Antoine Griezmann has fired France into the Euro 2016 final with a smash-and-grab 2-0 victory over a dominant Germany to end 58 years of tournament suffering at the hands of the tournament host’s neighbours.
Griezmann drove in a penalty at the end of the first half after a needless handball by German captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and poked home in the 72nd minute following a blunder by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to set up a final against Portugal in Paris on Monday morning (AEST).
World champion Germany dominated the match in terms of possession but its lack of a deadly finisher cost it and razor-sharp Griezmann, whose double took his tournament-leading tally to six, was the difference.
It was the first time France had beaten Germany in a competitive match since the 1958 World Cup, including defeats in the semi-finals of the 1982 and 1986 World Cups and the quarter-finals two years ago.
The hosts will go into the final as strong favourites to emulate the teams of 1984 and 1998, who won the European and world titles on home soil.
Germany will wonder how it failed to score in a game it controlled for long periods but, after Jerome Boateng’s handball gave Italy a lifeline in the quarter-finals, its captain’s similarly inexplicable high hand swung the game France’s way when they most needed it.
France, roared on in a fantastic atmosphere, had torn forward in the opening exchanges and looked full of adventure.
However, Germany calmly and methodically took control, totally swamping the midfield and with its full-backs hugging the touchlines, constantly probing.
Despite the overwhelming dominance of possession, however, clear chances were few and far between, with Hugo Lloris saving comfortably from Emre Can and Thomas Mueller and Schweinsteiger off target when well-placed.