Areola denies Germany

Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola spared his side's blushes with a string of fine second-half saves as France battled to a 0-0 draw with Germany in their Nations League opener on Thursday.

While France took to the field for the first time as newly-crowned world champions, Germany were looking to rebuild after a disastrous World Cup.

"It was a good first step today. It was about showing people that we aren't just pulling on the national team shirt as if it were a training bib," Thomas Mueller told ZDF. "It was about regaining the values and the credit that we have earned over the last ten years, and which we lost at the World Cup."

After a conservative first-half performance, Germany upped the ante in the final 30 minutes of the game, but were repeatedly denied by Areola, France's third-choice goalkeeper.

"We had three or four good chances which Areola saved really well," Germany defender Mats Hummels said.

After a painful World Cup post-mortem, Joachim Loew had promised a greater focus on defensive stability, and the Germany coach would have been happy after 20 minutes as his side kept France away from goal at the Allianz Arena.

"Today was about staying stable at the back and waiting for the chances to come at the other end," Loew told ZDF. "I think that worked out well."

GIGGS ERA STARTS WITH A BANG; PORTUGAL HOLD CROATIA

Gareth Bale grabbed centre-stage as vibrant Wales tore Ireland apart in the first competitive game of the Ryan Giggs era, launching their UEFA Nations League campaign in style with a 4-1 win while Portugal, without Cristiano Ronaldo, held World Cup finalists Croatia to a draw.

Stand-in captain Pepe delivered to level for Portugal in a 1-1 draw against Croatia after Ivan Perisic volleyed the Croats ahead in the 18th minute.