FRENCH PAY FOR KROOS CONTROL
BY NEIL MCLEMAN RECALLED Toni Kroos wasted no time in returning Germany to winning ways as Euro 2024 favourites France suffered a horrible defeat.
In the same Groupama Stadium in Lyon where Les Bleus kicked a stoppagetime winner against England in the Six Nations, Germany scored from a pre-planned move after only seven seconds.
Kroos (below) found Florian Wirtz with a long ball from kick-off and the in-form Bayer Leverkusen striker (above, with Kai Havertz) netted his first international goal from 25 yards. It was the quickest goal ever scored by Germany, beating the previous record of nine seconds by former Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski against Ecuador in 2013.
Havertz scored the second after the break in the 2-0 victory for the Euro 2024 hosts.
Real Madrid star Kroos, who has been lured back to the German team after nearly three years away, said: “It was an important step forward. It was clear to us with regard to the European Championship that we were getting to the last opportunities to build some confidence and we’ll take that.”
Coach Julian Nagelsmann, who had gone three games without a win, said: “Kroos was unbelievable. We had a very good start and the kick-off was planned exactly that way.
“It was important to protect the lead and after the break we improved further and carved out more chances. I am very satisfied with the way we fought. It is what we wish, to give it all every time.”
Wirtz’s goal also set a new record for the quickest goal scored against France, beating Bryan Robson’s effort after 27 seconds at the 1982 World Cup.
Antoine Griezmann was badly missed as his run of 84 appearances in a row was ended by injury.
France boss Didier Deschamps said: “I didn’t need this match to know the importance of Antoine. I’m not worried.
“I said before the match that it was always good to have difficulties.
“We had quite a few. It should be useful to us.” Incredibly, Wirtz’s goal was not even the quickest of the day after Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner had already scored six seconds into their friendly against Slovakia – the fastest ever in international football.
The RB Leipzig midfielder took the ball in the centre circle before beating three players and slamming home a strike from 25 yards into the bottom corner, leaving stunned Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka to pick the ball out of the net.
Andreas Weimann added a late second for Austria who have been drawn into the group of death for the upcoming Euros this summer – with France, Holland and the winners of Play-off Route A – Wales or Poland – waiting for them in Germany.