France coach Didier Deschamps felt his players’ top-notch performance fully deserved the 5-2 win over Iceland that booked the Euro 2016 host nation a berth in the semis against world champions Germany.
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Hosts France are through to their first UEFA European Championship semi-final since 2000 after a thoroughly assured 5-2 win brought Iceland’s remarkable run to a close.
“It is something no one expected us to do, which is good because it gives kids back home hope that this is possible”, their Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson said. I think the team are loved by the fans. There is no doubt about that even if they had a few frights against Italy, who stopped them playing.
But no amount of goals, shots, assists or tributes to the opposition could save the French god from Twitterati, who found it a flawless day to tap into their love-hate relationship with him.
And, after draws with Portugal and Hungary, they memorably defeated Austria 2-1 to finish second in Group G, before sensationally coming from a goal behind to stun England 2-1 in the round of 16.
“I don’t know”, Giroud said at a postmatch news conference when asked if it was his best match in a blue shirt.
The match on Thursday takes place nearly 34 years to the day since the 1982 World Cup semi-final in Seville which ended in a traumatic defeat for Michel Platini’s team.
“Are we confident? No, because Germany are the world champions and favourites”, said Giroud. “They were a very valiant and determined side who kept on going until the end”.
After beating the Netherlands to a place in France during qualifying, coach Lars Lagerback led the team through a hard group before masterminding a shock victory over England in the round of 16 as Iceland set up a quarter-final with France. Antoine Griezmann’s right-wing corner found a leaping Pogba who towered above Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to power in his first goal of the European Championship.
Bdvarsson nearly conjured a response, firing over from close range following an Aron Gunnarsson long throw, but this was a day when chances had to be taken. But Les Bleus had wrapped up their place in the last four by half-time. The Atletico Madrid striker set up Payet for his goal.
The fourth goal saw Giroud and Griezmann combine again.
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But France replied with Giroud beating Halldorsson to a Payet free-kick, and the Arsenal striker was withdrawn immediately having been booked earlier in the competition. In addition to a strong defence, Iceland showed they also had a killer instinct as their eight goals in five games highlighted.
