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Euro 2016 Live Commentary: Germany vs France



Good evening and welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Euro 2016 semi-final between Germany and France in Marseille.


The world champions are appearing in a record eighth Euro semi-final this evening and could take one step closer to becoming just the fourth team to hold the World Cup and European Championships at the same time.

Hosts France are the highest-scoring team at the tournament, however, are coming into this match unbeaten in their last 11 outings on home soil.

Find out who will earn the right to face Portugal in Sunday's final courtesy of our minute-by-minute updates below.


OFFICIAL LINE-UPS



GERMANY STARTING XI: Neuer; Can, Boateng, Höwedes, Hector; Kroos, Schweinsteiger; Kimmich, Özil, Draxler; Müller
FRANCE STARTING XI: Lloris; Sagna, Koscielny, Umtiti, Evra; Pogba, Matuidi; Sissoko, Griezmann, Payet; Giroud


















Thank you for joining our live coverage of the match!

What a night for France! They book their place in the final of Euro 2016 on home soil, setting up a showdown with Portugal at the Stade de France on Sunday. Germany dominated possession and territory, but they couldn't find a way through the French defence and it is Didier Deschamps's side who are celebrating in Marseille.

90+5 min FRANCE ARE IN THE FINAL OF EURO 2016!

90+5 min FULL TIME: Germany 0-2 France

90+3 min SAVE! Oh what a save this is! Lloris keeps his clean sheet intact with a stunning stop to deny Kimmich's firm header. Moments later another header goes just past the post, and France are pretty much there now!

90+2 min FRANCE SUB: Once final sub for France as Griezmann makes way for Yohan Cabaye. Griezmann has been the hero today!

90 min There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match. Four minutes separate France from the final of Euro 2016!

88 min Gignac goes for goal this time, but his low strike is heading wide as Neuer keeps it in anyway to get things going quickly again.

86 min CHANCE! Griezmann has a chance to kill the game off and seal a hat-trick here as he races clear down the left and shows good strength to hold off a challenge. He cuts back into a shooting position, but then doesn't catch his effort and Neuer collects.

84 min The urgency is really starting to grow for Germany right now, but there isn't really a plan B for them now. They have no Klose any more who they can throw long balls up to, so they continue to try to pass through France.

82 min CHANCE! Chance for Germany to get that all-important first goal back as Kroos lifts a free kick into the box that Howedes attacks really well, but his powerful header ripples the top of the net on its way over.

81 min Less than 10 minutes remain for Germany to come up with something special here! It is such a big ask for them now though, and France deserve so much credit for the way they have defended.

79 min CHANCES! Oh my word, Sane almost breaks the deadlock within a couple of seconds of coming on. A free kick is hoisted into the box and appears to come off Sane last, bobbling agonisingly past the post. A corner is awarded, though, and from it the ball drops to Mustafi, but he lashes his effort well over.

79 min GERMANY SUB: Off goes experience in Schweinsteiger, and on comes youth in Leroy Sane here

78 min FRANCE SUB: Another change for France here as Andre-Pierre Gignac replaces Giroud.

76 min CLOSE! Muller and Ozil both leave the free kick for Draxler, who curls one narrowly past the post. For a moment it looked as though it was going to nestle into the corner, but in the end it flew a yard or so wide.

75 min YELLOW CARD! Kante becomes the latest player in the book, gifting Germany a free kick in shooting range.

74 min OFF THE POST! Incredible scenes here! Germany, in need of a goal, almost get one immediately in reply. Kimmich, looking to make amends, collects the ball just outside the area and tries to curl one into the far top corner. It has Lloris beaten, but just clips the outside of the post on its way behind.

72 min France double their lead in Marseille! This time it is a catalogue of errors from Germany that lead to the goal, with Kimmich being caught in possession inside his own area before Pogba beats his man and lifts a cross into the box. Neuer comes to claim, but can only palm the ball into the path of Griezmann, who stabs it home for his sixth goal of the tournament!

72 min GOAL! Germany 0-2 France (Antoine Griezmann)

71 min FRANCE SUB: France make their first change of the evening, and it is a wise one from Deschamps as N'Golo Kante comes on in place of Payet.

