The decisive goal, or rather own goal by Mats Hummels was enough to give France a 1-0 victory over Germany in their opening Euro 2020 Group F match as the sluggish-looking hosts lost their opening fixture at the European Championship for the first time.

Hummels, who had a pretty miserable night against Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Mbappe also had goals disallowed for offside in the second half. But France’s real stars were in midfield - in very different ways, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Adrien Rabiot were superb.

Germany were purposeful at times, desperate at others, and might need to think about whether their 3-4-3 system gets the best out of certain players. Yet they still had enough chances to draw the game, and I’d be loath to bury them. As Hugh McIlvanney once wrote, they could be very awkward revenants.

The Germans showed renewed purpose and vigour in the second half a first half after a fairly subdued opening 45, but could not find a way past French 'keeper Lloris. They had only one shot on target and have lost the opening game of a European Championship campaign for the first time in their history. France will next take on Hungary on June 19, while Germany will face Portugal on the same day.