France–Germany Football Rivalry

Previously, it was mostly a one-sided phenomenon since most German fans considered the Netherlands or Italy to be their traditional footballing rivals until the rise of France from the 1990s onward, but the rivalry really began during the UEFA European Championships in the 2010s decade after a series of mere friendlies in the 1990s to 2000s.^{[citation needed]}

France–Germany football rivalry

Location	Europe (UEFA)
Teams	France  Germany
First meeting	15 March 1931 Friendly France 1–0 Germany
Latest meeting	23 March 2024 Friendly France 0–2 Germany
Statistics
Meetings total	34
Most wins	France (15)
Top scorer	Antoine Griezmann (5 goals)
All-time series	France: 15 Draw: 8 Germany: 11
Largest victory	West Germany 5–1 France Friendly 27 September 1967
France Germany

The root of France–Germany rivalry could have dated back from the old tensions between France and German Empire after the capture of Paris by Prussian Army in 1870. Since the end of the war, enmity between France and Germany increased, resulted with military arm race and eventually, set up the World War I. During the beginning of war, a peaceful moment, the Christmas truce, where a peaceful football match between French, British and German soldiers occurred. This was considered the first unofficial match between France and Germany.

The countries first played each other in an official international in 1931 when France defeated the Weimar Republic. However, rivalry soon increased with the German invasion of France, and antagonism persisted until the end of World War II. One of the most notable meetings between the two countries came in the 1982 World Cup semi-final, which ended 3–3 after extra time before West Germany won in apenalty shoot-out. Michel Platini himself declared the match as his "most beautiful game".

All-time top goalscorers

As of 12 September 2023

Nation	Player	Goals	Years
	Antoine Griezmann	5	2014–present
	Just Fontaine	4	1958
	Rudi Völler	3	1982–1994
	Gerd Müller	3	1966–1974

Overall record

As of 23 March 2024

• France–Germany relations