Germany started the game with a bang. Florian Wirtz, perhaps inspired by Christoph Baumgartner’s record-breaking goal earlier in the day, unleashed a vicious effort that cannoned down off the crossbar and in after just seven seconds. The Bayer Leverkusen star was fired the ball direct from kick-off from the returning Toni Kroos before hitting the speculative effort capable by only a player of his extreme confidence.

After the initial setback, France grew into the first half, dominating much of the ball. However, the front three of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Marcus Thuram failed to click and, aside from the former drawing one smart save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen, threatened little.

Going into the break behind, the French needed a strong start to the second period but they appeared noy to have not their lesson from the first. In the 49th minute, Wirtz played the impressive Jamal Musiala over the top who rounded Brice Samba before squaring back to an onrushing Kai Havertz to sweep home.

The Arsenal forward has hit fine form since the turn of the year, scoring in four successive Premier League games, and added yet another goal here. The front three of Havertz, Wirtz and Musiala combined exceptionally well and will take the headlines, but the balanced midfield of Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan and Robert Andrich played France off the park.

Aside from a penalty shout in the 76th minute, France’s attack continued to fall flat. The French failings were epitomised by their closest chance coming through a failed Maximilian Mittelstadt clearance that had to be smashed off the line by Antonio Rudiger in the 86th minute. Germany closed the game out by playing through the French press with their opposition unable to string more than five together.

Germany were excellent and France were disappointing, as Julian Nagelsmann sends out a message before a European Championships on home soil.