France reach Euro 2016 final on home soil with victory over Germany

        Griezmann celebrates after scoring from 12 yards in first-half stoppage time to send the host nation into the interval ahead

France have booked their place in the final of Euro 2016 courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Germany at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille yesterday.

The hosts gave up the majority of possession and territory to the world champions, but two goals from Antoine Griezmann proved to be the difference as Didier Deschamps’s side set up a showdown with Portugal in Sunday’s final at the Stade de France.

France went into the match unbeaten in their last 17 tournament games on home soil, and they immediately got on the front foot as they looked to draw on the raucous atmosphere.

They created a clear chance to do just that in the seventh minute when Griezmann exchanged passes with Blaise Matuidi before cutting inside into shooting space, but his low effort was pushed away by a smart stop from Manuel Neuer.

Germany soon began to grow into the game, though, and it wasn’t long before they created their first opening when Emre Can’s cross was met by Thomas Muller, but the forward could only turn his shot a few yards wide of the far post.

Hugo Lloris was called into action for the first time just a minute later when Can’s scuffed effort almost bounced into the bottom corner before being parried away by the France skipper.

Germany, appearing in a record eighth European Championship semi-final, began to gain complete control of the contest having weathered the early storm and again Lloris was called into action soon after, although this was a more routine stop from Muller’s long-range strike.

The pressure on France’s defence continued to grow and, having survived a penalty appeal for a Paul Pogba challenge on Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger drew another stop from Lloris with an effort from 25 yards.

Neuer was forced into a couple of routine stops from free kicks, but it was the world champions who continued to look the most likely to score and it took a last-gasp interception from Samuel Umtiti to deny Muller after Julian Draxler had poked the ball into a dangerous area.

On the rare occasions France did get the ball, they often wasted it, and Matuidi gifted Germany another shooting opportunity by giving the ball straight to Muller, but the isolated frontman was forced to go for goal from range and Lloris got down to keep it out.

The hosts did begin to get themselves back into the match towards the end of the half, maintaining a threat on the break, and soon after Griezmann had slammed one effort into the side-netting from a tight angle they had a clear chance to break the deadlock.

Olivier Giroud contested a header on the halfway line and the ball broke in his favour to send him clean through on goal, but the Arsenal man lacked the pace to race clear and Benedikt Howedes got back in time to make a vital challenge.