france into semis iceland finishes with a bite
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

France into semis, Iceland finishes with a bite

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today France into semis, Iceland finishes with a bite

France's Antoine Griezmann scores the fourth goal against Iceland in their quarterfinal match at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis near Paris, Sunday night.
Paris - Arab Today

Olivier Giroud scored twice to take man-of-the-match honors as France marched into the Euro 2016 semifinals but even after a 5-2 hammering, Iceland departed with pride having struck new underdog blows.
France now plays Germany aiming to settle old scores from past World Cups and Euros. And having home advantage and an attack led by Giroud and Antoine Griezmann that is starting to fire gives the French growing confidence.
The semifinals will start on Wednesday however with Gareth Bale’s Wales taking on Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.
Giroud hit a goal in each half of the comprehensive victory at a rain-drenched Stade de France. He was joined on the scoresheet by Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Griezmann. Atletico Madrid striker Griezman hit a brilliant chip on the stroke of half time and now leads the tournament rankings with four goals.
French coach Didier Deschamps may have been worried however by the way Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Birkir Bjarnason exposed France’s defensive frailties with two second-half goals.
Giroud was quick to pay tribute to Iceland, the revelation of the European Championship after their 2-1 victory over England.
“We scored five goals, we are very satisfied but Iceland never gave up. They fought with valour, they were very determined,” said the Arsenal striker.
“I want to pay tribute to them. They had a wonderful Euro,” added Giroud, who was brought off after his second goal to avoid getting a new yellow card that would have led to a suspension.
“I’m very proud. It’s been a fantastic tournament, something special for a small team like us,” said Iceland striker Gylfi Sigurdsson.
“We’ve probably overachieved. It is something no-one expected us to do, which is good because it gives kids back home hope that this is possible and hopefully in the future we’ll be back in the finals,” added the Swansea City star.
“We have probably 10-15 players who are at a really good age and we’ll be looking forward to the World Cup qualifiers which aren’t too far away.”
Iceland has only a population of 330,000 but Euro 2016 has put the country “on the map,” according to Arnor Ingvi Traustason.
“I’ve been getting messages from all over the world from people proud of us,” he said.
Didier Deschamps’ men will take on Germany in Marseille on Thursday for a place in the final.
Deschamps hailed his side’s performance though he acknowledged the weaknesses highlighted by the two goals.
“It’s not ideal even if I made some changes but there are so many positives to take from tonight,” he said.
“Germany are the best team, there is no doubt about that, even if Italy gave them a few scares. But we are there in the final four and we’ll give it our all,” said Deschamps.
Germany beat France in the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals. But France feels their defeat in the 1982 semifinal when Patrick Battiston suffered critical injuries even more.
Iceland, who had never beaten France in 11 attempts, kept faith with the side that shocked England, making European Championship history as the first team to name an unchanged line-up for their first five matches.
Sluggish starts have been a hallmark of France matches in the tournament, but the hosts quickly seized control and Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson had to smother Payet’s early effort at the second attempt.
It took less than a quarter hour for France to make the breakthrough. Giroud raced onto Blaise Matuidi’s floated ball over the defense and drilled through Halldorsson’s legs.
Pogba headed home a Griezmann corner for his first goal of the tournament and in a powerful end to the half, Griezmann teed up Payet whose low drive whistled into the far corner.
Griezmann tucked away France’s fourth on the stroke of the interval, running onto Giroud’s pass and lifting the ball over Halldorsson.
Sigthorsson, who netted Iceland’s winner against England, scored for the second game running after poking in Sigurdsson’s cross on 56 minutes.
But France replied with Giroud beating Halldorsson to a Payet free kick immediately before the Arsenal striker was withdrawn.
Iceland were rewarded for their perseverence though as they grabbed a second goal when Bjarnason headed in Ari Skulason’s cross on 84 minutes.
“Now we have gotten a taste of being at the big stage, we love it and we belong here,” said Halldorsson.

 

Source ; Arab News

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

france into semis iceland finishes with a bite france into semis iceland finishes with a bite

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

france into semis iceland finishes with a bite france into semis iceland finishes with a bite

 



GMT 09:16 2017 Wednesday ,13 December

Cape wearing tips

GMT 20:49 2017 Monday ,21 August

South Asia floods claim more than 750 lives

GMT 19:06 2016 Saturday ,10 December

IOF Close Al-Nabi Saleh Village's Entrance

GMT 18:01 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

Abu Sayyaf ‘likely’ behind Vietnam freighter attack

GMT 06:41 2017 Sunday ,03 December

Hamas threatens 'intifada' over US moves on Jerusalem

GMT 16:17 2017 Saturday ,21 January

BMW 7 series crosses 5,000 unit mark in 2016

GMT 12:17 2016 Wednesday ,24 February

United Technologies nixes Honeywell merger

GMT 23:37 2017 Monday ,31 July

Saudi Arabia sanctions Hezbollah member

GMT 05:45 2018 Saturday ,29 September

Abdullah bin Zayed hosts official reception in New York

GMT 04:12 2018 Friday ,12 January

Saudi-led coalition says Yemen rebels threat

GMT 11:18 2014 Monday ,22 December

Richard Ward adds to The Chelsea Collection
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday