In a stunning display of footballing brilliance, Germany put France to the sword in Lyon with a 2-0 victory. Yet, the true highlight of the match was a historic feat: Florian Wirtz scoring Germany's fastest international goal ever.
History Made in Seven Seconds
A mere seven seconds into the match, 20-year-old Wirtz silenced the Lyon crowd with a strike of pure audacity. Receiving a chipped pass from the masterful Toni Kroos, Wirtz saw an opening and unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot. France's Brice Samba watched helplessly as the ball dipped under the crossbar, etching Wirtz's name into the record books for Germany's fastest international goal ever.
The goal nearly mirrored Lukas Podolski's famed seven-second strike in 2013, further underscoring Germany's knack for lightning-fast finishes.
Germany Dominates, Havertz Seals the Deal
The early goal wasn't a stroke of luck. Germany controlled the match, and four minutes into the second half, Kai Havertz doubled their lead in a move that spoke to their finesse. Wirtz picked out Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala with a pinpoint long pass. Musiala found ample space, rounded Samba, and set up Havertz for an easy tap-in.
Toothless France Offers Meager Resistance
France coach Didier Deschamps shuffled his lineup, but even star striker Kylian Mbappe couldn't ignite the attack. Missing the creativity of Antoine Griezmann (out for his first international match since 2017), France's offense lacked the bite needed to break through Germany's defense.
Germany: The Team to Beat?
Germany, under the leadership of coach Julian Nagelsmann, looked ruthlessly efficient. Stellar saves from Samba were the only thing preventing a rout. France had a lifeline in the 88th minute when a handball in the box was reviewed by VAR but deemed unintentional.
Eyes on Euro 2024
This friendly served as a warm-up for both sides ahead of the European Championships. France squares off against Chile, while Germany will face off against rivals the Netherlands in a hotly anticipated clash. Based on this performance, Germany, with its potent mix of experience and rising stars, could be a force to be reckoned with come tournament time.
The Fastest Goals: A Legacy of German Precision
Florian Wirtz's record-breaking goal is a testament to Germany's reputation for swift attacking transitions. Coupled with Podolski's similarly speedy strike, it's a pattern opposing teams dare not ignore when facing the German machine. When it comes to Germany's fastest international goal ever, Wirtz has claimed his place in footballing history.
