After a hellish year, France is just one step away from football heaven. What better way to get there than by downing the world champions and France’snemesis for over half a century: Germany.
A 2-0 European Championship semifinal victory for les Bleus in the city that lent its name to the French national anthem showed that France is back as a major footballing force for the first time since Zinedine Zidane walked off the field in disgrace in the 2006 World Cup final. Here are 5 things to know about France’s first major tournament win against Germany since the 1958 WC:
GRIEZMANN’S ON FIRE
Euro 2016 top scorer Antoine Griezmann was like the toy in the Whac-A-Mole arcade game against Germany: It was never clear where he would pop up and do damage next.
His elusive movement and the free rein that France coach Didier Deschamps gave the Atletico Madrid forward to roam seemingly where the mood took him tied Germany in knots at times.
France’s first goal-scoring chance started with Griezmann in his own half. After two slick interchanges of passes with midfielder Blaise Matuidi, Griezmann popped up on the edge of the German area and got a shot away, drawing a diving save from Manuel Neuer.
WHAT’S WITH THE HANDSIJ
Two consecutive matches, two German penalties for handball. That is careless from a team usually so slick.
After Jerome Boateng gifted a penalty to Italy in the quarterfinals, Bastian Schweinsteiger was guilty this time.
Jumping for a corner with French left-back Patrice Evra, the Manchester United midfielder inexplicably raised both arms above his head, a bizarre mistake from a player so experienced. The semifinal marked the 31-year-old’s 120th appearance for Germany.
Schweinsteiger’s right arm, the one wearing his bright yellow captain’s armband, connected with the ball. Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli pointed to the spot.
Arms flung in the air by Boateng against Italy allowed Bonucci to equalize and quickly made the hulking German defender the butt of humorous memes on internet.
GERMAN DOMINATION
On paper, Germany coach Joachim loew reverted to four defenders at the back, changing from the more suffocating formation he used to contain Italy in the quarterfinals.
In reality, a German defensive pair of Boateng and Benedikt Howedes kept watch at the back, with Schweinsteiger just in front of them in a deep holding midfield role, while the rest of the team poured forward to heap pressure on France, especially in the furious first half.
FRANCE’S GOOD TIMING
Griezmann isn’t the only one getting better the deeper France goes. Pogba’s timing is pretty good, too.
After a first standout match in the quarterfinals against Iceland, where he scored with a powerful header, Pogba was decisive again against Germany, creatingFrance’s second goal.
GERMANY’S BAD TIMING
Germany’s mounting problems before and during this game eventually became overwhelming.
The absence through injury of striker Mario Gomez proved a big blow, since Thomas Mueller was completely ineffective in front of goal.