But that is all it was in the opening game of a major tournament, against a putative rival, in Munich on enemy territory, France looked discomfited for no more than a quarter-honour, and even that was relative. Serge Gnabry might have scored certainly once, possibly twice. Toni Kroos snapped a shot in from distance. There was no seat of the pants deseration. France, the reigning world champions, did not ride out a storm. At best, it weathered a brief, inconvenient squall, waited for the clouds to dissipate, and them set out under fair blue skies once more, untrobled and unruffled and serene, a team in complete control. The France possesses greater depth than any nation in the world, at this point, goes without saying. Its top flight, Ligue has rebranded itself as the "league of talents" a place to see tomorrow's stars today. And its national team reflects that. That is the quantity; the quality is no less intimidating. Benzema was thrown into an attack that already include Antoine Griezmann, the team's spiritual leader, and Kylian Mbappe, next in line to be the best player in the world. The midfield is built around the indomitable or possibly the artful Paul Pogba, or maybe even the elegant Adrien Rabiot: It depends, largely on who has the ball at any moment. France took the head, through a Mats Hummels own goal, midway through the first half, and though it did not seem particularly hurried to double it, it never looked like relinquishing it. When Germany did, briefly wrestle the upper hand, the french seemed happy enough. Deschamp's team sank back to its own half, then to its own penalty area, and repelled everything that come its way. And when the Germans had run out of stea, when they had biown themselves out, the French cleared the sweat from their brow and took control once again.
