered

Both sides named starting XIs that included:

• Germany sought more tactical balance and transitional play — trying to be solid yet creative through midfield and wing support.
• France’s high-tempo, attacking focus and forward mobility — deploying technical runners and the explosiveness of Mbappé to threaten goals.

Those lineups also underscored the contrasts in footballing philosophy —German discipline versus French flair — and lent a tactical angle to this age-old international rivalry.

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Germany vs France Lineups – FAQs

Q	A
1. When did Germany and France play in the UEFA Nations League in 2025?	They played on June 8, 2025 in the third-place playoff of the UEFA Nations League. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
2. Who was in Germany’s starting lineup on June 8, 2025?	Germany started with Marc-André ter Stegen (GK), Joshua Kimmich, Robin Koch, Jonathan Tah, David Raum, Pascal Groß, Leon Goretzka, Florian Wirtz, Nick Woltemade, Karim Adeyemi, and Niclas Füllkrug. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
3. Who were France’s starters in that same match?	France fielded Mike Maignan, Malo Gusto, Loïc Badé, Lucas Hernández, Lucas Digne, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot, Randal Kolo Muani, Rayan Cherki, Marcus Thuram, and Kylian Mbappé. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
4. Did Germany or France make substitutions in that 2025 match?	Yes — both teams used several substitutes during the game, including Tom Bischof and Serge Gnabry for Germany and Michael Olise and Manu Koné for France. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
5. Which formation did Germany use in that Nations League game?	Germany typically lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in the match against France. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
6. Who scored goals in that France win?	Kylian Mbappé scored before halftime and Michael Olise added a second goal in the 84th minute. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
7. What was the final result of the 2025 Nations League match?	France beat Germany 2-0. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
8. What was a notable Germany vs France lineup from 2023?	In September 2023, Germany started players like Marc-André ter Stegen, Jonathan Tah, Leroy Sané, and Thomas Müller, while France included players such as Mike Maignan, William Saliba, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Antoine Griezmann. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
9. Who captained Germany and France in the 2025 match?	Joshua Kimmich captained Germany and Kylian Mbappé captained France. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
10. Are these lineups consistent across all Germany vs France games?	Not always — lineups vary depending on tactics, player fitness, and management decisions in friendly matches and competitive fixtures. Historical matches have had different formations and starters. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
11. Who was Germany’s goalkeeper in June 2025?	Germany’s starting goalkeeper was Marc-André ter Stegen. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
12. Did France change any key attackers in that 2025 match?	Yes — substitutes like Michael Olise came on and made an impact, scoring France’s second goal. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}