Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann shapes as a key player as France seek to halt world champions Germany’s charge in Marseille tomorrow night (21.00 local KO)
Griezmann started off quietly but his influence has progressively increased as this tournament has gone on, and the 25 year old scored a delicious chip in France’s 5-2 rout of Iceland in the quarters to take his tournament tally to four goals.
The game against Iceland was the first time in this tournament that France had scored before the interval. They’ve not exactly played like champions but they do possess some very fine players with the ability to come up with moments of magic when the team needs the most- key among them being Griezmann and West Ham’s Dimitri Payet.
Indeed former German players like Philipp Lahm, Oliver Bierhoff and Lothar Matthaeus have singled out Griezmann, who currently leads the Euro 2016 goal charts, as France’s most important player.
France automatically qualified for Euro 2016 by virtue of being hosts and therefore this semi-final tie against the Germans is their first major clash since being knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the World Cup two years ago by Die Mannschaft. Mats Hummels, scorer of the winner that evening in Brazil, is suspended for this game and the Germans have further problems with Mario Gomez and Sami Khedira both ruled out due to injury and Bastian Schweinsteiger looking unlikely to start.
That means coach Joachim Low will have to go with one of Emre Can, Julian Weigl or even Joshua Kimmich to fill in the void left by Khedira.
Also, Gomez’s absence may mean that Dider Deschamps gives Samuel Umtiti a second straight start after the Lyon defender put in an assured performance on debut against Iceland. The other option is to recall Adil Rami, who has a height advantage over Umtiti, but that may not be required given Gomez’s absence.
Infographic and stats courtesy Andrews Air Conditioning and Opta
Griezmann is one of five survivors from that quarterfinal loss to Germany- the others being skipper Hugo Lloris, left back Patrice Evra, and midfielders Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi, both of whom have blossomed into final players over the last two years.
France won Euro 1984 on home soil and were also victors at the 1998 World Cup when they hosted the event. If the Germans do beat Les Bleus, one will have to back them to emulate France and Spain (two sides who have held the the World Cup and European Championships simultaneously)
Germany route to semifinal
Beat Ukraine 2-0
Drew with Poland 0-0
Beat Northern Ireland 1-0
Beat Slovakia 3-0
Beat Italy 6-5 on penalties
France route to semifinal
Beat Romania 2-1
Beat Albania 2-0
Drew with Switzerland 0-0
Beat Ireland 2-1
Beat Iceland 5-2
Germany’s path has easily been the more difficult one, with Poland and Italy far stronger opposition than what the French have had to contend with.
However the French have had fewer injuries and will be backed by a partisan 60,000+ strong crowd at the Stade Velodrome.
Germany v France
Stade Velodrome, Marseille, 7 July, 2016 21.00 local KO
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli