5 Truths: France’s perfect final and their gamble that (almost) backfired

It would have been a worthy clash on Sunday, but it was enough that it was a compelling semi-final. In the cauldron that is Marseille’s Stade Velodrome, France and Germany went right at it from the start, traded periods of dominance and collaborated for an unforgettable night. Unfortunately for the world champions, denied the chance to become only the fourth team to double up with a European title as well, what ultimately made it so unforgettable was the explosion of emotion it evoked from the host nation. As Antoine Griezmann scored twice in a masterful performance, Marseille was on its feet.

It was said before the tournament that France needed to perform to lift a country scarred by terror as recently as November, in the Paris attacks which unfolded even as France were playing Germany in a friendly in Paris. Their group stage campaign was unconvincing, but France are peaking perfectly, following up their scintillating performance to beat Iceland 5-2 in the quarter-finals with this huge 2-0 win over Germany.

Their perfect final awaits. Portugal have their strengths, most obviously Cristiano Ronaldo, but it is surely France’s to lose. The triumph that the nation was said to need so badly, a first win at a major tournament since Didier Deschamps lifted the Euro 2000 trophy as France captain, is now within touching distance.

Dropped after the opening game of Euro 2016 - yes, it happened - Griezmann has now scored six goals, three more than any other player, and the most by a player in the Euros since Michel Platini plundered nine in 1984. It is not just the volume of his goals though, it his near immaculate all-round game, his feathery touch, his clever flicks and his electric pace. After seven minutes, for instance, he almost scored the goal of the tournament so far, exchanging a string of passes with Blaise Matuidi to traverse his way into the box and might have finished better having put Benedikt Howedes on his bum and shot at Manuel Neuer.

Griezmann’s goal with the last kick of the first half may have been a penalty (more on that below) but his performance merited it as he posed a huge threat situated in behind Giroud. There was a moment in that first half where Giroud was sprung through on goal and with a clear run into the box. But his labored control and chronic lack of pace allowed Benedikt Howedes back in to make an admittedly brilliant sliding tackle. You just knew that if it had been Griezmann, it would have been another goal for the collection.

That arrived after 72 minutes as he showed off his predatory instincts to pounce on Manuel Neuer’s flap from Paul Pogba’s cross and poke the ball over the line. It sparked a pitch invasion from almost every member of France’s bench. They know how vital he is to this team. The tournament stats demonstrate that without question.

“I texted Koscielny to say that we are not Iceland,” said Mesut Ozil ahead of this match, but France still treated them like the smallest nation at the tournament by picking the same team which beat them 5-2 in the quarter-finals, and crucially without N’Golo Kante anchoring midfield. It did not matter too much in a spellbinding opening, set to a deafening din from the stands at the Stade Veldrome. France started at a sprint, a blur of energy in midfield from both Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi driving them forward, but everything going through the electric Griezmann.

With Mesut Ozil stationed out on the right and away from his usual sphere of influence it appeared Deschamps’ risky decision to leave Kante on the bench was paying off - certainly Griezmann was thriving in the central role it afforded him. But gradually, Germany began to assume control through their precise use of the ball in a midfield zone that was missing the player who is one of the very best in the world at interceptions. At the half-hour mark they were in almost complete control, passing the ball around like it was a kickabout in the park. Deschamps had made a big error and France would pay. And then it happened. The incident which completely changed the game.

Nothing divides opinion quite like a controversial penalty call and the incident which gave France the lead with the very last kick of the game was certainly that. At first it was unclear quite what referee Nicola Rizzoli had given from a France corner; the furious reactions of the Germany team soon indicated it was a penalty to the home side. But why?

Replays soon revealed that Bastian Schweinsteiger had leapt to challenge Patrice Evra for the incoming ball, but had done so while leading with his arms, in quite unnatural fashion. As soon as Evra got a glancing header to the ball and it then clipped the Germany captain’s hand there was only one decision the referee could make. Griezmann, who failed to score from a penalty in the Champions League final just over a month ago, buried it from 12 yards and it was pandemonium in Stade Velodrome as Germany’s desolate players trooped down the tunnel. They would not recover their confident stride as the game slipped away from them in that moment.

Even at 2-0 down Germany had plenty of chances to get back in this semi-final. In the space of 10 minutes alone, Joshua Kimmich clipped the post with a lovely curling effort, Leroy Sane went close just following his arrival as a substitute, Shkodran Mustafi, having gaffed in the build-up to France’s second, fired high over the bar and Benedikt Howedes headed just over. But while France possessed the most deadly player on the pitch, Germany’s lack of a convincing striker contributed hugely to their downfall.

Mario Gomez missed the match due to injury and Germany went with Thomas Muller in the centre of a three-man attack, with the superb Ozil and temperamental Julian Draxler either side of him. It just didn’t happen for Muller as his run of European Championship games without a goal extended to a full 10, and Mario Gotze was introduced as an auxiliary forward to little effect too.

Hugo Lloris pulled off a sensational save in injury time to deny Kimmich with a header but Germany's wastefulness had already done its damage.