French Revolution
Marseille, July 8
Antoine Griezmann took up the mantle as challenger-in-chief to Cristiano Ronaldo with two goals that crushed world champions Germany and saw France into Sunday’s final against Portugal.
A penalty awarded seconds before half-time caused turmoil in the German camp. Griezmann took his chance and added a second strike to extend his lead as the tournament’s leading scorer and become France’s new football hero. “He’s our little Mr Extra,” said fellow striker Olivier Giroud after the dramatic win before 65,000 spectators on a hot Thursday night. France’s first victory over their rivals in a major tournament since 1958 came out of a controversial penalty decision at the end of the first half.
Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli saw that German captain Bastian Schweinsteiger handled the ball in an aerial challenge with Patrice Evra. German players were furious but Griezmann sent goalkeeper Manuel Neuer the wrong way with his spot kick.
The 2014 World Cup winners had dominated possession and German coach Joachim Loew said he had to “calm the players down” in the dressing room at half-time because of the penalty.
Germany renewed their control of the ball in the second half but Griezmann rattled them again with a 72nd minute goal. Paul Pogba’s cross from the left was cleared by Neuer into the Atletico Madrid star’s path to fire home through the legs of the goalkeeper who had only conceded one other goal in regulation time at the tournament.
Germany desperately pushed forward. Joshua Kimmich hit the crossbar with one shot and other efforts went narrowly wide. But France held firm for a famous and thrilling victory.
Sunday’s final will pit Griezmann against Ronaldo and a team from a nation of 11 million people against one of Europe’s giants, who won the World Cup in 1998 at the same venue and the European title in 1984.
France’s recent years have been clouded by defeats and scandal, including a player strike at the 2010 World Cup. Now the country appears to be behind them again.
Griezmann’s goals took him to within three of the record nine scored in one tournament by French legend Michel Platini in 1984. He was particularly relieved to have scored the penalty, having missed one when Atletico Madrid played in the Champions League final against Ronaldo’s Real Madrid in May.
Griezmann was rejected as too small by French clubs and made his name in Spain. On top of the joy of reaching the Euro final, French players were also elated to have finally beaten Germany again in a competitive match.
Evra said the team had been told so many stories about the last time France beat Germany in a major tournament, at the 1958 World Cup. The psychological barrier was broken with victory in the November 13 friendly which was soon forgotten when suicide bombers detonated explosives outside the Stade de France at the start of a series of deadly attacks in Paris.
“As soon as we beat them in a friendly, it gave us a lift,” Evra said.
German coach Loew said his team had been the better of the two. Goalkeeper Neuer said the result was undeserved. “We have played well at these European Championship finals, but we’re out. That’s very bitter,” said Neuer. “It’s a semifinal and there is not a more stupid moment (to go out) and it’s not a fair result.” Loew refused to say whether he would extend his time as Germany’s manager beyond the campaign for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Largest TV audience in France since 2006
The semifinal drew the largest TV audience in France since 2006, according to a statistics company. The TF1 channel that aired the match said that it had a total audience share of 68.8 per cent with 19.2 million viewers. — AFP
Final on JULY 10: Live on Sony Six, Sony ESPN Portugal vs France
- 6 goals Antoine Griezmann has scored so far in the tournament. Only Michel Platini (nine in 1984) has scored more goals at a single Euro finals
- 1 France are the first nation to reach the Euro final twice as hosts (also in 1984)
- 58 years it took France to beat Germany in a major international tournament
- 4 Germany have lost four of their last six semifinals at major tournaments (2006, 2010, 2012, 2016)
Quick passes
Kokorin apologises for notorious party
Three days after the news about Russian forward Alexander Kokorin’s boisterous party at a Monaco luxury night club set sporting circles abuzz, the footballer apologised on Friday. Kokorin and Pavel Mamaev were partying at Twiga club and ordered some 500 bottles of Armand de Brignac champagne costing 500 euros each, with the total bill reaching around $276,000. An eyewitness said that champagne was served while the Russian national anthem was playing and the party was accompanied with a fireworks display. Kokorin said he and his teammate Mamaev had nothing to do with paying for the party.
Pepe still training separately from Portugal team
Portugal defender Pepe trained separately from his teammates again on Friday as he continued his battle to recover from a thigh muscle injury in time for Sunday’s final. Pepe was seen undergoing light exercises with the ball on the sidelines of the training session.
Griezmann, Ronaldo clash in final for second time in six weeks
When France meet Portugal in Sunday’s final, the outcome is likely to depend on the performances of Cristiano Ronaldo (in pic) and Antoine Griezmann — the second time the two players have clashed with a European trophy at stake in six weeks. Ronaldo steered Real Madrid to their Champions League triumph at the end of May after Griezmann missed a penalty for city rivals Atletico. The France striker has certainly bounced back from that disappointment. He is the competition’s top scorer with six goals, having scored both goals in Thursday’s defeat of world champions Germany. Portugal’s master tactician Fernando Santos needs to cut supply lines to a player whom the French call “Monsieur Griezmann” as a sign of respect — despite his boyish looks. It will be a challenge.
Ex-electrician Santos happy to wire up Portugal
Portugal’s failure to win over the neutrals on their way to the final was never going to bother their down-to-earth coach Fernando Santos. “I’m ugly by nature and I don’t mind if I’m even uglier,” he said at one point during Euro. “I judge my team by whether we play well or badly, not by whether we are pretty or ugly.” The 61-year-old is a qualified telecommunications engineer and electrician. While his opposite number Didier Deschamps is a former World Cup winner, Santos had a modest playing career with provincial Portuguese clubs and gave up a job as a hotel’s chief technician to go into football coaching. Even now, he carries the air of a grumpy shopkeeper rather than the man who is within one match of making Portuguese football history by leading them to their first international title. — Agencies
