An own goal by Mats Hummels was enough to give France a 1-0 victory over Germany, who lost their opening fixture at a European Championship for the first time.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
World champions France took the lead in the 20th minute when midfielder Paul Pogba's superb raking pass was fired back across the goal by Lucas Hernandez and defender Hummels shanked the ball into his own net as he tried to clear.
It was a deserved win for Les Bleus while the Germans now have to improve their game against holders Portugal on Saturday when France play Hungary.
"It was our first match and it was a huge game... ," France coach Didier Deschamps said.
"They are tough to play against but we were there, on the spot. This win does a lot of good."
Germany's record 50th Euro match got off to a tentative start before a couple of French chances fell to Pogba and Kylian Mbappe.
The visitors' gradual pressure, deploying their speed down the wings, paid off when Pogba picked out Hernandez with an outstanding cross-field pass.
He charged through and cut the ball back with Hummels, who had been dropped more than two years ago and was recalled for the tournament, clipping it past his own goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The Germans, desperate to impress in front of a home crowd to make amends for their shock 2018 World Cup first-round exit, rarely broke through the French rearguard although they did create some half chances they could not convert.
"It was a brutally intense game and we fought until the end," Germany coach Joachim Low said.
"An own goal decided it. I cannot blame the team because we fought a lot. We maybe lacked a bit of punching power in and around the box."
France gradually conceded possession but remained dangerous on the break with Mbappe and Karim Benzema both putting the ball in the net but having their efforts ruled offside.
Mbappe was also denied what looked a certain penalty after out-sprinting Hummels to chase down a long ball in the 78th minute.
France, now unbeaten in their past 17 competitive outings, kept their cool until the end to launch their title quest with a morale-boosting win to go second in Group F behind Portugal, who beat Hungary 3-0 earlier on Tuesday.
Australian Associated Press
