Uefa Nations League: France fight back against Germany while Wales beat Republic of Ireland

Antoine Griezmann scored twice in the second half as world champions France came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 in their Nations League clash and increase the pressure on Joachim Low.

Germany looked to have produced the required response from a 3-0 defeat in Holland on Saturday, which left them in danger of relegation, as Toni Kroos slotted in a penalty just before the break.

Les Bleus, though, regrouped following the restart, as Griezmann equalised just after the hour with a well-taken looping header.

The Atletico Madrid frontman then kept his cool to convert from the spot with 10 minutes left following a somewhat controversial penalty.

It was a sixth defeat in the past 10 games for Low’s squad, who crashed out of the group stages at the World Cup in Russia and remain bottom of their Nations League table with just one point from three matches.

France, meanwhile, look set to progress as winners of Group One, now they are four points clear of Holland.

Elsewhere, Harry Wilson curled home a stunning free-kick as Ryan Giggs‘ Welsh understudies made light of the absence of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey to deepen the Republic of Ireland’s woes.

The Derby winger left keeper Darren Randolph rooted to the spot as his 58th-minute strike secured a 1-0 Nations League victory for Wales.

The result piled the pressure on Ireland boss Martin O’Neill amid boos on the final whistle at the Aviva Stadium.

Re-live the action below:


2018-10-16T16:43:23.706Z

Welcome!

Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s Uefa Nations League offering.

We’ll be bringing you the latest build up to Republic of Ireland vs Wales and France vs Germany with the breaking team news expected to drop at around 6:45 BST. 


2018-10-16T17:41:57.346Z

TEAM NEWS

The lineups have been confirmed in Dublin.

The Republic of Ireland have made a couple of changes to the starting XI that drew with Denmark on Saturday. 


2018-10-16T17:44:31.283Z

TEAM NEWS

Wales make five changes to their team from last Thursday’s defeat to a rampant Spain. In come James Chester, Matthew Smith, Tom Lawrence, Tyler Roberts and David Brooks, who produced their best moment of the Spain game off the bench with a lovely outside-of-the-foot cross.


2018-10-16T17:50:34.893Z

TEAM NEWS

News from Paris.

The home side drew with Iceland in a friendly last week, and Didier Deschamps makes several changes for this high-profile fixture. Kylian Mbappe, Blaise Matuidi, N’Golo Kante and Lucas Hernandez all return.

There is just a sole alteration between this lineup and the one that started the World Cup Final – Presnel Kimpembe starts at centre-back with Samuel Umtiti sidelined due to a knee injury.


2018-10-16T17:53:15.053Z

TEAM NEWS

Visitors Germany suffered a shock 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands on Saturday. In come Niklas Sule, Thilo Kehrer, Nico Schulz, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane. 


2018-10-16T18:13:41.650Z

Both of tonight’s fixtures are Nations League games.

France and Germany are in Group A1 along with the Netherlands. Each of the three teams has played two games and France are the early leaders on four points, with Germany trailing with just a solitary point gained at home against their opponents tonight.

Wales and Ireland are in Group B4 with Denmark. Wales have three points and Ireland just the one, and they have similarly both played two games.


2018-10-16T18:15:35.860Z

Here’s a handy reminder of how the Nations League works written ahead of the start of the competition:


2018-10-16T18:22:04.906Z

Joachim Löw will recognise the need for a result tonight. Germany group stage World Cup exit would have spelled the end for most managers, but Löw had enough credit in the bank to survive and move on to the next cycle.

But results since the tournament have continued to disappoint, and now Löw is believed to be under serious pressure. An away win against the World Champions would do nicely to keep the wolves away for the time being, you feel…


2018-10-16T18:28:02.796Z

Martin O’Neill is never shy of giving his unfiltered opinion, and ahead of this game has admitted his side do not stand up favourably technically against most of their opponents. He hopes the heart of his Republic of Ireland side shines through and secures victory.

Wales are two of their most influential players with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey both absent from the team for the first time in ten years, but still have plenty of young talent capable of worrying Ireland’s three centre-backs. It could be a tight one, this.

KICK OFF


2018-10-16T18:47:28.543Z

The game is underway at the Stade De France in Paris.

KICK OFF


2018-10-16T18:48:20.203Z

And things are up and running at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, too.


2018-10-16T18:50:18.000Z

France 0-0 Germany, 4 minutes

Antoine Griezmann slices a half-volley from distance well wide.


2018-10-16T18:53:18.840Z

Ireland 0-0 Wales, 5 minutes

Quiet start in Dublin. Neither side has really found their footing yet.


2018-10-16T18:55:13.310Z

France 0-0 Germany, 8 minutes

Kylian Mbappe shows his simply freakish pace to surge away and play a long one-two with Olivier Giroud. 
 

He cuts inside the full-back but can’t find a telling cross.


2018-10-16T18:56:17.460Z

Ireland 0-0 Wales, 8 minutes

Ireland starting to knit some nice passing patterns and they earn a corner.

Shane Duffy is always a threat from set-pieces and the Brighton defender rises well but his header loops up and Wayne Hennessey claims.


2018-10-16T18:57:45.723Z

Ireland 0-0 Wales, 9 minutes

Huge save from Hennessey!

Matthew Smith is unaware of Cyrus Christie and the Fulham man nips in. He curls one low to the far post but Hennessey just about manages to get fingertips to his effort and divert it wide.


2018-10-16T19:00:05.650Z

France 0-0 Germany, 13 minutes

PENALTY GERMANY!
 

Leroy Sane gets to the byline and looks to cutback, but it hits the sliding Presnel Kimpembe and the referee points to the spot.

GOAL!


2018-10-16T19:01:10.930Z

GOAL! France 0-1 Germany (Kroos penalty, 14 minutes)

Hugo Lloris guess left and guesses right, and should save Kroos’ side footed penalty. It flicks off his fingertips and in. A taller keeper may well have kept that out. 

Germany lead early on.


2018-10-16T19:03:15.840Z

Ireland 0-0 Wales, 15 minutes

Plenty of youth in the Wales midfield but they are applying themselves well so far against a more experienced Irish team. The game has settled into a holding pattern of sorts with neither side overcommitting.

YELLOW CARD


2018-10-16T19:04:38.193Z

Ireland 0-0 Wales, 16 minutes

Ireland have made a few late challenges on the spritely David Brooks so far, and Kevin Long of Burnley gets a booking for the latest transgression.

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