MUNICH - World champions France never hit top form and had third-choice keeper Alphonse Areola to thank for a 0-0 draw against Germany in their inaugural Nations League game on Thursday, their first appearance since lifting the World Cup.

On a rainy evening in Munich, Germany won back some respect with a battling performance after their shock World Cup group- stage exit in Russia, their earliest in 80 years in the tournament.

The French looked to be nursing a post-World Cup hangover, lacking their usual speed and creativity and but for Areola's key saves in the second half the final scoreline would have been different.

The Nations League, brainchild of European soccer body UEFA, aims to boost interest in the autumn and spring internationals, which were seen by clubs and fans as disruptive to the domestic football season.

To be held every two years, it features all 55 of Europe’s national teams divided into four divisions split into four groups, with games to be played between September and November.

Unusually, the Germans started with four central defenders and with Joshua Kimmich switching from right back to a holding midfield position, as coach Joachim Loew tried to strike a better balance between attack and defence than his team had done in Russia.

His France counterpart Didier Deschamps fielded his World Cup final team, including Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba, apart for injured keeper Hugo Lloris, with Areola making his debut.

Neither side were eager to risk much, with a chance apiece in the first half - a blocked Olivier Giroud header for France and Germany forward Timo Werner's low shot.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did well to save a Griezmann effort just past the hour but it was Areola who made the saves of the day, first punching Marco Reus' close-range effort wide.

The 25-year-old, who only got to start because Lloris and second choice Steve Mandanda are injured, denied Mats Hummels, tipped a Thomas Mueller chip over the bar and stopped Matthias Ginter from scoring from close range as the hosts grew in confidence but ran out of time.

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