EURO 2016 Preview: Germany v France
Date: Thursday 7 July, 2016
Time: 20:00 GMT
Location: Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Coverage: BBC One - 19:30 GMT
After Portugal booked their place in the final of the 2016 European Championships, world champions Germany and hosts France were preparing to go head-to-head in what promises to be a memorable encounter at the magnificent Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.
Germany travelled to France with a considerable number of doubters ahead of the tournament. But their performances to date have matched their results, and any uncertainties about their ability to go all the way at Euro 2016 were quickly suppressed.
The world champions conceded their first goal of the Championships during their dramatic quarter-final victory over Antonio Conte’s Italy, and Head coach Joachim Löw will know full well how important his defence will be against a French side that oozes class in the offensive third.
Didier Deschamps’ France edged their way into the quarter-finals with a number of below par performances against the likes of Romania and Albania in the group stage, and then once more against the Republic of Ireland in the round of 16.
However, a fine display saw the hosts brush Iceland aside with a 5-2 victory in the quarter-finals, and they would be relying on star men Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, and Dimitri Payet producing similar performances against Germany.
Team news
Germany:
Joachim Löw will be without three players from the core of his side when they face France on Thursday evening.
The German Head coach will lose central defender Mats Hummels to suspension, while injury has ruled out midfielder Sami Khedira and talismanic forward Mario Gómez is set to miss the remainder of the tournament with a torn leg muscle.
20 year-old Jonathan Tah made his international debut against England back in March when he replaced Hummels, but it is unlikely that Löw would turn to such an inexperienced player in a game of this magnitude.
That would leave Benedikt Höwedes, Shkodran Mustafi, or Emre Can as the obvious replacements, with the former looking perhaps the most suitable with a considerable number of minutes already under his belt at the tournament so far.
Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger has been passed fit ahead of the match at the Stade Vélodrome and he would be the obvious choice to replace Khedira in front of the back four, while Bayern Munich star Mario Götze may regain a starting spot in place of the injured Gómez.
France:
French boss Deschamps has far fewer worries as his side look to avenge their defeat to the eventual world champions at the quarter-final stage in Brazil two years ago.
N'Golo Kante and Adil Rami return from suspensions that kept them out of the Iceland match last time out and will go straight back into contention for a start in Marseille.
But their places in the starting 11 look far from assured, as Moussa Sissoko offered France a real threat going forward against the tournament debutants and Paul Pogba produced his best performance so far alongside Blaise Matuidi in the centre of the park.
Barcelona new boy Samuel Umtiti also impressed in his first international appearance and he may keep Sevilla’s Rami out of the side.
Samuel Umtiti could keep his place at the heart of the French back four.
Key men
Germany:
Jérôme Boateng scored his first international goal against Slovakia in Germany’s 3-0 win in the round of 16, but it is his defensive qualities that could make him the most important player in his nation’s side on Thursday.
Boateng has come a long way since he was deemed to be surplus to requirements by Manchester City back in 2011 and, with Hummels suspended for the semi-final tie, coach Löw will be reliant upon the Bayern Munich defender in halting the threat that is posed by Griezmann.
Thomas Müller is the second key man for Germany ahead of the semi-final tie and a potential Euro 2016 final. The 26 year-old offers more to his side than just goals, however with Gómez unavailable, Müller’s boss will rely him to find the net for the first time at the Championships.
France:
Boateng’s role for Germany could be so important because of the potency of their opponent’s attacking players.
Currently the tournament’s leading goal scorer, striker Griezmann has come to form at just the right time for Les Bleus. The Atlético Madrid man has now netted on four occasions at Euro 2016, with three goals coming in his late two matches.
Aside from Griezmann, Deschamps owes a lot to winger Payet, and, with three goals and two assists to his name already, the West Ham man will be vital once again for the hosts.
Behind those two, it is rumoured that the rangy Pogba could become the first £100 million player this summer, and he will be determined to show just what he can do on the continent’s biggest stage.
Head-to-head
- France have a narrow lead in terms of overall victories against their semi-final opponents (won 12, drawn 5, lost 10).
- Les Bleus were also triumphant on the last occasion that the two sides met, a 2-0 win that was marred by the horrific terrorist attacks across Paris in November 2015.
- Germany/ West Germany have however won the previous three encounters between the two at World Cups, including a 1-0 win at the quarter-final stage in Brazil, 2014.
- The match in Marseille will be the first between the nations at a European Championships.
Prediction
Germany 1-0 France
Germany will need Jérôme Boateng to be at his best in Marseille.
