Euro 2016 - Germany 0-2 France: 5 Talking Points

#2 Germany guilty of defensive errors following Boateng’s departure

Boateng’s injury was the turning point of the match

Germany were chasing the game in the second half and their task was made all the more difficult when Jerome Boateng – who has been a wall for Germany in defence – was forced to withdraw from the game due to a muscle injury. His replacement Shkodran Mustafi filled in at centre-back alongside Benedikt Howedes.

As a result, Germany found themselves playing with two second-choice centre-halves owing to Boateng’s injury and Mats Hummels’ suspension. The lack of an authoritative figure in defence proved very costly indeed, as rudimentary errors from Joshua Kimmich and rather surprisingly, Manuel Neuer culminated in France’s killer second goal and sealed Germany’s fate.