Already tonight we will find out both teams that will fight for the European Champions title on Sunday. Yesterday the first team to reach the final was the Portuguese national team, and today the national teams of France and Germany will try to earn their place in the final. A review of this match is brought to you by "Eurofootball.com".
Match time and location:
On July 7 at 22:00, at the "Stade Vélodrome" stadium. The match will be broadcast live on LRT channel.
Teams' path in the tournament:
The French national team won the A group battles with seven points. In the round of 16, the French conceded the first goal but then scored twice to secure a 2-1 victory against Ireland. In the quarterfinals, they faced fewer problems and led 4-0 against Iceland after the first half, ending the match with a 5-2 victory.
The German national team also collected seven points and took the first position in group C. In the round of 16, the Germans defeated the Slovakian national team 3-0. However, in the quarterfinals against Italy, the winner was not decided in 120 minutes, and the teams had to compete in a penalty shootout. After an 18-shot series, the Germans showed their advantage and reached the semi-finals of the tournament.
Team news:
In the French national team camp, there was great news - after suspension, N`Golo Kante and Adil Rami return to the squad, so Didier Deschamps will be able to choose from all 23 players. However, it was reported in the French press that both players will not be thrown into the field from the first minutes, and their places on the field will be taken by Samuel Umtiti and Moussa Sissoko.
Due to injury, the German national team lost Mario Gomez. The striker was injured in the quarterfinal match and will not be able to help his team further in this tournament. Meanwhile, in the midfielder's ranks, there are good and bad news. Sami Khedira will certainly not be ready for the match against France, but yesterday it was clarified that Bastian Schweinsteiger will not miss this match and will be able to step onto the field. The Germans will also miss the disqualified defender Mats Hummels.
Coaches' comments:
Didier Deschamps (France): "The Germans always try to dominate and have more possession of the ball, but I don't think we should only think about defense and how to catch them. We just have to play as we know how. Germany is the World Champion and a team that left the best impression in the first five matches.
We have to score goals and we will have to overcome not only Neuer, although he is an excellent goalkeeper. They don't concede goals, although they focus mostly on attack, which shows how quality the German team is. They demonstrate excellent defensive stability, as we saw against Italy. When they lost the ball, they immediately pressed the opponents to recover it, which allowed them to control the match.
No one can change history, but a new page in history will be written here. This is a blank page and the players have to fill it. The players have to believe in themselves and we will also need the support of the fans. We will play against the best team in the tournament and we have to give everything we have.
We can't compare ourselves to the Germans in terms of experience or trophies, but we are here because we are a quality team. We can create opportunities and score goals. We can create danger in front of the opponent's goal, and that is very pleasing for me to see.
Also, we will have the support of the spectators, and we will need it - there will definitely be tough moments in this match. The whole nation supports us, but here they are even more expressive!
I believe in my players: so far we have done everything perfectly, but we were eliminated from the championship in just five teams. Now we have another challenge ahead of us. We will play against Germany, the best team in the tournament, and if we perform well against them, then we will create a real sensation."
Joachim Löw (Germany): "Attacking, the French play very flexibly, which creates a lot of pressure not only in the penalty area but also in the safe zone, where they have Pogba and Matuidi. They use their chances, and they send three attackers into the box. They attack very aggressively - they are masters, and their attacking line works very well and was their main strength.
We will have to play as a team and help each other. We also need to be compact in defense. If we give them space, they will be very fast and dynamic, which will make our game very difficult.
Schweinsteiger trained yesterday with the team one hundred percent. In such matches, he is very important to us because of his experience. He will be in the starting eleven - I said from the beginning that if he is ready, he will be in the starting lineup of our team. We will have to replace Hummels, Khedira, and Gomez, which is not easy, so Schweinsteiger's experience is even more necessary for us.
We will have to compensate for the loss of those players. I trust those players who will replace them one hundred percent, and I hope that the forced changes will not change our playing style. We will be the strongest team the French have faced so far and we will give everything to reach the final.
This match will remind us of 2014 when the French also played at a high level. There will be more opportunities in this match than in our match against Italy. Every team has its weaknesses and no team is perfect. In the last match against Iceland, they played impressively, but we saw some weaknesses that we will try to exploit.
I don't think we are favorites - we are playing not only against a team but against a whole country. After the victory against Iceland, they are confident in their abilities. Momentum is on their side now, but being a favorite does not give you anything. The winners will be those who look better, create more opportunities, and take advantage of them."
Teams' statistics in the tournament (per game):
Goals: France 2.2 - 1.4 Germany
Shots on goal: France 17.4 - 18.2 Germany
Corners: France 6.8 - 7 Germany
Ball possession: France 56% - 63% Germany
Passing accuracy: France 88% - 91% Germany
Aerial duels won: France 21.8 - 16 Germany
Tackles: France 18 - 14 Germany
Interceptions: France 12.4 - 14.2 Germany
Clearances: France 9.6 - 12 Germany
Key Duel:
Toni Kroos vs. Dimitri Payet
In the final stages of European or World Championship tournaments, the French have never kept their goal "dry" against the Germans;
The last match between these teams was on November 13, 2015, when the French defeated their opponents 2-0. However, those matches are best remembered for the terrorist attacks that shook France that day;
Germany has reached the semifinals in five consecutive final stages of European and World Championships. This is the longest such streak in their history;
The last time the German national team won the European Championship was in 1996. 20 years without this title is the longest streak in their history;
In the last 18 matches at the European Championships, the Germans have lost only once - in the 2012 semifinal against Italy;
The German national team is the best defensive team in the tournament - in five matches, they have conceded only one goal, which Italy scored from a penalty;
The French national team is the best attacking team in the tournament (11 goals);
Germany has the highest ball possession in the championship - they have 63% of the match time with the ball.
Facts of interest:
Playing in the final stages of the European or World Championships, the French have never kept their goal "dry" against the Germans;
The last match between these teams was on November 13, 2015, when the French defeated their opponents 2-0. However, those matches are best remembered for the terrorist attacks that shook France that day;
Germany has reached the semifinals in five consecutive final stages of European and World Championships. This is the longest such streak in their history;
The last time the German national team won the European Championship was in 1996. 20 years without this title is the longest streak in their history;
In the last 18 matches at the European Championships, the Germans have lost only once - in the 2012 semifinal against Italy;
Germany is the best defensive team in the tournament - in five matches, they have conceded only one goal, which Italy scored from a penalty;
The French national team is the best attacking team in the tournament (11 goals);
Germany has the highest ball possession in the championship - they have 63% of the match time with the ball.