71 min He does exactly that to pick out Mustafi at the back post, but the sub can't make anything of it and the flag is up anyway.

70 min Sissoko brings down Kroos after decent footwork from the Real Madrid man. This free kick is just out of shooting range, but Kroos could lift it into the box...

68 min At the other end Germany come forward and a low ball is played into the box, with Draxler attacking the near post. Again Umtiti is there, though, and he does enough to force only a corner.

67 min Almost a shooting chance for Payet, which would have been similar to his effort against Romania just on the other side. He works space to shoot well enough, but his contact is poor and dribbles into the arms of Neuer.

67 min GERMANY SUB: Joachim Low has seen enough now and makes his first unenforced change as Mario Gotze replaces Can.

65 min Just 25 minutes separate France from a home European Championships final now. They have got themselves on the ball a little more in the last five minutes or so and so far have prevented Germany from creating anything in this second half.

63 min Half a chance for Germany from a corner, but the header goes looping onto the roof of the net as Lloris watches it over.

61 min GERMANY SUB: Here is that change as Shkodran Mustafi replaces the injured Boateng. Big blow for Germany.

60 min Big concern for Germany here as Boateng goes down off the ball and signals that he won't be able to continue here. It's not just this game he is out of, it may be the final if Germany get there.

58 min No chances to report in the last few minutes as Germany continue to probe for a way through. It must be said that France have defended well so far today, preventing Germany from getting any clear chances despite all of their possession.

56 min They got away with it in the first half, but France inviting pressure onto them is a dangerous game with so much of the match remaining and the quality at Germany's disposal. They may not have much of a choice in the matter, but they need to try and break out.

54 min We're less than 10 minutes into the second half, but already things look like they are getting a bit nervy for both sides. There's a long way to go yet!

52 min It's a mirror image of the first half so far. France made a bright start, but Germany are taking control of things again now. Umtiti, incidentally, is having a very good game at the back on only his second cap for France.

50 min YELLOW CARD! Draxler becomes the latest player in the book for scything down Sissoko after the Newcastle man had won a good tussle between the pair.

47 min France have started this half as they did the first, getting right on the front foot. Giroud knocks the ball into the path of Griezmann here, and his efforts deflects over the crossbar for another corner.

47 min CHANCE! Another chance for Giroud as he is picked out by a great pass from Pogba in a bit of space. He once again delays his shot, though, and that allows Boateng to make the block.

46 min KICKOFF: Germany get us back underway for this second half, and there have been no changes for either side at the break. Can France hold out to reach the final in the coming 45 minutes?

Incredible end to the half in Marseille as France somehow go in ahead following that late penalty. It was one-way traffic for the vast majority of the half in Germany's favour as they dominated possession and territory, but ultimately, as things stand, it is France who will be going to the final.


45+3 min HALF TIME: Germany 0-1 France

45+2 min Incredible scenes at the Stade Velodrome! After a half of dominance, France take the lead right at the interval courtesy of a Griezmann penalty and go into the break ahead. Confusion reigned initially when the referee awarded the penalty, but replays show that Evra's header hit the outstretched hand of Schweinsteiger. There was no distance between the players, but the hand was up and the referee awarded the penalty. Up stepped Griezmann to send Neuer the wrong way and give his side the lead.

45+2 min GOAL! Germany 0-1 France (Antoine Griezmann, penalty)

45+1 min PENALTY TO FRANCE!

43 min YELLOW CARD! Evra goes into the book for a cynical challenge on Kroos.

42 min CHANCE! Huge chance for France! The ball breaks to Giroud and the Arsenal man suddenly finds himself clean through on goal. However he simply doesn't have the pace to get away and doesn't look up for Griezmann in support. Howedes sprints back and launches himself in the man of Giroud's shot with a brilliant block.

41 min SHOT! Much better from France as they make a rare foray forward down the left flank, Evra collects the ball on the overlap before playing a pass inside to Griezmann, who chips it up to himself before slamming a shot into the side-netting.

40 min Germany claim for another penalty here as Schweinsteiger tries to get on the end of a corner before going down under the challenge of Pogba. Once again the referee says no, and it is the right decision.

