Griezmann, the Atletico Madrid forward whose career has been spent exclusively in Spain since leaving his family home in Macon to play for Real Sociedad as a teenager, will lead France into the Euro 2016 final against Portugal on Sunday having scored six goals so far in the competition for Didier Deschamps’ team. “Come on, just one match to go!!!” he said.
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“Of course we ” re sad and disappointed not to reach the final, but that ” s football”, he said.
Lloris believes that display underlined their improving maturity and, while rejecting the notion his team are favourites against Portugal, reckons the future looks bright under coach Deschamps. “This team has everything it needs to be loved, I’m very proud…” “We have to keep our feet on the ground”. Portugal’s approach has been cautious rather than defensive, but even so, their performances have failed to endear them to the neutrals and they go into the final as outsiders.
They had gone 50 years unbeaten against host nations at major tournaments, dating back to their loss to England in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final and encompassing a famous 7-1 humbling of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.
However, he nervelessly stepped up to score from the spot after Bastian Schweinsteiger had been penalised for handball in first-half added time. Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now level with Michel Platini’s all-time tournament record of nine goals, has played more matches at the competition than any other player (20).
“I wanted to take a penalty again in an important moment and I’m happy I did, and happy I scored”, he said.
Not only did Griezmann live up to expectations by scoring twice but the French defence, regarded as their weakest point, was solid under sustained pressure from the world champions. Jerome Boateng blocked the ball with an arm above his head in the quarter-final against Italy. “In a challenge, when you’re jumping, there are movements that you can’t really control”. France boosted their confidence by recording their first victory over Germany in a competitive match in 58 years. They then had to cope with losing key defender Boateng, who picked up an ankle injury after an hour. Paul Pogba, who assisted Griezmann for the second goal, wraps himself around the national flag after the end of the game.
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Germany responded well and could have pulled one back when Kimmich hit the post, before Julian Draxler sent a free-kick narrowly wide and Hoewedes headed over.
