Sports

France beat Germany 2-0 to reach Euro 2016 final

Published

8 years ago

July 8, 2016

France beat Germany 2-0 to reach Euro 2016 final

Antoine Griezmann scored twice to beat knock World Champions Germany out of Euro 2016 and send France through to the final against Portugal on Sunday.

France will play Portugal in the final of Euro 2016 after beating Germany 2-0 in Marseille thanks to two goals from the tournament’s top scorer Antoine Griezmann.

Griezmann netted at the end of the first half from the penalty spot after a controversial handball decision against Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Schweinsteiger conceded the penalty as replays showed his arm grazed the ball as he put his arms up while marking Patrice Evra from a corner.

Griezmann scored again in the second half after a mistake from German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer handed him an easy tap in.

It’s the first time that France have beaten Germany in the finals of a competition since 1958.

Read also; Ronaldo, Nani send Portugal into Euro final

“We suffered but we knocked them out,” said French coach Didier Deschamps after the game in which Germany dominated possession.

France’s first win over Germany in their fifth meeting at major finals came out of a controversial penalty just before half-time.

Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli’s took an eagle-eyed decision.

Schweinsteiger conceded the penalty as replays showed his arm grazed the ball as he put his arms up while marking Patrice Evra from a corner.

Germany’s stars crowded Rizzoli, furious with the decision. But it was a decisive blow from which the 2014 World Cup winners never recovered.

After suffering in the first half France were more in the game after the break as Germany kept the ball but threatened less. France looked dangerous on the break and got their reward in the 72nd minute after fantastic work from Paul Pogba forced goalkeeper Neuer into an error than handed Griezmann his second goal.

The win sparked wild scenes of celebration in the Velodrome stadium in Marseille and in fanzones, living rooms and bars around the country.

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