Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller were part of the Bayern contingent playing for Germany against France. | Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Ahead of Euro 2024, this game gave Germany fans plenty of hope for the tournament. Germany, with only two Bayern Munich players in the starting lineup, beat France 0-2 courtesy of goals from Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz. Here is what we observed:
Germany gets the balance right
In so many games, when Germany has been put under pressure, they have quivered and given up goals very quickly. Today, there seemed to be a different feeling about the midfield and backline. Toni Kroos on his return and Robert Andrich held firm even when the French overwhelmed Germany in the first half. The backline hardly put a foot wrong with Joshua Kimmich holding the fort down against Kylian Mbappé for the most part, Jonathan Tah and Antonio Rüdiger calmly working the center and Maximilian Mittelstädt being an absolute delight on the opposite flank. A former Leverkusen star and a current Leverkusen star might be the key to success for Germany
Toni Kroos (yes, he was on loan to Leverkusen from Bayern) brought with him a sharpness and an eye for a deft pass on his return to the national side, settling the midfield next to Andrich. Florian Wirtz drifted into spaces, played delightful passes and just floated on the pitch. His goal was brilliantly taken and it was no surprise that Kroos played the pass to set it up. The conne...