The football rivalry between France and Germany is one of the biggest and most heated association football rivalries in Europe. The teams are among the most successful national teams in the world. Previously, it was mostly a one-sided phenomenon since most German fans considered the Netherlands or Italy to be their traditional footballing rivals until the rise of France from the 1990s onward, but the rivalry really began during the UEFA European Championships in the 2010s decade after a series of mere friendlies in the 1990s to 2000s.
Background
The root of France–Germany rivalry could have dated back from the old tensions between France and German Empire after the capture of Paris by Prussian Army in 1870. Since the end of the war, enmity between France and Germany increased, resulted with military arm race and eventually, set up the World War I. During the beginning of war, a peaceful moment, the Christmas truce, where a peaceful football match between French, British and German soldiers occurred. This was considered the first unofficial match between France and Germany.
The countries first played each other in an official international in 1931 when France defeated the Weimar Republic. However, rivalry soon increased with the German invasion of France, and antagonism persisted until the end of World War II. One of the most notable meetings between the two countries came in the 1982 World Cup semi-final, which ended 3–3 after extra time before West Germany won in a penalty shoot-out. Michel Platini himself declared the match as his "most beautiful game".
Matches
Major encounters
1958 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
2014 FIFA World Cup
UEFA Euro 2016
2018–19 UEFA Nations League
UEFA Euro 2020
Statistics
All-time top goalscorers
- As of 12 September 2023
Overall record
- As of 23 March 2024
Note 1: * Germany overcame France in 1982 FIFA World Cup semi-final match via penalty shoot-out.
See also
- France–Germany relations
References
External links
- Germany vs. France: Five of the best clashes between the two countries
