Germany went head-to-head with France in the UEFA Nations League third-place play-off on Sunday evening.
Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the 45th minute, netting his 50th goal in just 90 appearances for his country.
The Real Madrid star then turned provider late on, assisting Michael Olise in the 84th minute to secure a 2-0 win for France.
While Germany failed to find the back of the net, much of the focus was on how Florian Wirtz would perform on the big stage amid intense transfer speculation.
Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images
Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images
How Florian Wirtz fared vs France
Wirtz is expected to join Liverpool in the summer, with the Merseyside giants engaged in advanced talks with Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool have already had one bid rejected and on Sunday afternoon, Liverpool had a second bid worth £113m turned down.
Wirtz impressed during Germany’s semi-final loss to Portugal, notably scoring Germany’s only goal of the game but his display against France was more subtle, though still full of intent.
Despite Germany’s lack of attacking output, Wirtz remained one of the few bright sparks for Julian Nagelsmann’s side.
He created the most chances in the game (four), hit the woodwork once from his two shots, and finished with a pass accuracy of 86%.
The young playmaker also put in a strong defensive shift, winning 100% of his tackles, making five ball recoveries, and contributing two key defensive actions.
Stats Total
Chances Created 4 (most in the match)
Shots 2
Hit Woodwork 1
Pass Accuracy 86%
Tackles Won 100%
Ball Recoveries 5
Defensive Actions 2
Florian Wirtz stats vs France via FotMob
Liverpool see latest bid for Florian Wirtz rejected
With their latest offer rejected, Liverpool are expected to return with a third bid closer to Leverkusen’s asking price.
The Bundesliga side are holding firm on a valuation of around £126 million, a figure the Reds are currently reluctant to meet.
The standoff could see negotiations stall unless a compromise is reached, though Wirtz is understood to be keen on a move to Anfield.
Prior to the clash with Portugal, Wirtz appeared to confirm his interest in the switch, nodding in response to a journalist’s question about his excitement over a Liverpool move.
Whether the two clubs can strike an agreement remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Wirtz continues to show why he’s one of Europe’s most sought-after young talents.