HOW FRANCE BEAT GERMANY | EURO 2020 TACTICAL ANALYSIS

Описание: France came away with a massive three points in their EURO 2020 opener against Germany on Tuesday. In a match that some expected to be a back-and-forth affair, France looked the comfortable side for most of the match - how did they do it?
______________________________________________________
My video notes 🔽

France (4-1-2-1-2): Lloris; Hernandez, Varane, Kimpembe, Pavard; Kante; Pogba, Rabiot; Griezmann; Benzema, Mbappe
Germany (3-4-2-1): Neuer; Rüdiger, Hummels, Ginter; Gosens, Kroos, Gundogan, Kimmich; Havertz, Muller; Gnabry

A bit confused by Germany's decision to use Kimmich at RWB - he's their best midfielder
I understand that Germany wanted to use three centrebacks, but Kimmich shouldn't have been the one to lose out
I would've played in a 4 back with Kimmich as a CDM and don't attack with one fullback, then in possession he can move to CDM and Germany still have 3 CBs
maybe even as a RCB who could advance up the pitch (Walker-esque?)

In Possession
Griezmann plays a massively important role in linking defense with attack
playing as a no.10, drops to the ball when France win the ball back and looks to link with someone ahead
Kante's presence allows Pogba to march up the pitch and be more creative
Kante is a "one-man wrecking crew" (Twellman) which allows the other two midfielders to advance
Pogba was able to get into more creative positions and he put in a man of the match performance. Doesn't have that freedom at United
Fluid in attack (heat maps)
Benzema, Griezmann and Mbappe all just move to where the ball is and link up with each other
Mbappe usually stays on the left side, but the other two will literally go anywhere
Causes fits for the defense because they don't know who to pick up or where they'll go
lightning quick on the counter, led by Mbappe
how they got the second goal (later ruled out)- team sat back, Pogba found Mbappe who was sitting on the last defender and played across for Benzema
Movement off the ball allowed for quick ball progression
Everyone knew where everyone else was, and as soon as a player made a pass, they made a move into space
Sometimes, France was able to get the ball from the defensive third to the attacking third with three or four touches

Out of Possession
France content with sitting back and giving Germany possession of the ball, not pressing in the attacking half, brought Germany onto them
Did this for a number of reasons...
Germany attacking players love to work in space. Getting in behind, dribbling at defenders, using pace to beat a man
France sat deep and compact, which limited both the space in behind and the space in the half-spaces
Forced Germany's attacking players to play with defenders in front of them - not their biggest strength
Allowed France to congest the middle of the pitch and then press
The 4-4-2 low block forced Germany to play quickly through them if they wanted to play through the middle, but France made it extremely difficult. When Germany played the ball wide, France's wide players pressed to win the ball back and send Mbappe or Benzema running.
Made them more dangerous on the counter
Mbappe and Benzema stayed with Germany's back line, and when France won the ball back, they were shot out of a cannon
Playmakers like Pogba and Kante had no problem picking out a pass - France got a goal this way but it was ruled out for offside.
When Germany were set up in France's half, the wingbacks were high up the flanks, making it a 2v3 at the back. While that's still a numerical advantage... it's Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema.
The reason why Germany couldn't beat them through the middle was because France was extremely disciplined - kept their shape while still being relentless when the ball entered the central channels
specifically Varane and Kimpembe, but also players like Kante and Griezmann
they're so quick to the ball, but they stay organized
Raphael Varane was my man of the match