France tie Germany, Dutch win as Sneijder bows out

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World Cup winners France were held to a 0-0 draw by Germany in Munich in a flat start to the new UEFA Nations League on Thursday.

The heavyweight showdown at the Allianz Arena between the last two winners of the World Cup looked like the perfect game to mark the opening night of the new international competition.

However, on a rainy night in Bavaria, the meeting of the last two world champions never really sparked into life, although the French were grateful to goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for a couple of fine saves in the second half.

Areola was starting in goal in place of the injured Hugo Lloris, winning his first cap in the only change made by France coach Didier Deschamps compared to the side that started the World Cup final win over Croatia in July.

The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper intervened brilliantly to deny Marco Reus and keep out a Matthias Ginter header, while Antoine Griezmann's well-struck shot that was saved by Manuel Neuer was as close as France came.

"I know that we are getting greedy, but a draw in Germany is a good result," Deschamps told French television channel TF1.

Depay bags double in Dutch win as Sneijder bows out

Memphis Depay of Holland (L) who scored two goals in action with Anderson Santamaria of Peru (R) during the match at the Johan Cruijff Arena. /VCG Photo

Wesley Sneijder turned out for the Netherlands for the 134th and final time on Thursday as Memphis Depay's brace secured a 2-1 friendly win over Peru in Amsterdam.

On an emotional night at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Dutch coach Ronald Koeman handed over the captain's armband to Sneijder, who is now 34.

Sneijder, the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan playmaker who moved to Al Gharafa of Qatar earlier this year, took the microphone and encouraged fans to join him for a beer on their way out of the stadium.

A star of the Dutch team that got to the 2010 World Cup final, Sneijder received a warm ovation from the 50,000 fans at the home of Ajax, the club where he began his career.

The most-capped Dutch player of all time, who won his first cap in 2003, leaves behind a team trying to rebuild after failing to qualify for Euro 2016 or the last World Cup.

Netherlands players celebrate the farewell match of Wesley Sneijder after the victory. /VCG Photo

Koeman is trying to build a side capable of making it to Euro 2020 built around Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk and also featuring young Ajax starlet Matthijs de Ligt.

They fell behind against the Peruvians through a Pedro Aquino goal early on, but Lyon forward Depay equalized on the hour mark before netting the winner seven minutes from time.

Koeman later confirmed he would make "several changes" for Sunday's trip to face World Cup winners France in their first match in the new UEFA Nations League.

In other matches, Gareth Bale grabbed center-stage as vibrant Wales tore Ireland apart in the first competitive game of the Ryan Giggs era on Thursday, launching their UEFA Nations League campaign in style with a 4-1 win.

World Cup runner-ups Croatia drew 1-1 with Portugal, Ukraine snatched a late 2-1 win against the Czech Republic.

Source(s): AFP