Julian Nagelsmann has reshuffled Germany's starting lineup for the UEFA Nations League third-place match against France in Stuttgart. The German coach is clearly seeking redemption after his team's 1:2 defeat to Portugal in the semifinal.
"Germany" will feature David Raum at left-back from the opening whistle, while Pascal Gross takes the defensive midfield position. In attack, Karim Adeyemi will operate on the left flank with Niclas Füllkrug leading the line as the central striker.
On the opposite bench, Didier Deschamps has also made significant adjustments following France's disappointing 4:5 loss to Spain. The French tactician has brought Malo Gusto, Loïc Badé, Lucas Hernandez, and Lucas Digne into his defensive line. Aurélien Tchouaméni will anchor the midfield, with Randal Kolo Muani, Amine Gouiri, and Marcus Thuram supporting captain Kylian Mbappé up front.
Interestingly, both coaches have opted for extensive changes rather than sticking with their semifinal lineups. Is this a sign of experimentation or a genuine push for that third-place finish?
Germany's bench looks particularly strong with Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry, and Robin Gosens among those ready to make an impact. Marc-André ter Stegen retains his place in goal despite conceding twice against Portugal. For the French, Mike Maignan gets the nod between the posts.
Worth noting that both these footballing powerhouses will be keen to end their Nations League campaign on a high note. After all, no one remembers who finished fourth, do they?
