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France have advanced to face Portugal in the final of Euro 2016 after defeating Germany 2-0.
France deserve their win for staying in the contest when the pendulum was against them, and on evidence, Germany deserve to be knocked out, courtesy of two inexplicable errors from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Manuel Neuer.
A penalty on the stroke of halftime belied the story, and then the poor goalkeeping parry from Neuer sealed the result for France.
On both occasions, Antoine Griezmann was the hero, finishing off well from the penalty spot for the former, and tapping in through Neuer’s legs for the latter.
Final score: Germany 0-2 France
The second semi-final of Euro 2016 sees the reunion of two familiar friends/foes, as world champions Germany meet hosts France in Marseille for a place in Monday morning’s final against Portugal. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5am (AEST) on Friday morning.
To peer through the history books would only tell so much about the relationship of these two nations – one that has been unified in firm friendship for more than 70 years, and rooted in enmity before that. If only Friday morning was solely about football, that would be a blessing. Regrettably, history was not kind to the last time these two teams met.
Friendly only in name it was, but November 13, 2015 at the Stade de France was supposed to be the final meeting of these two giants before France hosted the Euros. While the result read 2-0 to France, the outcome spoke of a story far more grim.
It was the evening when the French capital was simultaneously attacked across several locations when 130 people lost their lives. The Stade de France was not immune either, when three suicide bombs imploded outside the stadium. Marseille’s semi-final can never be an opportunity to right those unforgivable wrongs, but it does open the conversation to solely being about football, and nothing else.
France have entered the semi-finals on the back of outstanding form during the knockout rounds, having seen off Republic of Ireland and Iceland with consummate ease. Yet Les Bleus need no reminder how potentially meaningless this is against a side with a penchant for getting the job done.
While France has the form, and undoubtedly the available personnel to see off Germany, there remains the sense of trepidation of how Germany can unceremoniously end a campaign that has been sustained by a wave of fervour.
France coach Didier Deschamps has a full deck of players available, ensuring he can start with his preferred 4-3-3 formation. Two changes are likely for Les Bleus, with Adil Rami returning from suspension in place of Samuel Umtiti.
The other possible change may come in the centre of midfield. With the threat of Germany’s front three, led by Thomas Muller, Deschamps may be tempted to restore N’Golo Kante in place of Moussa Sissoko, who ran rampant against Iceland, but a greater moderation of defence in the midfield may be required against a higher standard opponent.
Otherwise, it seems plain sailing for Deschamps and France, with the excellent form of Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud likely to be the key factors against a below-strength German defence.
Worries abound for Joachim Low following their arduous penalty shootout victory over Italy. The defence is likely to be reshaped, following the suspension of Mats Hummels, with Shkodran Mustafi likely to be returned, having featured and scored in Germany’s tournament opener against Ukraine.
But it’s in the midfield where the real shifting will occur, as captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira are out with injury. Low will likely turn to the flexible midfielder Emre Can to partner Toni Kroos in the base of midfield, while Mesut Ozil may be required to play in a more central role in order to accommodate the likely return of Mario Gotze to the starting line-up in place of the injured Mario Gomez.
With wingers not likely to play a part from the off, it may once again confine the in-form Julian Draxler to a bench role.
Despite being well below full-strength, Germany will not be underestimated by a French team that have not beaten Die Mannschaft in a competitive fixture since 1958. History needs to be made by Les Bleus on Friday morning if they are to return to the Stade de France on Monday morning against Portugal.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5am (AEST) on Friday morning.
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