Big guns start Nations League
2014 World Cup winners Germany will be out to put Russia 2018 behind them.
Not many ordinary football followers and punters would have heard of the UEFA Nations League until the last few weeks and the merits of this new competition are still being widely debated.
But it does guarantee some intriguing matches as national teams get their first opportunity since the World Cup in Russia and the competition kicks off on Thursday, when global champions France go to Munich to meet Germany.
The Nations League replaces friendlies, which would usually be played round this time, with competitive matches and allows countries to play against equally ranked teams.
All Europe’s teams have been divided into four sections based on their rankings with the French and Germans understandably in the top tier.
The four group winners of the top-ranked League A qualify for the UEFA Nations League finals in June 2019. For the remaining sides, there is promotion and relegation to play for, not to mention a potential route to the next European Championship in 2020.
France coach Didier Deschamps made no surprises in his first selection since winning the World Cup in Moscow in mid-July with firm backing to Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and recalling "retired" defender Adil Rami.
Lloris, 31, is on bail and will face a magistrates' court hearing on 11 September in London on a drink driving charge, but has Deschamps’ full backing. "I've spoken with him, he realises his mistake and he's sorry for it," Deschamps said.
Deschamps' squad will feature all the players who starred in the final against Croatia, where Antoine Griezmann gave Les Bleus a 2-1 lead from the penalty spot before further goals from Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe sealed their second World Cup victory 20 years after triumphing at home.
The Germans flopped in Russia but did not fire coach Joggi Low. He controversially left Manchester City’s Leroy Sane out of World Cup side, but has recalled him for Thursday’s game, where the hosts have much to prove.
How much of a hangover from Moscow do France have? That is probably the more pertinent question as you make your TAB bets on the game.