Third-place playoffs often present a uniquely pointless spectacle.
They are routinely despised by every defeated semifinalist, and UEFA does not even bother to stage this fixture in their European Championships.
However, in yet another typically perplexing twist of the scheduling dilemma that is the UEFA Nations League, Germany and France were compelled to compete for an unwanted bronze medal on Sunday afternoon.
Aside from the Nations League completists, Liverpool fans would have appreciated the weekend’s match as a final opportunity to observe Florian Wirtz.
As discussions with Bayer Leverkusen persist for a record-breaking transfer, Germany’s appearance in Stuttgart may turn out to be Wirtz’s last game before joining Liverpool.
The reaction to Wirtz’s participation in a convincing 2–0 loss on home ground was nearly universally unflattering.