Host nation France is one step away from achieving its dream of winning Euro 2016 after overcoming current World Cup Champion Germany 2-nil at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Friday morning.
A brace of goals to Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Greizmann gave the host nation safe passage into Monday morning’s (AEST) final against Portugal.
After a bright opening by the French, Germany showed why it’s the current world champion by controlling possession for most of the first half, despite missing several key players through injury including forward Gomez, midfielder Khedira and suspended central defender Hummels.
As half-time approached, the assured Germans suffered an unexpected setback when veteran midfielder Bastien Schweinsteiger conceded a soft penalty when he blocked a Patrice Evra header with his hand.
Greizmann stepped up and made no mistake from the spot kick to beat German keeper Manuel Neuer and give France the all-important first goal.
The Germans again controlled possession in the second half, putting the French defence under pressure. However, the home team stood firm and possessed the quality in attack to threaten on the counter.
Nevertheless, it was another defensive blunder by the Germans that led to France’s second when after 75 minutes, Germany’s Joshua Kimmich gave possession away in his own box, allowing France’s Pogba to send a cross from the edge of the box which German keeper Neuer could only palm away into the path of Greizmann, who instinctively poked home from close range.
Greizmann’s goals not only took France into the final but have almost certainly given him the Golden Boot of the tournament. He has six goals all up and has gotten better as the tournament has progressed, flourishing in the more central role French coach Deschamps assigned him behind Giroud in a 4-2-3-1 system.
“We’ve already written history,” Deschamps said after the match. “It was a long time since we’d beaten Germany but that didn’t mean anything today. We’re into the final. I’m delighted for the players, it was a very tough game against a team who made us suffer but we suffered together. When you see the passion and the fervour in the stands and around the ground … This team has everything it takes to be loved.
“We have three days before the final, it’s very short so we have to savour this victory. It’s an important step forward but the most important step is Sunday. We’re going to do everything in our power to go into Sunday’s game in the best possible condition. We have our chances and so do Portugal. As host nation, and because we’ve knocked out Germany, that doesn’t give us extra powers. We believe in ourselves, so do Portugal.”
Gerrman coach Joachim Low commented after the game: “We were the better team. We put in a lot of effort, showed good body language, got forward and were good in our individual battles. We were unfortunate to concede a penalty a minute before half-time, that was bad luck. We had our chances but didn’t score. Today we didn’t have the luck; in 2010 and 2012 when we went out, the sides were better than us. Today we were better than the French but for the goals and result.
“There were injured players, Khedira and Gomez, Hummels was suspended and Boateng went off injured – they’re hard players to replace. The side did everything I told them, showed a lot of courage, so there’s nothing to reproach them for. France have succeeded in getting to the final – if you win 2-nil you deserve it. I think France will win against Portugal, Portugal haven’t convinced me that much so far. France have a very good side but we were the better team today.”