39 min SAVE! Matuidi gives the ball straight to Muller inside his own half, and the German attacker strides forward with it. He is a little isolated, though, so goes for goal from range, forcing Lloris into a fairly routine save.

37 min SAVE! This time it is Pogba who goes for goal, and it is another decent effort, but Neuer once again makes it look very easy to collect.

36 min YELLOW CARD! The first card of the night is shown to Can for a trip on Griezmann, and once again it is a free kick well within shooting range.

34 min This one may not be as one-sided on the scoresheet as Germany's semi-final against Brazil two years ago, but in terms of possession and territory there isn't a great deal of difference. Germany are in complete command.

32 min CHANCE! Very nearly another big chance for Germany, but Umtiti makes a vital interception. The ball came to Draxler at the back post and he could only poke it into a dangerous area, but the France defender got there just before Muller.

30 min We've had half an hour now in Marseille, and for 20 minutes of this game Germany have been very impressive indeed. They are outnumbering France in midfield and simply outclassing the hosts at the moment. They look a cut above.

28 min Payet almost puts his team in danger with a sliced clearance that falls to a white shirt on the edge of the box, but France scramble across in time to clear the danger.

26 min SAVE! More German danger here as first a cross arrives to Ozil at the back post that the Arsenal man mis-hits, but the world champions soon win it back and Schweinsteiger goes for goal from range. It may not be dipping in, but Lloris takes no chances and tips it over anyway.

25 min SAVE! It's over the wall and on target, but in the end Neuer makes it look easy to collect it. Decent enough effort from Payet, but it will take a truly special shot from there to beat the German keeper.

23 min France finally get the ball back, and Payet wins them a free kick well within his shooting range. Just the small matter of Neuer to beat from 30 yards...

21 min PENALTY SHOUT! Germany want a penalty here, with Kroos driving forward to the edge of the box before just been caught on the heel by Pogba as he was about to pull the trigger. It was right on the edge of the box so, even if it was a foul, it may have been a free kick, but that was a close call.

20 min Well, I said it wouldn't be easy for Germany to take the sting out of this game, but they are doing a good job of it right now! France can't get their foot on the ball at the moment as Germany continue to dominate possession.

18 min Well, if the first 10 minutes belonged to France, the next 10 have been Germany's. The world champions have taken control of possession and, having weathered the early storm, it is now Germany who are looking the most like scoring.

16 min SAVE! Another save for Lloris to make, but this one is much more straightforward. Muller finds himself in a bit of space around 25 yards from goal, but his shot is straight at Lloris, who gathers it comfortably.

14 min CHANCE! Another chance for Germany, and this time Lloris is called upon to make a smart save. The ball comes in to Can and he doesn't catch his shot quite right, but it takes a really good low stop from the France captain to push it away. It almost falls for Draxler, but a mixture of Sagna and Koscielny smuggle the ball clear.

13 min CHANCE! Germany have their first chance of the match following a good passing move, with Kimmich turning the ball around the corner for Can. He in turn puts the ball in the box for Muller, but he turns it a few yards wide of the far post when sliding in.

11 min It's been better from Germany in the last couple of minutes as they look to fight back from that quick French start. This one is already shaping up to be a magnificent tussle.

9 min Germany get their best piece of possession so far and try to take the sting out of the game, but that is easier said than done in this cauldron. The French players seem every bit as up for this as the French fans.

7 min CHANCE! Big chance for France to take an early lead here! Matuidi flicks the ball inside and Griezmann delays his shot, carving the defence open. He tries to place it into the bottom corner, but his shot is just too close to Neuer and the keeper makes a good save down low to his left.

6 min Well, there were questions as to what approach France would take to this game, and if Deschamps's team selection didn't answer that then this start has. They are first to everything at the moment.

4 min France have made a bright and positive start to this match, looking to get on the front foot early on. They have got into a few good positions already as well, so Deschamps will be happy with what he has seen so far.

2 min Payet shows his first piece of dazzling footwork to skip away from one defender and lift a cross into the box, but Can is there to block it behind for a corner.

1 min KICKOFF: Here we go then! It is a magnificent atmosphere in the Stade Velodrome as France get us underway for this second semi-final.

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