Paris, France | AFP |
Olivier Giroud scored two goals and set up another as the Euro 2016 hosts France thrashed Iceland 5-2 on Sunday to set up a semi-final clash against world champions Germany.
Giroud fired France ahead after just 12 minutes at a rain-drenched Stade de France with Paul Pogba then heading in his first goal of the tournament to double the hosts’ lead.
Dimitri Payet struck two minutes before half-time to put France in complete control and Antoine Griezmann raced clear to add a fourth to round out France’s first-half blitz.
Iceland, who beat England 2-1 to reach the last eight, put on another never-say-die performance. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Birkir Bjarnason grabbed second-half consolation goals either side of Giroud’s second.
France end Iceland’s remarkable run to reach #EURO2016 semi-finals.#FRAISL pic.twitter.com/LNIeodVhTB
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) July 3, 2016
The #EURO2016 semi-final lineup is complete!
Who will contest the final? pic.twitter.com/nw7HdavRIS
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) July 3, 2016
Half time
Antoine Griezmann scored his tournament-leading fourth goal as France raced into a 4-0 half-time lead against Iceland in Sunday’s Euro 2016 quarter-final.
Olivier Giroud drilled home a 12th-minute opener for the hosts before Paul Pogba powered in a header eight minutes later for his first goal of the competition.
Dimitri Payet struck France’s third on 43 minutes with Griezmann then bursting clear to add a fourth on the stroke of half-time.
Ruthless France storm into a 4-0 half-time lead.#EURO2016 #FRAISL pic.twitter.com/Pg6WkO2yR9
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) July 3, 2016
Dream start for France, two up inside 20 minutes. Can #ISL dig deep to respond?#EURO2016#FRAISLpic.twitter.com/IYYY4mN4BF
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) July 3, 2016