The French overcame Germany at a major tournament for the first time since 1958 to claim their place in the final.
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It was a victory built as much on German errors as it was on Griezmann’s skill, with a handball in the box and a poor defensive pass paving the way for his goals. The ball hit the arm, the referee gave a penalty and Antoine Griezmann converted it.
Two-goal Antoine Griezmann fired France into the Euro 2016 final yesterday when a smash and grab 2-0 victory over a territorially dominant Germany ended 58 years of tournament suffering at the hands of their neighbours. Germany edged past France in the quarterfinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup en route to the world championship.
If Les Bleus claim the trophy in Paris, they would equal Germany and Spain with their third European Championship triumph, but Deschamps said history has already been written.
“We are very happy but there is still one match left”. “It was a long time since we’d beaten Germany but that didn’t mean anything today. (When we went out) in 2012 or 2010, the sides were better than us, but today that wasn’t the case”.
“When you see the passion and the fervour in the stands around the ground”.
“I am very pleased with the performance the team put in”.
“We had to suffer but never gave up and that’s great for me”.
France reaching the final of their home Euro 2016 is helping to bring back a feelgood factor in the country, says manager Didier Deschamps. “We don’t have the power to solve people’s problems but we can generate emotions so they forget their worries”. A disgruntled German supporter told her, “I believe the first penalty kick was not justified”.
“It was a team effort from everyone at Clairefontaine (France’s national football centre) – I’m delighted for them all”.
The French have won the last two major touraments they hosted.
“It was a key moment to score the first goal, the penalty changed the game because Germany had created some chances in the first half but weren’t able to score”.
Griezmann has now scored six goals at Euro 2016 – twice as many as any other player at the tournament – and could have completed a hat trick on a break in the 86th but shot straight at goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
“This is the result of a group and of a lot of hard work from the staff”. He has speed and technical ability; he is a very important player just as he has been with Atletico Madrid throughout the season. It’s going to be tricky but I hope this won’t be the end.
“If you win 2-0 you deserve it, and I think the French will win against Portugal”, Low said. We will savour this and then tomorrow focus on the next game in three days’ time.
After defender Jerome Boateng’s handball had given Italy a lifeline in the quarter-finals, their captain’s similarly inexplicable high hand swung the game France’s way when they most needed it. “Overall, we have a great side”.
Griezmann, who is the top scorer at Euro 2016 with six goals, was quick to turn his focus to Sunday’s final against Portugal.
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“We have our chances and so do Portugal”, he said. “We put in a lot of effort, showed good body language, got forward and were good in one-on-ones”, he said.
