Antonio Rudiger has sent a warning to Kylian Mbappe and France’s attackers that Germany will have to play ‘a little dirty’ in their first game of the European Championship.
Germany will begin their Euro 2020 campaign against the reigning world champions, France in Munich on Tuesday evening.
Both teams make up a tough Group F alongside Portugal and Hungary, who also play their match on Tuesday.
And Chelsea defender Rudiger believes Germany need to adopt a more physical approach against the tournament favourites in their first Euro 2020 game.
‘Of course, they have good forwards, we have to be ready to win the one-on-one challenges,’ said Rudiger. ‘We have to be a little dirty, not always be nice or try to play nice football. ‘Against players like them, you have to throw down a marker.’
Mbappe, meanwhile, says he and his France teammates will concentrate on their own game even if Germany adopts a physical approach.
When asked about Rudiger’s comments, the Paris Saint-Germain star replied: ‘Each man fights with the weapons at their disposal.
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‘Our weapons are to play together, to play our game. If those are their weapons, then they will play with theirs, we will play with ours.
‘And we remain focused on our preparation, analysing well what their strengths and weaknesses are, and to try to begin this tournament well.’
