BBC Radio 5 Live

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Former Germany Under-21 international and assistant manager of RB Leipzig, Moritz Volz, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live: "When Hummels and Muller were bombed from the squad it caused outrage.

"The past two years has shown the younger players weren't really able to fill the gap and most people are happy to see them return. Thomas Muller has been so impressive over that period.

"At 31, it is not like he has reached 40 like Lothar Matthaus in his later years.

"I would take most of the France players over the Germans as individuals but in tournaments it is about the group.

"We know we are in a tough group, we are not favourites for the tournament but we know we have a good group of players."

Germany

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Unlucky for some perhaps but also a sign of how consistently good Germany have been down the years

They have won the trophy three times, the most alongside Spain (also three).

And this match, Germany's 50th in the tournament, means they become the first team to reach that notable milestone.

Julien Laurens
French football expert on BBC Radio 5 live

We knew from the beginning that this was what Didier Deschamps had in mind. It has played in two friendlies before the tournament. Without the ball it will move to a 4-3-3 trying to block the Germans down the flank.

It will be a very fluid front three, Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe are the three we wanted to see.

France

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Kylian Mbappe admitted he was "affected" by public comments perceived as criticism from fellow forward Olivier Giroud following a friendly against Bulgaria, but insisted he did not want it to become a distraction for France at Euro 2020.

Tensions surfaced between the two players after Chelsea striker Giroud complained about not receiving the ball often enough during Tuesday's 3-0 win over Bulgaria, in which he scored twice.

"What he said does not bother me more than that,” said Mbappe., external “He expresses a feeling when he speaks. I’m a forward and I’ve had that feeling 365 times in a game, when you feel like you’re not being served.

“It’s more about releasing it publicly. I saw him in the dressing room, I congratulated him on his goals, he didn’t say anything to me. I heard about it in the press. That’s more [important] than what he said – he didn’t say anything bad.”

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd and Aston Villa striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Germany always come to the party, first to arrive and the last to leave.

They are very good in the middle as well. On paper they have really good individuals but as a team they are always difficult to play against, very rigid, organised and stubborn.

I look at the France side and think 'oh wow' there is flair everywhere. Goals everywhere.

It is a big game for Germany they have to make sure it is not a rout because it could quite easily be.

France

If France boss Didier Deschamps lifts the trophy at Euro 2020, he would become the first person ever to win the World Cup and European Championship as player and manager.

That kit from 2000 was one of the all-time greats, by the way.

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BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

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French outlets seem to be erring on the side of caution when it comes to predicting how France will do in the tournament.

FranceInfo has a list, external of “the five times when France started off as the favourite (before crashing spectacularly)”, while Eurosport.fr is weary, external of the rosy prospects.

It says: “So far so good. Very good, even. Too good? Although they haven’t started the competition yet, Les Bleus are surfing on a wave of optimism… Should we celebrate? There’s a real risk that the players are too confident, too full of themselves far too early on.”

Christian Fuchs
Leicester and Austria left-back on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Germany has a great mix of experience and young players. When you can replace players and somebody like Leon Goretzka is not in the team that is a luxury problem.

Germany is simply a tournament team. You have to always have them as a favourite.

Adam Forrest: Buffon and Casillas?

Correct!

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

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Das Bild, external asks if a team can win the Euros without a classic centre forward, with the current German squad devoid of a Gerd Muller, Horst Hrubesch or Oliver Bierhoff.

It notes that no Germans were among the top six scorers in the Bundesliga and says Miroslav Klose was the last German centre forward of “international class”.

“In Russia, there were only two goals (from Marco Reus and Toni Kroos) and the shameful end to that is well known.”

This will be the sixth meeting between France and Germany at a major tournament, but their first in the group stages.

However...

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann: "As a German I would rather see us winning but it will be 1-1.

"In terms of superstars, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Bayern Munich team-mate Thomas Muller who just came back into the team. The Chelsea guys Antonio Rudiger and Kai Havertz have performed at a very high level too.

"The game plan with be five at the back because they know how strong the French guys are going forward.

"Given the last performances of the team, we lost 6-0 against Spain so have to stabilise the defence. We are far behind France and Portugal so if they have worked on it in preparation for the tournament, we have a chance. If not, it is going to be difficult."

'Can Low end on a high?'

Headline writer's dream.

Germany

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To say Joachim Low is in search of some redemption may seem strange to outsiders.

After reaching the Euro 2008 final and a third-place finish at the 2010 World Cup, Low led Germany to claim football's biggest prize in 2014 - their first since 1990.

His 15-year reign as head coach comes to an end at the end of this summer's European Championship, albeit with his reputation having suffered a buffering in recent years and fans demanding his dismissal over the past few seasons.

The 61-year-old announced earlier this year that he will resign after this tournament, with Hansi Flick, his former assistant and ex-Bayern Munich coach, taking over in August.

Read the full piece

Germany

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This is Germanys oldest starting XI (28y, 347d) at a major tournament since Euro 2000 against Romania (30y, 86d).

One of the players taking that average up a bit is Manuel Neuer.

The 35-year-old starts his 100th game for Germany, this evening the first goalkeeper in the nation's history to do so.

Only two European goalkeepers have made more appearances at major international tournaments than Germany's Manuel Neuer (28).

Name them. #bbcfootball, external

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

France are my tips to win the tournament and Germany have not been great of late but I would still hesitate before saying they will get beaten in their own backyard.

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Read more of Lawro's predictions here

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Premier League defender Sylvain Distin: "I would be happy with a 2-1 win for France.

"The squad is a mix of personalities, Karim Benzema rejoined the national team and is an amazing player just because of his quality and performing for Real Madrid season after season.

"France are World Cup holders and it can only be exciting watching them at the moment.

"France are in a position where they are winning, possibly favourites, and will start the game thinking they are going to win. They are not wanting to be defensively strong, just offensively strong. The German team at the moment is rebuilding and want grow confidence."

France

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After an absence from the France squad of nearly six years, Karim Benzema's international exile has been ended by boss Didier Deschamps in time for Euro 2020.

Maybe the threat posed by being drawn in a testing Group F alongside Portugal and Germany twisted Deschamps' arm, or perhaps the Real Madrid striker's form was too good to ignore.

But it presents an intriguing tactical conundrum for the manager - how to integrate yet another world-class player into his World Cup-winning team.

The world champions begin their Euros campaign against Germany in Munich on Wednesday - so what will Benzema bring after such a long absence, and what's changed for him?

Read the full piece

Julien Laurens
French football expert on BBC Radio 5 live

If you have Karim Benzema available, you play him. It is a shame for Olivier Giroud.

He has done really well for the national team but he will be a great asset on the bench to bring something different.

In the line-up there is not really a debate. This has to be the strongest front three that any team in the world can name right now.

Dembele, Coman, Lemar, Giroud, Ben Yedder, Sane, Werner, Volland, Can.

Those benches are absolutely stackeddd!