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Euro 2020's biggest match so far was a scrappy yet thrilling affair that was settled by a calamitous own goal

Jun 16, 2021, 03:57 IST
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Mats Hummels own goal proved the difference on the night.Getty/TF Images
  • Euro 2020 favourite France beat Germany 1-0 courtesy of a calamitous own goal from Mats Hummels.
  • The German defender bundled the ball into his own net while trying to defend a cross.
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Euro 2020 favourite France beat Germany 1-0 courtesy of a calamitous own goal from Mats Hummels in a scrappy yet thrilling match at the Allianz Arena.

Despite an enormous amount of talent on show from both sides, neither could find their feet early on, with passes being regularly misplaced and the ball rebounding from end to end.

The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute, however, when Germany defender Hummels bundled the ball into his own net as he tried to defend a cross from France's Lucas Hernandez.

The Borussia Dortmund star couldn't sort his feet out as Hernandez's cross flew across the six yard box, with the ball rebounding off his shin and into the top corner.

In the second half, France had the ball in the German net twice more - first through Kylian Mbappe and then through Karim Benzema - however both goals were ruled out for offside.

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Germany had chances of its own on the night, most notably for Serge Gnabry, who fired over from close range just after the break, but Joachim Low's side could not find a way through the French defence, which was led masterfully by Real Madrid's Rafael Varane.

The win for France sees the reigning world champion move into second place in Group F behind Portugal, which beat minnows Hungary 3-0 earlier in the day.

A mad night in Munich

The night's first contentious issue came with just moments to play in the first half, when Germany defender Antonio Rudiger appeared to bite France's Paul Pogba.

While marking the Manchester United star, Rudiger appeared to open his mouth on the back of Pogba's shoulder, though replays of the incident proved inconclusive.

In the 58th minute, Rudiger's compatriot Robin Gosens then clattered into Benjamin Pavard while jumping for a header, with the German's thigh smashing into the Frenchman's head.

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Pavard appeared to be have been knocked out by the clash and needed medical attention but was eventually able to play on.

Gosens was not sanctioned.

Pavard needed medical attention after the collision with Gosens.Getty/Matthias Hangst

It wasn't just the players that were causing havoc, however.

Prior to the match, a Greenpeace protestor had parachuted into the stadium, shedding equipment as he crashed to the pitch before being hurried away by security.

Video footage shows the man almost crashing into the crowd before he landed. His parachute had the words "Kick out oil" written on it.

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Archie Rhind-Tutt, a journalist inside the stadium, tweeted: "Protester has just parachuted in. Nearly crashed into fans here in the stadium.

"Saw something with Greenpeace on his parachute. Smacked into a big line overhead. Managed to just steer it out of the fans and land on the pitch. Then taken away by security.

"Very close to disaster that. Thought it was just someone delivering the matchball at first.

"Big chunk of his machine was clipped off by TV cameras as he reached the pitch. Then Toni Rudiger seemed to ask him if he was OK."

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