Comment by Michael Osareme
Germany's lost to France yesterday night brought an end to Joachim low's hope of emulating Vincente Del Bosque Spanish side who won the World cup in 2010 and followed up with winning the Euro 2012.
A brace from Antonie Griezmann was all France needed to eliminate the world champions at the stade de velodrome in Marseille.
HERE ARE FIVE KEY POINTS FROM THE SEMI FINAL CLASH.
1. ANTONIE GRIEZMANN GRADUALLY BECOMING A FRANCE LEGEND.
Zinedine Zidane will forever be the hero of
his hometown of Marseille, but for just one
night the Real Madrid coach was upstaged
by France's newest legend Antoine Griezmann.
Substituted in France opener against Romania after a subdue display, Griezmann has now gone on to score 6 goals in 6 appearance at the games,he is the leading highest goalscorer and also in the race to win the player of the tournament award come sunday,july 10 in stade dennis.
When France have needed him most, he has inevitably done so. He had headed a vital late goal in this stadium when his side were apparently failing against Albania and then in les Bleus ’ most dire moment of need, he scored twice to transform a 1-0
deficit against the Republic of Ireland into a 2-1 victory.
Another similarly decisive performance on Sunday
and he will rightly be held in the same
esteem as Zidane and Platini,no doubt he is now nicknamed "Grizou".
2. DESCHAMPS GETS AWAY WITH MIDFIELD SELECTION
Picking an unchanged team might not always
be construed as a gamble, but France head
coach Didier Deschamps' decision to stick with
the players who demolished Iceland was brave.
Germany represented a different level of
opponent, far more accomplished on the ball
and often devastating when given space to
exploit; leaving out N'Golo Kante was a big call,
then, meaning Blaise Matuidi and Pogba were
tasked with keeping order in midfield as
Griezmann marauded ahead of them.
Before Griezmann's out-of-the-blue penalty, it
seemed unlikely that France would get away
with it. The striker was prevented from scoring
what would have been one of the best goals of
the tournament by Neuer early on, but
Germany took a firm hold on proceedings after
the first 10 minutes.
France were outnumbered and struggled to cope; there was no steadying influence in front of the defence, but France saw the game out.
They were worthy of their victory, but there
was still the sense that Deschamps had got
away with it.
3. MULLER AND GERMANY LACKED CUTTING EDGE.
For all their control, all their clever angles and
all their willingness to commit men forward,
Germany missed one thing. It is arguable that
Mario Gomez's injury-induced absence afforded
them a little extra fluency; what it cost them,
though, was a genuine attacking spearhead and
as they continuously passed around the French,
it became clear that they simply did not have
the cutting edge to punish them.
Thomas Muller, who did not score in these finals and
rarely came close. He was a peripheral figure
and while Germany created a host of chances
after going 2-0 down, most of them fell
elsewhere. When Muller did get on the end of
a late cross, he and Kimmich both attacked the
ball at once; the result being an odd joint
header that Lloris saved wonderfully,that sums up Muller's tournament.
4. GERMANY'S INJURY WOES HURT THEM
Germany played without Sami Khedira and Mario Gomez, who were both injured in the quarterfinal win against Italy, and the suspended Mats Hummels. In came Bastain Schwienstger,Emre Can and Benedikt Howedes.
As a result,Germany's match fluency was lacking,they lacked a focal point in Mario Gomez,and Matt Hummels' calmness was missing at the back(not taking anything away from Howedes performance, which was brilliant). But against a pacy Griezmann and Payet you expect the worst.
Khedira's influence in front of the back four was also missing,his deputy Schwienstger had a good performance albeit a school boy handball error which gave France so much confidence,heading into the halftime break.
Would have an injury free German side wreck havoc against France????!!!, Your guess is as good as mine.
5. FRANCE 12TH MAN.
The atmosphere in Marseille during the match yesterday was electrifying,it was a sea of blue,highlight of the fans support was the emulation of Iceland's Viking Claps after the team defeated Germany,the crowd has given so much support to their National team,little wonder why France won the World Cup in 1998 and the Euros in 2002 when they hosted.
One key factor propelling France in this tournament is their home crowd and it will be of no surprise to see France win yet another major tournament,come Sunday with the the home crowd being their backbone.
Its been great writing this piece and a sad one to see my favourite,Germany knocked out of the tournament but that is football,you win some or lose some.
Thanks for reading through, until I come your way for the Euro 2016 final match preview between France and Portugal on Sunday, do have a great day.
Follow Micheal on twitter @MichaelImianvan
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