Florian Wirtz etched his name into the annals of football history with a sensational strike that set the tone for Germany’s 2-0 victory over France in an international friendly. The 20-year-old rising star wasted no time, stunning the crowd in Lyon with a goal just on the brink of seven seconds into the match. Receiving a precise chip forward from Toni Kroos, Wirtz unleashed a ferocious dipping drive that left the French goalkeeper rooted to the spot, marking a remarkable start to the encounter for the Euro 2024 hosts.
Reflecting on his historic goal, Wirtz expressed his disbelief and joy, emphasizing the significance of such a perfect start to the match. His goal, coming so early in the game, injected a surge of confidence into the German side, setting the stage for an impressive performance. However, Wirtz narrowly missed equaling the record for the fastest recorded international goal, falling short by mere seconds to Christoph Baumgartner’s lightning strike earlier on the same day.
Germany doubled their lead early in the second half, courtesy of Kai Havertz, who capitalized on a well-worked team move orchestrated by Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. Despite France’s attempts to stage a comeback, including substitutions by coach Didier Deschamps, they struggled to break through Germany’s resilient defense, missing the creativity of Antoine Griezmann.
Julian Nagelsmann’s charges maintained their dominance throughout the match, creating several scoring opportunities and thwarting France’s late attempts to claw back into the game. With both teams continuing their preparations for the upcoming European Championship, Germany’s impressive display against one of Europe’s footballing powerhouses serves as a significant morale boost as they aim to make an impact on the international stage.