Antoine Griezmann’s double for France was enough to take the hosts to the finals of the European Championships to set up a meeting against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Despite not putting up the best of performances, France did just enough to seal a spot in the finals of the European Championships, thanks to two goals from Antoine Griezmann. The Germans never truly recovered after conceding via a Griezmann penalty at the end of the first half. Nearly 30 minutes after the restart, the Atletico Madrid star tapped in from close range to seal France’s first victory over Germany in a major tournament since 1958.
According to a report in ESPN, French manager Didier Deschamp’s insisted that his men had already created ‘history’ after their triumph over the Germans. “We have already. It was a long time since we’d beaten Germany but that didn’t mean anything today. We’re into the final and there’s a trophy up for grabs,” he said.
The former Chelsea player, who was the captain of France’s 1998 World Cup team, was full of praise for Griezmann, saying “Antoine is a great player and he proved that again tonight in everything he did,”he said. “He’s a very important player, as he has been for Atletico all season. At the Euro, he’s scored goals, set up teammates and got others around him playing well.”
/ AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
German coach Joachim Loew, whose touchline antics this tournament have made the news more than his team’s performances, insisted that not too many things went wrong with the team, and that his men were the better side. The Germans dominated the game and ended the match with 65% possession, but the only statistic that truly mattered in the end was the scoreline.
“We were the better team. We put in a lot of effort, showed good body language, got forward and were good in one on ones.” Loew lamented his side’s bad luck at conceding a penalty after Bastian Schweinsteiger made contact with the ball in the penalty box a minute before half-time. “Today we didn’t have the luck we needed; in 2010 and 2012 when we went out, the sides were better than us. Today we were better than the French but for the goals and result.”
Loew also spoke of the lack of big names in his side who missed out through injury or suspension, and how that affected the result. Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng, one of Germany’s standout players this tournament, had to be taken off because of an injury on 58 minutes. “There were injured players, Khedira and Gomez, Hummels was suspended and Boateng went off injured — they’re hard players to replace.
Needless to say, the Fans were full of praise for France’s Antoine Griemann. But trust twitter to not let him off easy for that strange celebratory dance.
You know when that hotline bling, you can always rely on #Griezmann pic.twitter.com/swGq0Ol8lJ
— . (@hazardiinho) July 8, 2016
Antoine Griezmann is some player.. and obviously a Ben Stiller fan pic.twitter.com/HNrzCOvlzo
— talkingbaws (@talkingbaws) July 7, 2016
That moment when the Ecstasy kicks in. #Griezmann pic.twitter.com/AM6g25QtVr
— vermutlich (@probablyzuerich) July 8, 2016
When you see #Griezmann celebrating in the #FRAvGER match today… pic.twitter.com/mHSCBVUBgX
— Emmanuel Akyeampong (@african_avenger) July 7, 2016
Some things are truly better with Titanic music
Antoine Griezmann’s semi-final winning goal against Germany is even better with the titanic music… #FRA pic.twitter.com/MzZgRpMXyi
— Titanic Goals (@TitanicGoal) July 7, 2016
And this is how Griezboy became Griezmann.
— Freud_is_alive (@Freud_is_alive) July 7, 2016
Wow.
Griezmann scores, Paris goes crazy.
https://t.co/QOKsW6QKe6— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 7, 2016
Maybe if #Griezmann had fake tan, plucked eyebrows,played for Madrid & showed a washboard stomach after ever goal he’d get respect he merits
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) July 7, 2016
What is it with Atletico Madrid & strikers? Never get it wrong. Aguero, Torres, Costa, Griezmann, Villa, Falcao, Forlan, Vieri
— Guy Mowbray (@Guymowbray) July 7, 2016
#Griezmann deserves the hype – scored 50 goals in 2 seasons for Atleti & more in one Euro than anyone but Platini. What more can he do?
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) July 7, 2016
Don’t know about Superman or Batman but tonight GerMan met their Krypton in GriezMann. Loved both teams so much but guess one has to go out
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) July 7, 2016
Waiting to hear full rendition of “Griezmann’s on fire” after France’s variation of the Iceland Viking chant
— Chris (@chrismd10) July 7, 2016
If I was Wenger, I would drop £50m on Griezmann 9am tomorrow morning. In fact I’d do it tonight.
— Pablo (@AFCAMDEN) July 7, 2016
Huge performance by Antione #Griezmann is one for all kid athletes told “you’re too small, you’ll never make it” and picked last. #FRA
— Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) July 7, 2016
Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud wasn’t spared for his horrid showing during the match
When the internationals are over and you remember you’re going back to play with Giroud instead of Gomez pic.twitter.com/L1tRia761H
— S. (@lmaosimon) July 7, 2016
Gignac basically just a trained Giroud body double you throw on when you’ve heard there’ll be an assassination attempt on Giroud
— AndyP (@andy_p10) July 7, 2016
Why does Neuer become rubbish whenever Giroud is on the pitch?
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) July 7, 2016
When Giroud gets played through on goal pic.twitter.com/r0Y03tC1Ki
— The_Lil_Magician (@Lil_Magician10) July 7, 2016
Giroud is the striker Arsenal fans deserve.
— United Religion (@Unitedology) July 7, 2016
Giroud doing his absolute best to be named man of the match for #GER tonight.
— talkingbaws (@talkingbaws) July 7, 2016
If only Giroud had taken the piano off his back prior to kickoff.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 7, 2016
The ref’s having a word with Giroud, trying to get him to be less terrible.
— Paul (@UtdRantcast) July 7, 2016
Action replay of Giroud charging towards goal… #GERFRA pic.twitter.com/JenvTeT1Y8
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) July 7, 2016
Arsenal Legend Thierry Henry and Manchester United Legend Rio Ferdinand couldn’t hold back their laughter when Alan Shearer spoke about Olivier Giroud’s lack of pace.
Henry and Ferdinand laughing about Giroud’s pace #GERFRA pic.twitter.com/zrmPlbEsMo
— Real Simon (@IRealSimon) July 7, 2016
Had time to write a whole paragraph about that chance on Giroud’s Wikipedia page before he was eventually tackled and put out of his misery.
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) July 7, 2016
All I’m gonna say about the #GERFRA game is: It’s been long that I’ve seen such an unjusted and unfair match.
— Kitten ☆♤ (@fallenlenity) July 7, 2016
We are the looser of this football game. Who cares? We’re still world champion. #GERFRA ??
— Wolfmädchen❣ (@Melinas_Lara_) July 7, 2016
I bet the referee earned more money after this game than each of the players did #GERFRA
— svenja (@niallsfonds) July 7, 2016
Uefa shouldn’t let a ref ref the game where the team playing knocked out his home country in an intense showdown #NicolaRizzoli #GERFRA
— Jo (@JoGrieve1997) July 7, 2016
France knocking Iceland out and stealing their celebration is like when a bully punches you in the face and steals your dinner money #GERFRA
— Callum (@Panayisalad) July 7, 2016
We all know france didnt deserve to win with a score like this. Goodbye. #GERFRA
— sophia (@wayfguitarmgc) July 7, 2016
I really hate blaming a referee for the outcome of a match, but this #GERFRA game just shows how much power a referee has
— 페이♡ (@__sunbae) July 7, 2016