The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsDefending World Champions Germany face hosts France in the second semi-final of Euro 2016 in Marseille. Germany overcame the favorites Italy after a disordered penalty shootout in the last 8 to make the semi-finals of a major tournament for the 6th consecutive tournament. France, on the other hand, scored 5 past surprise packages Iceland to set up this giant clash.
Both teams were marked as righteous favorites before a ball was even kicked and they’ve proved the worth in recent weeks. Germany have turned on the style since the knockout rounds kicked-off. They dismantled a combative Slovakia team in the round-of-16 and managed to control Italy for large parts of the quarter-final. Coach Joachim Low has been unafraid to experiment with different teams and take risks , as seen in the Italy game, where he switched to a three-man defense to counter his counterparts’ strategy. With a whole host of talent all across the pitch, Germany will feel they have the advantage heading into the Stade Velodrome.
France were unable to meet expectations in the group stages, laboring to wins over Romania and Albania before going through a dull goalless draw against Switzerland. They had to struggle in the first half in the round-of-16 against the Republic of Ireland where they were behind inside the opening 2 minutes but were able to bring out their real form in the second half, coming back to bolster past the disoriented Irish. They carried their form in the quarter-final against Iceland, netting 5, and despite conceding twice, they seemed stable on the ball and will be in a confident mood against the World Champions.
Mats Hummels is the only absentee through suspension. He picked up his second yellow in five games and will be forced to sit out the tie. France will have no suspended players, and to their advantage, will have N’Golo Kante and Adil Rami back from suspension after they missed the game against Iceland. Germany forward Mario Gomez picked up a hamstring injury against Italy, that subsequently forced him off the pitch, and will now miss the rest of the tournament. Sami Khedira picked up a groin injury in the same game and is set to have Bastian Schweinsteiger replacing him. France have no significant injury concerns.
Samuel Umtiti replaced the suspended Adil Rami in the game against Iceland and looks set to keep his spot in the first team after a stellar performance. The Lyon defender, on the verge of signing for Barcelona, put on a flawless show against Iceland completing a successful debut performance for Les Bleus. Thomas Muller is yet to score for Germany in the tournament, largely down to poor luck, but has been a major effect on the team and is part of all good Germany have done so far. A goal is coming for him, and if he continues to play the way he has been against France, it could be soon.
The winner of the game seals a final spot against Portugal, who overcame Wales, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
PREDICTED STARTING TEAMS:
Germany: Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Jerome Boateng, Benedikt Howedes, Jonas Hector, Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Julian Draxler, Mario Gotze
France: Hugo Lloris, Bacary Sagna, Samuel Umtiti, Laurent Koscielny, Patrice Evra, N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Dimitri Payet, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann
PRE MATCH FACTS:
- Antoine Griezmann is the outright top goalscorer of the tournament with 4.
- France reached the final of the last two major tournaments they’ve hosted, winning both.
- Germany have made it to the sixth successive semi-final of a major tournament. Joachim Low has been manager for the last five.
- France haven’t beaten Germany in a competitive game since 1958
- The nations have met 27 times, Germany recording nine wins to France’s 12. Their four games at final tournaments have ended in one win for France, a draw and two Germany victories, most recently a 1-0 success in the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-final.
WHAT THEY SAID:
“We have to play as a unit and help each other; we must be compact in defence. If we give them space they’ll be very quick and very dynamic, and that would make it very difficult for us.” – Germany coach Joachim Low
“No one can change history, but there are new chapters to be written. This page is blank and it’s up to the players to fill it. The players must have belief in themselves and we need the crowd to get behind them too. We’re playing the best side in the world but we’re going to give it all we have.” – France coach Didier Deschamps
