A double from Antoine Griezmann against Germany put the hosts into the final of Euro 2016 following a high quality encounter in Marseille.
France 2 Germany 0
Germany dominated possession but France took the spoils courtesy of a superlative display from Griezmann.
French coach Didier Deschamps rolled the dice and picked the same side that had steamrollered Iceland, giving the Atletico Madrid striker the central role he craves. The gamble paid off – tucked in behind Olivier Giroud in a 4-2-3-1, Griezmann (10.0) scored twice from a match-leading seven attempts, with two key passes and five crosses also registered against the World Champions.
France started brightly but faded rapidly, allowing Germany possession and territory but denying them a clear sight of goal.
As half-time approached, however, the match swung back to the French. Bastian Schweinsteiger led with his arm as a corner came in and was penalised for handball, allowing Griezmann to tuck away the spot-kick.
It was harsh on the Germans, who had 11 attempts to the hosts’ five in the first period, but after repelling a similar surge at the start of the second half, Joachim Low’s men laboured to break down a well-organised French defence in which Laurent Koscielny (6.0) and Samuel Umtiti (4.0) were superb, with 26 clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI) between them.
The latter will surely start in the final and at that price is an excellent ultimate budget enabler.
As Germany pushed for an equaliser, their own defence became increasingly stretched, and errors from Joshua Kimmich and then Manuel Neuer handed Griezmann the chance to stab home a second goal.
Despite having less than 31% of the ball, the French managed 16 attempts to their opponent’s 18 and had one more shot on target, (six to five), although Hugo Lloris (6.0) had to make two outstanding saves to deny the Germans.
Home advantage, an injury-free squad and a system that has made Griezmann the tournament’s top scorer with six goals means France will go into Sunday’s final as massive favourites.
Pressure and Portuguese resilience could still be decisive, but it is hard not to think that packing both official Uefa game and DraftKings teams with French players will be the way forward.
