Germany start to win back old friends after drawing with champions France

• Germany 0-0 France

Germany were greeted by a heart-shaped flag formation in the stands when they walked out and while a patchy evening’s entertainment will not bring the love back unreservedly, this may prove the night their rehabilitation began. They finished this match on top, thwarted only by an outstanding series of saves from the France goalkeeper Alphonse Areola; until then it had not been the classic Uefa’s suits might have sought from a Nations League opener but Joachim Löw will be sufficiently encouraged that 12 years’ work did not completely unravel in Russia.

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