Rapid-fire Wirtz speeds Germany to victory against France / Photo: FRANCK FIFE - AFP
-
Top NBA Draft pick Dybantsa to miss opener with ankle sprain
-
All who profited from fund scandal 'identified': Turkish minister
-
Italy sends troops, toughens security laws after Milan clashes
-
Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS
-
Alberta separatists vow to fight on, risking turmoil for Canada
-
Ronaldo let Man Utd down says Ten Hag
-
Two men re-arrested for suspected spying for Iran in airbase scare: UK police
-
Meta says it complied with Brazil court order to treat candidates equally
-
Guatemalan man gets 30 years for truck smuggling deaths of 53 migrants
-
Inequality is major factor in impact of non-communicable diseases : WHO
-
'Clayface' gets under the skin of the superhero genre
-
Italy to send 500 troops to Milan after clashes
-
Zelensky, US envoys hold Oslo talks as Ukraine claims US missile holdup
-
BBC slashes 100 jobs, closes two channels
-
All-rounder Minhas stars as Pakistan crush England in tri-series
-
Tech jitters lead stocks lower, oil surges then slides
-
Bavuma hits 179, Rabada strikes as South Africa dominate
-
Wild West Wing? Turmoil revives memories of Trump 1.0
-
Allrounder Minhas stars as Pakistan crush England in tri-series
-
Tap water no longer drinkable near South Africa capital
-
Albania PM blames 'hybrid war' for week of unrest
-
Arsenal coach Arteta always a leader, says former teammate Gnabry
-
Bavuma hits 179 to lead South African fightback
-
Investors pledge 230 billion euros at German summit: Merz
-
Solid GM results overshadowed by latest jump in commodity costs
-
Emery adamant injuries 'no excuse' for Aston Villa
-
Houthi attacks undermine Saudi Arabia's economic ambitions
-
UN demands aid access to besieged Yemen city Taiz
-
French PM vows 'massive' police deployment for new demonstrations
-
Faletau still in Tandy's plans despite being left out of Wales squad
-
Power outage hits Google Cloud services, disrupting UK banks
-
Stock markets retreat as oil rises again
-
AI challenges maths by solving the unsolvable
-
Those who profited from fund scandal 'identified': Turkish minister
-
Turkey troops to stay in Syria, Iraq 'until border security ensured', defence minister tells AFP
-
At half a century, Senegal's Orchestra Baobab bets on new generation
-
Kulusevski a 'different man' after emotional Spurs return
-
O'Connor, Sivakov join Seixas at Decathlon CMA CGM
-
Nawaz and Minhas lift Pakistan to 302-9 in England ODI
-
Faletau left out of Wales squad for Nations Championship
-
Mourinho warns no 'untouchable' stars at Real Madrid
-
Rubio says India diversifying oil, trade deal 'very close'
-
Indonesian anger builds over wildfires, toxic haze
-
Kemi Badenoch Proposes Ending Childcare Benefit Cliff Edge
-
Late Okafor Penalty Earns Alvechurch FA Cup Replay
-
More Than 52,000 West Midlands Families Use Tax-Free Childcare
-
Low-Cost Homemade Ideas Offer Alternatives for Halloween Costumes
-
Commanders Fear Serious Knee Injury for Terry McLaurin
-
Christiane Amanpour Plans CNN Departure After 43 Years
-
Rays Beat Guardians 7-3 to Secure World Series Place
Rapid-fire Wirtz speeds Germany to victory against France
Florian Wirtz grabbed his first international goal with a strike that will go down in the history books as his Germany side beat France 2-0 in an international friendly on Saturday.
On the cusp of seven seconds 20-year-old starlet Wirtz stunned the crowd in Lyon to give Germany the lead, before Kai Havertz wrapped up the encounter just after half-time in an impressive display by the Euro 2024 hosts.
Toni Kroos, playing his first international since 2021, received the ball from kick-off and chipped it forward to Leverkusen playmaker Wirtz.
Wirtz ventured forward and as he was not closed down, he unleashed a fierce dipping drive that left Brice Samba glued to the spot as the ball flew under the crossbar with the clock ticking to just seven seconds.
If not for Christoph Baumgartner's lighting strike inside seven seconds earlier on Saturday, Wirtz's goal would have equalled the record for the fastest recorded international goal -- scored in 2013 by compatriot Lukas Podolski.
Four minutes after the break, Havertz slotted the visitors into a two-goal lead that they never looked like relinquishing.
Jamal Musiala was left with far too much space in the box when Wirtz found him with a long pass and the Bayern Munich youngster rounded Samba before laying the ball on a plate for the on-rushing Havertz.
France coach Didier Deschamps rang the changes on the hour mark but without Antoine Griezmann, missing his first international since 2017, the hosts lacked a cutting edge despite the presence of star striker Kylian Mbappe.
It was Julian Nagelsmann's charges who looked the more likely to score the next goal, with only fine saves by Samba denying debutant Maximilian Mittelstaedt and Thomas Mueller.
France nearly halved the deficit in the 88th minute when Mittelstaedt mistimed a clearance on to his own arm, but Antonio Rudiger was on hand to hack the ball off the line and VAR then adjudged the handball inside the box to be unintentional.
Both sides continue their preparations for this summer's European Championship, with France taking on Chile and Germany hosting old rivals Netherlands on Tuesday.
A.Jones--AMWN
