Euro 2016: France, Portugal in final showdown

France booked their place in the final of Euro 2016 courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Germany at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Thursday.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Despite spending the vast majority of the opening 45 minutes on the back foot, France did go into the break ahead courtesy of a penalty in first-half stoppage when Schweinsteiger, appearing in a record 38th match at a major international tournament, was adjudged to have handled the ball when blocking a header from Patrice Evra.
Griezmann stepped out to take the spot kick, and the top scorer at Euro 2016 confidently stroked the ball home, sending Neuer the wrong way to register his fifth goal at the tournament.
France had not beaten Germany in a major tournament for 58 years, but they took another giant step towards ending that barren spell with less than 20 minutes remaining when Griezmann doubled his personal tally for the night.
Griezmann had the chance to write his name into French folklore by sealing things with a hat-trick when he broke clear down the left flank late on, but he didn’t catch his effort right and Neuer made a comfortable stop.