This was the third time when France have reached the final of a home tournament after 1984 and 1998. This time, France has successfully qualified to the final of Euro 2016 after beating Germany by 2-0 on Thursday. Antoine Griezmann who has been an outstanding player of the tournament scored both the goals for France to set up a final clash against Portugal team on Sunday at State de France. However, France was never expected for this outstanding performance in Euro 2016 as the whole nation focus remains off the the field because of a turbulent year following the Paris attacks.
France into the Final of EURO 2016
On the major event of Euro 2016, it was the France football players who did it proud by beating the Germany football side who once knocked them off two years ago in the World Cup tournament. It was an opportunity for France to win the major tournament for the third time after winning 1984 Euro on home soil and then 1998 World Cup.
The French football star, Griezmann said that “I am overwhelmed and proud for leading France to victory in the tournament matches”. He has scored six goals in the tournament for which he was held the top scorer of the tournament.
In the football tournaments, no team has ever crashed more national football teams than Germany who has kicked out the six host nations at the semi-final stage. One cannot simply forget the excruciating beating of Brazil by Germany with a final score of 7-1 who did not stun the Brazilian Nation but also the, the whole world. Later on, they beat Argentina in the final of the World Cup two years ago.
France into the Final of EURO 2016
Germany failed to put the game on their hands against France
While giving fine first-half performance against France, Germany was expected to turn the game into their hands but unfortunately that did not happen. At the initial period, the effort of Griezmann was turned away by Manuel Neuer. Without the midfield presence of N’Golo Kante, France failed to respond to the German side who dominated the possession.
Thomas Muller reached the Emre Can’s cross but he slide away his effort of the far post. Can, who was playing his first major tournament for Germany. His outstanding effort into the ground was parried by Hugo Lloris. While France was struggling to keep the ball, Germany continued to dominate possession. Bastian Schweinsteiger, the German Captain forced Lloris to further hit his cross over the crossbar because France barely managed to keep possession in the first half.
Yet, France should have taken the lead in the first half being a host of tournament. Olivier Giroud, who have been brilliant at the tournament took the advantage of a small mistake committed by Jerome Boateng and ran towards the penalty area. Due to lack of pace by the Arsenal Striker, Benedikt Howedes was able to knock him off through his sliding tackle. However in the second half, Patrice Evra’s header was blocked by the arm of Schweinsteiger due to which the referee awarded the penalty. Therefore, Griezmann blasts the ball into the penalty net responding to the situation and scored. The Germans were stunned.
Germany had failed to recapture its form which it had shown during the first half
The hamstring injury of German Defender, Boateng causes a sense of desperation amongst the other team players. Thus, Griezmann doubled the score with 18 minutes remaining. Following their loss, the players in white shirts fell down on the floor while the blue shirts celebrated their victory for reaching the final of the tournament. This was the biggest setback of Euro 2016 tournament which left horrifying mark on the German side.
Leave a Reply