2016 Euro Semifinals
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Germany 0–2 France
Antoine Griezmann 45+2′ (pen.), 72′
Another semifinal, and another 2-0 winner. France moves on to the finals of the 2016 Euro after defeating Germany.
Spain’s record in the European Championship is safe. Germany will not dethrone them, but France might join them to make it a three-way tie for the most successful nation in the tournament’s history
The host nation has another chance of winning a football competition they hosted. It will also be a chance to equal the record number of titles won by a nation in the competition’s history.
Coming into this semifinal match, Germany had only conceded a goal the 2016 Euro. The last time Germany lost to a host nation in a major football tournament was 50 years ago in 1966.
A win for Germany would have given them a chance to move on to the finals and possibly set a record as the most successful side in the European Championship with a 4th title win. That would have also been their second major title in a row.
With two more goals to his name, Antoine Griezmann is looking to be the ‘Golden Boot’ winner in the 2016 European Championship. Griezmann has scored six goals, twice more his closest competition on the goal scorers list.
A penalty at the end of the first half gave France a lead that might not be deserved by the run of play. However, for the second match in a row, a German player has found it difficult to keep their hands in a natural position when in their own penalty box. Jerome Boateng started the trend in the quarterfinal match against Italy, and Bastian Schweinsteiger kept it going in the semifinal match.
The Paris fan zone goes crazy after @AntoGriezmann‘s opening goal! #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/isy1RpM4Wa
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) July 7, 2016
Griezmann scored the penalty like a striker on form. A convincing shot to the opposite direction of where German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had dived.
The second half was about the same as the first. Germany needed a goal, so they played with more intent than France did. Football is about finishing chances, and what is not what they did.
Germany lacked a goal scorer. Thomas Muller has had a problem scoring in the European Championship, and with Gomez out due to injury, there was a lack in a focal point of attack for the Germans.
That way to the #EURO2016 final ? pic.twitter.com/IcWXiggmD9
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) July 7, 2016
France at home is a difficult task for any team.
In the 72nd minute, things got worse for Germany when Griezmann doubled the lead and his goals in the match. A defensive mistake by the Joshua Kimmich allowed for an easy giveaway in the German penalty box. Paul Pogba got on the end of it, and with some clever footwork, he was able to create an opportunity for a short cross into the danger area. Griezmann was the quickest to react, and poke the ball into the net.
Portugal is now aware of their final opposition. France will be looking to make this another final won at home. France vs Portugal is the last fixture for the 2016 European Championship.
Will the trophy stay in France, or will Portugal take it with them?
