Hummels own goal gives France victory over Germany

France 1-0 Germany: Mats Hummels own goal gives France victory over Germany (Match highlights)

World Champions France begin their Euro 2020 campaign with a win over Germany

World Champions France kicked off their Euro 2020 campaign with a hard-fought victory over Germany due to a Mats Hummel's own goal in a high-intensity heavyweight Group F match.

In the first half of a thrilling match in Munich, Hummels, who was recalled for this tournament after being told by coach Joachim Low in 2019 that his international career was finished, redirected Lucas Hernandez's cross into his own net.

France who most have picked as the tournament's favourites were slightly better than their opponents, but they seemed to be in third gear for the majority of the game.

Paul Pogba sent a corner over the bar with his shoulder, Kylian Mbappe had an angled effort saved, he and Karim Benzema both had goals ruled out for offside, and Adrian Rabiot hit the outside of the post.

After an uncharacteristically difficult few years, Germany came into the finals with major doubts about their best XI and their chances of winning, but they proved to be traditional finals opponents.

With Ilkay Gundogan slicing an effort past the post from an excellent position in the box and Serge Gnabry having a shot deflected onto the roof of the net, Thomas Muller - another player returned after being dropped by Low - headed wide.

It wasn't simply the football that piqued people's interest.

Although replays were inconclusive, there was a suspicion that Germany defender Antonio Rudiger bit Pogba's shoulder in the first half.

This was after a Greenpeace protestor parachuted into the stadium, dropping his belongings as he plummeted to the ground before being escorted away by security.

With their victory, France and Portugal, who beat Hungary 3-0 in Budapest earlier on Tuesday, have taken the lead in a fiercely competitive Group F.

France 1-0 Germany: Watch full match highlights