Thursday , March 28 2024

Euro 2016 – SF #2: France overcome world champions Germany to reach finals!

UEFA EURO 2016The 2016 UEFA European Championships is being played across France from June 10 to July 10 for the first time with 24 nations across 10 venues in nine cities with the French capital Paris being the only city with two venues in the Stade de France and the Park de Prince.

The defending double champions are Spain, who are three time record champions along with Germany.

SEMIFINAL MATCH #2

GERMANY 0-2 (0-1) FRANCE
Goal(s): 0-1,0-2 Antoine Griezmann (45+2′,72′)

Host France overcame world champions Germany 2-0 in an intense encounter in Marseille to reach the finals of UEFA Euro 2016 on Sunday, July 10 in Paris.

France had the better start into the game, putting pressure on Germany but Antoine Griezmann’s low shot was cleared away by keeper Manuel Neuer before Germany took total control of proceedings.

Germany had a chance in the 14th minute through an effort from Emre Can, but keeper Hugo Lloris cleared the attempt and then in the 26th minute Lloris tipped over a Bastian Schweinsteiger long ranger, while France only had chances from free kicks, but Dimitri Payet and Paul Pogba didn’t cause Manuel Neuer any problems.

After a Jerome Boateng mistake going forward in the 42nd minute, Olivier Giroud is through on goal, but a timely interception by Benedikt Höwedes denied France the lead, but that would come in controversial fashion in added time as referee Rizzoli pointed to the dreaded spot as Schweinsteiger made contact with the ball in the air against Patrice Evra following a corner, which looked unintentional and earlier after a foul from Pogba on Kroos was not given, the decision looked tough on Germany. Griezmann walked up to the spot and send Neuer the wrong way, 1-0 at the break for France.

The hosts again had the better start into the second half, but Boateng blocked Giroud and Griezmann and thereafter once more it was one way traffic towards the French goal but for all the domination, Germany had few real chances. Then on the hour mark, Boateng had to come off with an injury weakening Germany even further, who were playing without Hummels, Khedira and Gomez.

Germany coach Löw took more risks as his team were chasing the equaliser and in the 72nd minute a bad pass from Höwedes to Kimmich allows Pogba to intercept, his cross is cleared by Neuer to the feet of Griezmann, who somehow gets the ball past numerous legs and bodies into the German goal.

But Germany were not beaten yet, then first Kimmich in the 74th minute touched the post and then two minutes later Julian Draxler’s free kick just about missed the target, while in the 79th minute substitute Leroy Sane just after coming on put the ball wide. Germany had their chances to get back into the game as Höwedes put a corner wide before Griezmann and substitute Gignac failed to seal the game, but even the final chances for Germany from Thomas Müller and Mario Götze were wasted as France scored a 2-0 upset win over Germany to reach the finals.

Carlsberg Man of the Match: Antoine Griezmann (France) #GERFRA

About Arunava Chaudhuri

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