UEFA Nations League: Netherlands stun France 2-0, Germany demoted
Football | Nov 17, 2018, 04:17 PM ISTMidfielder Wijnaldum scored just before halftime and Depay converted an audacious stoppage-time penalty as the Dutch overran the world champions.
Midfielder Wijnaldum scored just before halftime and Depay converted an audacious stoppage-time penalty as the Dutch overran the world champions.
It was Germany's sixth loss overall in 2018, and fourth in its last six competitive games after a group-stage exit at the World Cup.
The players stressed Saturday that beating Germany was important because it confirmed that the team is starting to click.
Germany, which successfully hosted the 2006 World Cup, was the long-time favorite and won the UEFA executive committee vote 12-4 against Turkey.
Germany and France headlined the opening night of the UEFA Nations League, it was the 2014 world champion against this year's winner but the upshot was a 0-0 draw.
The 2018 World Cup winner France top the FIFA rankings for the first time in 16 years.
Announcing the news, the 33-year-old striker said that he has fulfilled his childhood dream of gracing the 2018 World Cup.
Kroos, a rare bright spot in a German side that crashed out of the World Cup group stage as title holders, was second last year behind former Bayern Munich teammate Philipp Lahm.
Germany and Bayern Munich's goalkeeper Neuer denied there was any ill-feeling amongst the team towards Ozil after the Arsenal star announced his shocking retirement from international football.
The Arsenal midfielder said that he was quitting the German national football team, citing 'racism' and 'lack of respect' as the main reason to announce his departure.
Ozil attacked the German football federation (DFB), its president, fans and media for what he saw as racism in treating people with Turkish roots.
Loew has been in charge since taking over after the 2006 World Cup, where he was assistant to predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann.
Besides Germany this year, France in 2002, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014 were the previous defending champions to get eliminated in the group stage.
Since FIFA has operated the World Cup with 32 teams, only Chile has advanced to the round of 16 after earning three points in the group stage.
Down to 10 men after Boateng was given a second yellow card, Germany rallied for a 2-1 victory over Sweden as Kroos' free-kick at death gave the defending champions a chance in this World Cup.
Germany takes on Sweden on Saturday in Sochi with hopes of rebounding from the 1-0 loss to Mexico, a defeat that left players and coaches struggling to grasp what went wrong.
As the first week of the World Cup is nearing its end, we analyse the main reasons behind the top team's debacle in their opening matches.
In what can be known as astonishing and flabbergasting, Mexico pulled off one of the biggest upsets as Lozano scored the decisive lone goal to beat defending champions Germany in the group stage.
The world champion's problem this year has been getting all of its talent to work together on the field, and Germany has just one win in its last six friendly games, 2-1 over Saudi Arabia last week.
Spain beat Portugal at the 2010 World Cup, and again in the semifinals of the 2012 European Championship, going on to win the tournament both times.
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