France Moves Onto Final to Seek Third Euro Championship

It has been so busy in the last few hours, that I did not even get to write about a pleasant almost surprise that occurred yesterday evening in France.

Now, I say surprise, because, you see, throughout my lifetime, fans of French football have had to get used to falling short against the German side. At least that was the case in meaningful games. And of course, Germany are the world champions, having won the World Cup just two years ago. They entered this tournament, much as they enter most tournaments, as one of the favorites, a true bully of the sport. France in particular had not beaten Germany in any competitive contest since all the way back in in 1958, when they were still known as West Germany.

And as if all of that were not enough, Germany has a long history of beating the host nations in such major tournaments. Remember what they did to Brazil just two years ago? Who could ever forget how they completely just dismantled and humiliated the Brazilian side, which had been known, up to that point at least, as the gold standard of excellence in the sport. Yet Germany had embarrassed them in a laughably one-sided affair right there before all of those Brazilian fans. Watching that had made Germany quite scary.

Remember who they beat just before that match?

That's right. France. Despite having had a strong tournament to that point, the French side, typically, just could not get anything going against a superior Germany side. Germany has a long history of beating France, and it always seemed that, no matter how good or promising France had played in a major tournament, whatever good fortune they had would end if they had to go up against Germany.

True, they had technically beaten Germany on November 13th. But that was a friendly, not a tournament match and, also, there were the attacks on Paris that completely overshadowed the match itself, and which prevented any kind of celebration. That was the only time that I remember France beating Germany prior to yesterday, and the story that everyone was following that evening from Paris was one of tragedy, and not of anything that happened on the football field.

So, it was with a little moan and a sense of trepidation that I watched France beat Iceland convincingly, knowing that Germany would not be dispatched so easily. A part of me - well, I'll admit it, most of me - just kind of half-expected France to find a way of losing, yet again.

And let's admit it: through most of the first half, the game was going according to script. It was nodded up at nil, but Germany was dictating play. They seemed to control the ball and the tempo of the game.

Then, all of a sudden, something strange happened. There was a penalty against Germany, when a beaten German defender Bastian Schweinsteiger. Antoine Greizmann was trying to pass to teammate Patrice Evra, when beaten Schweinsteiger put up his hands to essentially block the shot. The referee noticed, and rewarded Greizmann with a pentalty kick, which he buried, giving France a 1-0 lead just before halftime, after essentially getting dominated to that point. Despite hardly having created many great chances, and watching Germany control things, the French side had a 1-0, two minutes into extra time.

Germany's manager Jogi Low said, "The goal was a shock, because until that point France had not really created anything. I had to calm my players down in the dressing room, because it makes no sense to waste energy with anger. But it changed everything."

It was the first time that Germany found itself trailing in the tournament.

Germany really pressed France in the second half, however, and once again, seemed to dictate the tempo, clearly looking for the equalizer. Yet France's defense held, and Germany could not get anything past French keeper Hugo Lloris.

Still later, Germany's Kimmich lazily gave away the ball in a key turnover very close to his own goal, and France jumped on this opportunity. Pogba kicked the ball to the center and, after an awkward bounce, Greizmann's foot found the ball and sailed it into the net for the second score in the 72nd minute, and a convincing 2-0 lead very late in the game!

Yes, Greizmann, who never seemed to fully come into his own two years ago, scored not one, but two decisive goals to propel France to victory over Germany, earning them a spot in the final against Portugal, who defeated Wales to go on their side. He had six goals already in this tournament going into this game, but added two more crucial goals in yesterday's semifinal.

French manager Didier Deschamps, who was a member of both the 1998 World Cup championship teams, as well as the Euro 2000 championship squad for l'Equipe de France, gave Germany credit, saying that they gave France a very tough fight on this day.

"We made history tonight. We don't have the power to solve all the problems of the French people, but we can generate happiness and confidence. And that's important."

This is the third time since 1984 that France has hosted a major tournament. In the previous two times - the Euro 1984 and the 1998 World Cup - France advanced to the final, and emerged victorious. They are back in the final again this time, although Portugal still stands in their way.

On Sunday, we will see who emerges to win the Euro championship!

Allez les bleus!

France seize the moment against a dominant Germany to reach Euro final by Gabriele Marcotti of ESPN, July 7, 2016:

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/european-championship/0/blog/post/2896684/france-seize-moment-to-defeat-germany-and-reach-euro-2016-final-against-portugal