The highly anticipated Group F showdown between France and Germany finished with the same score line as when these sides met in the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals and had the identical sole goal scorer. This time around the French came away with the 1-0 victory. One question many fans are asking though is: Did Rudiger bite Pogba?
Moments before the first half ended some legend working on the camera crew caught this intimate moment between Antonio Rudiger and Paul Pogba.
What is Rudiger doing pic.twitter.com/gsMyYBLyz1
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 15, 2021
Take notes people. Foreplay is king. A little nibble near the neck and cheeky nipple squeeze? Now we’re talking! (This is sarcasm, but I honestly couldn’t tell you what Rudiger was thinking.)
Rudiger when he saw Pogba at kick off pic.twitter.com/nYewMleQkN
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) June 15, 2021
Suarez watching Rudiger bite Pogba. #FRAGER pic.twitter.com/DYvgIii9LA
— Jameson (@OnlyFans____) June 15, 2021
Germany figuratively couldn’t sink its teeth into the French side. The Germans didn’t record their first shot on target until the final 20 minutes of the game. To be fair the French also only recorded a single shot on target with Mats Hummels being the only player to put a ball into the back of a net in the 20th minute. Too bad it wasn’t the opposing goal.
MATS HUMMELS OWN GOAL pic.twitter.com/kq9y5DHRF0
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 15, 2021
This was the first own goal for Germany in Euro history.
Hummels somewhat redeemed himself with a goal-saving tackle in the second half.
ELITE TACKLE BY HUMMELS
That pace by Mbappe tho pic.twitter.com/2MbvDqriKm— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 15, 2021
Fans of defensive soccer games must have been grinning ear-to-ear as both defenses withheld attack after attack.
Kylian Mbappe nearly had an iconic moment in the 66th minute when he turned three German defenders into stone as if he was Medusa and curled a shot around Manuel Neuer.
It should be a crime to disallow a goal this good pic.twitter.com/wT08BjFxnB
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 15, 2021
The magical moment was called back for offside and left the score at 1-0. Later in the second half Mbappe was again called offside when he thought he had set up Karim Benzema for a goal.
Twellman keeps talking about the offside like Mbappe wasn’t a mile off pic.twitter.com/ZHjUyOU9as
— Banter FC (@BanterFC5) June 15, 2021
Germany was unable to find an equalizer and suffered an opening game defeat for the second major tournament in a row.
After Tuesday's victory, France sits second in the group behind Portugal. The Portuguese had a late push to dispatch Hungary earlier on Tuesday. Germany will play the Group F leaders on Saturday and will desperately need a result to avoid going out in the group stage of back-to-back major tournaments.
France will take on Hungary on Saturday.
