Watch: Griezmann's two goals lead France by Germany to Euro 2016 final
France has earned the right to face Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal on home soil in Sunday's Euro 2016 final after a 2-0 win over Germany in Thursday's semifinal in Marseille.
Antoine Griezmann scored in each half, with his penalty kick at the end of the first half proving to be the game-winner. Bastian Schweinsteiger conceded the penalty after leaving his arm extended while going to head a cross and having the ball hit his hand. Griezmann added a second in the 72nd, pouncing on a ball punched by Manuel Neuer right to him a few yards out, and Les Bleus finished off the victory with some help from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Griezmann was on it from the start, as he carved out a tremendous early opportunity for France after working a slick combination with Blaise Matuidi. He weaved into the center of the box and tried to put a right-footed shot into the lower right corner, but Neuer was up to the task, making a diving save in the seventh minute:
Germany answered seven minutes later with a great chance of its own, only for Lloris to get down and make a diving save before the ball could trickle over after the deflection off Thomas Muller:
Griezmann opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime from the penalty spot. Schweinsteiger committed the infraction, as he left a hand up in the box and was called for the handball. Griezmann, the tournament's leading scorer, converted with the last kick of the opening half, giving France a 1-0 lead:
Griezmann doubled France's lead in the 72nd minute, taking advantage of a pair of Germany blunders. A Joshua Kimmich turnover deep in Germany's end allowed Paul Pogba to possess in the final third, and after his slick one-on-one move and cross, Neuer punched it right to Griezmann. He didn't miss from close range, and France took a 2-0 lead:
Germany came close while trying to chip away, with Kimmich hitting the post, Benedikt Howedes heading just over the bar and Lloris denying Kimmich's late header with a diving save, but it wasn't meant to be for the reigning World Cup champions.
France is gunning for its third European Championship, which would tie Germany and Spain for the most all time. It last won in 2000 and also won on home soil in 1984.
