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Agence France-Presse

France swept emphatically into the Euro 2016 semi-finals and brought Iceland’s fairy tale run to a crushing halt as Olivier Giroud scored twice in a 5-2 win on Sunday to set up a mouth-watering last-four clash with Germany.
Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann were also on target in a one-sided romp at the Stade de France that proved a nightmare end to war-weary Iceland’s improbable Euro dreams.
Having fairly comfortably eased past England into the quarter-finals, Iceland, the smallest nation ever to have qualified for the European Championship, with a population of 330,000, were 4-0 down inside the first half.
They tried to rally after the break with a goal from Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, and added a late consolation through Birkir Bjarnason, but the damage had already been done.
France, who had not been past the quarter-finals since they won the tournament in 2000, eased off and cruised home and will no doubt feel they are warming up nicely ahead of Thursday’s semi-final against world champions Germany in Marseille.
“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 France coach Didier Deschamps.
“I am delighted for the players as they deserve this, and for these fans who have been behind us for months
“To be able to offer them something to make them smile and feel happy and have another week in it – I’m delighted about that.”

Giroud, jeered by France supporters barely a month ago, won them over with what he described as his best performance for his country in a major tournament.
“We have a lot of desire to get our own back for what happened at the World Cup,” Giroud said of the quarter-final loss to eventual champion Germany two years ago.

The 29-year-old did not want to dwell for too long on his own display and said that the team’s achievement in reaching the semi-finals was more important than his official man of the match award.
“I’m pleased, nothing more than that,” Giroud said.
“I don’t know if that’s my best performance for France because I’ve played some other good games but in a major tournament, such as Euro 2012 and the World Cup in Brazil, that is my best. I felt good from the start.
“Iceland didn’t give up at any stage,” Giroud said. “They were a very valiant and determined side who kept on going until the end.”

Iceland failed to use their brains, joint coach Lars Lagerback said, though he spoke with pride of the team’s achievements.
It’s some kind of mental thing that happened to the players. We weren’t using our brains, we didn’t play our normal way
Iceland coach Lars Lagerback
“It’s some kind of mental thing that happened to the players. We weren’t using our brains, we didn’t play our normal way.
“Part of it is that France were very good but we weren’t sharp enough in our decision-making. We made some silly mistakes, and we didn’t do well as a team,” added Lagerback, who is now handing over the reins completely to partner Heimir Hallgrímsson after four and a half years.
“It’s really impressive that the players turned it around as they did and I don’t think it was because France let us do that. They showed a bit of the real Icelandic attitude in the second half.”
“It’s been a fantastic tournament so it’s a big thank you to everyone,” said Lagerback.
“It’s been a fantastic journey for me. I’ve enjoyed – maybe not the first 45 minutes today – but all my time in Iceland and it’s been a privilege to be involved.
“If you look at the whole tournament, and to reach the quarter-finals, it’s been fantastic.”
Reuters, Agence France-Presse



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French players celebrate after winning 5-2. Photo: AP

epa05406358 Laurent Koscielny (L) of France greets his coach Didier Deschamps after being substituted during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between France and Iceland at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, 03 July 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI EDITORIAL USE ONLY

France's Antoine Griezmann, right, celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal with teammate Dimitri Payet, left, during the Euro 2016 quarterfinal soccer match between France and Iceland, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France, Sunday, July 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Iceland supporters cheer after the Euro 2016 quarter-final football match between France and Iceland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, on July 3, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Francisco LEONG

France's Paul Pogba, top right, scores on a header his side's second goal during the Euro 2016 quarterfinal soccer match between France and Iceland, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France, Sunday, July 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

epa05406315 France's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring the 5-1 lead during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between France and Iceland at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, 03 July 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/FILIP SINGER EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Iceland's fans cheer during the Euro 2016 round of 16 soccer match between England and Iceland. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

TOPSHOT - England manager Roy Hodgson addresses a press conference in Chantilly, northern France, on June 28, 2016, after his resignation following the team's 2-1 defeat to Iceland during the Euro 2016 football tournament. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS

TOPSHOT - (LtoR) England's defender Gary Cahill, England's goalkeeper Joe Hart and England's midfielder Dele Alli react after the Euro 2016 round of 16 football match between England and Iceland at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 27, 2016. Iceland won the match 1-2. / AFP PHOTO / Valery HACHE

TOPSHOT - Iceland's midfielder Aron Gunnarsson and team mates celebrate after the Euro 2016 round of 16 football match between England and Iceland at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice on June 27, 2016. Iceland won the match 1-2. / AFP PHOTO / BERTRAND LANGLOIS

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Football

Olivier Giroud produces his best performance as hosts reach semi-finals with 5-2 hammering of underdogs


‘Germany are the best, but we will give it our all,’ says France coach Didier Deschamps after shattering Icelandic fairy tale at Euro 2016

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Olivier Giroud produces his best performance as hosts reach semi-finals with 5-2 hammering of underdogs

Olivier Giroud produces his best performance as hosts reach semi-finals with 5-2 hammering of underdogs