Often divided by war and politics, France and Germany also have a longstanding rivalry on the football pitch, with the balance of power swaying both ways down the years.

Les Bleus may have won the first meeting, back in 1931, but after World War II they struggled to defeat the mighty Germans until their mid-90s heyday. Since then, the two nations have traded several blows, with France edging ahead on the overall ledger.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings.

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 34

France wins: 15

Draws: 8

Germany wins: 11

The rivalry kicked off with a French friendly win in March 1931, but it was some 27 years later that the first major meeting took place.

At the 1958 World Cup – dominated by Brazil and headlined by rising star Pele – it was legendary striker Just Fontaine that grabbed the glory in a third-place playoff, scoring twice in either half as Les Blues ran out 6-3 winners.

There was another big gap before the pair reconvened on football’s grandest stage, at the 1982 global finals hosted by Spain.

One of the World Cup’s most infamous matches took place in Seville, with West Germany winning via a penalty shootout after German goalkeeper Toni Schumacher had recklessly broken the jaw and ribs of French defender Patrick Battiston.

Level at 1-1 when the incident occurred, France initially used their fury at the referee’s choice not to take action, going 3-1 ahead in extra time; but they let that lead slip late on. Long considered the most painful defeat in French football history, perhaps it has only been supplanted by losing an incredible final to Argentina in 2022.

With a new taste for defeating their old foes, Germany knocked France out of the semi-finals again four years later in Mexico, with goals from Rudi Voller and Andreas Brehme taking them into the final.

The nations then squared off in numerous friendlies before their first significant encounter of the 21st century.

Having waited three decades to get revenge, Les Bleus were beaten again by their German counterparts at the 2014 World Cup: Mats Hummels scored the goal that decided a tense quarter-final clash at the Maracana, and Die Nationalelf went on to claim global glory.

After such an epic wait was extended, it took only two more years for France to finally turn the tide, with Antoine Griezmann‘s brace in Marseille separating the sides at Euro 2016.

Griezmann again struck twice as the French won at home in the inaugural UEFA Nations League, having previously drawn 0-0 in Munich, where the pair met again at the delayed Euro 2020 finals.

This time, Hummels scored at the wrong end to help France top the tournament’s ‘Group of Death’ above the Germans, plus Portugal and Hungary.

Since then, Germany have won two friendlies – in Dortmund and Lyon – thereby starting to close their deficit on the overall head-to head record.

Last 20 meetings

July 8, 1982: West Germany 3-3 France (5–4 on pens) (World Cup Semi-Final)

April 18, 1984: France 1–0 West Germany    (Friendly)

June 25, 1986: France 0–2 West Germany (World Cup Semi-Final)

August 12, 1987: West Germany 2–1 France (Friendly)

February 28, 1990: France 2–1 West Germany (Friendly)

June 1, 1996: Germany 0–1 France (Friendly)

February 27, 2001: France 1–0 Germany (Friendly)

November 15, 2003: Germany 0–3 France (Friendly)

November 12, 2005: France 0–0 Germany (Friendly)

February 29, 2012: Germany 1–2 France (Friendly)

February 6, 2013: France 1–2 Germany (Friendly)

July 4, 2014: France 0–1 Germany (World Cup

November 13, 2015: France 2–0 Germany (Friendly)

July 7, 2016: Germany 0–2 France (European Championship)

November 14, 2017: Germany 2–2 France (Friendly)

September 6, 2018: Germany 0–0 France (UEFA Nations League)

October 16, 2018: France 2–1 Germany (UEFA Nations League)

June 15, 2021: France 1–0 Germany (European Championship)

September 12, 2023: Germany 2–1 France (Friendly)

March 23, 2024: France 0–2 Germany (Friendly)

Previous UEFA Nations League meetings

September 6, 2018: Germany 0–0 France (Group Stage)

October 16, 2018: France 2–1 Germany (Group Stage)

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