The Nations League finals wrapped up with a solid performance from France, who secured third place after beating Germany 2-0 in Stuttgart on Sunday.

This game marked a chance for both teams to end the tournament on a high note, especially for Germany, the hosts, who were eager to bounce back after their semi-final loss.

Mbappe Shines with His 50th International Goal

France took the lead right before halftime thanks to their captain, Kylian Mbappe.

After a great long pass from Aurelien Tchouameni, Mbappe controlled the ball perfectly and finished calmly to score his 50th goal for France—an impressive milestone that puts him just one behind Thierry Henry in the all-time French scoring charts.

That goal gave France the edge going into the break.

Controversy as Germany’s Equalizer Is Overturned

Germany looked to respond quickly after the break, and Deniz Undav seemed to have leveled the score early in the second half.

However, after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to a foul in the build-up by Niclas Fuellkrug.

That decision kept France ahead and in control of the match.

France Controls the Game Despite German Pressure

While Germany pushed forward, France remained composed and could have extended their lead earlier.

Manuel Neuer and some unlucky woodwork kept Germany in the game longer than they probably should have been.

But late in the match, Mbappe showed his playmaking skills by setting up Michael Olise, the Bayern Munich forward, who calmly tapped the ball in to seal the win and the third-place finish for France.

Looking Ahead to the Nations League Final

With France celebrating their victory, the focus now shifts to the Nations League final where Portugal and Spain will face off later on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Germany will have to regroup after tasting defeat for the first time since last year’s European Championship, courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s winner in their previous match.