GIROUD GAVE A CENTRE-FORWARD MASTERCLASS

Antoine Griezmann’s deadly display of finishing in the last-16 win over Ireland made it very possible to envisage a France team with the little genius at its apex, rather than Olivier Giroud. The Arsenal striker scored in the opening game against Romania but had been unable to get on the scoresheet again, until, that is, France unleashed the most devastating attacking performance of the tournament. And Giroud was at the heart of it.

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After 12 minutes he had France in front with a fantastic finish through the legs of Hannes Halldorsson; the third had his imprint on it when he headed down for Griezmann to lay off to Dimitri Payet, who finished neatly from range; the fourth came about after the lightest of touches with his heel as he brushed a Paul Pogba pass through to Griezmann; and the fifth came via his own forehead as Halldorsson rushed off his line and failed to reach a Payet free-kick.

Giroud played the centre-forward role superbly, competing with Iceland’s physical centre-backs, holding the ball up and haring all over the pitch for his team. The ‘is Giroud a good player?' debate will always be a live one, but this was a fantastic night’s work. Booed by his own fans in a friendly before the tournament, the Stade de France gave him a standing ovation when Deschamps brought him off on the hour mark to keep him fresh for a semi-final against Germany. A moment of personal redemption on a brilliant occasion for Les Bleus.

GRIEZMANN COULD BE THE PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT

France's Dimitri Payet kisses the boot of Antoine Griezmann Image credit: Reuters

It seems remarkable to think that Griezmann was dropped by Didier Deschamps after France’s nervy late win over Romania in the very first game; by the time of the final whistle in the last match at Euro 2016, we could be crowning him the player of the tournament. There is stiff competition, not least in his own ranks where Payet now has three goals in five games after netting in this demolition of Iceland, not to mention two assists having set up Giroud for the fifth goal with one of his devilish set-piece deliveries. But the defining image of France’s quarter-final rout was Griezmann's finish for the third goal.

Played in by a combination of Pogba’s searching pass and Giroud’s feather-like touch, Griezmann took the ball on, drew the keeper and dinked his shot perfectly into the opposite corner. It was Messi-esque in its execution, and the comparison is not made lightly. Griezmann is now the top scorer at Euro 2016 with four goals and, after that stalled start back on June 10, he has assumed authority once again, drawing on his masterful technique, devastating pace, intuitive movement and clever finishing with his move into a central position.

With 22 goals he was the top scorer in La Liga from outside of Real Madrid or Barcelona and it is clear that the forward, who only recently signed a new contract with Atletico Madrid, belongs at the very top of the game. That may be confirmed when the player of the tournament is crowned.

ENGLAND WERE EMBARRASSED ALL OVER AGAIN

Iceland concede Image credit: Eurosport

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for England. The country’s worst humiliation, Glenn Hoddle linked with the manager’s job, some very distasteful scapegoating of young players, Gary Neville angrily denying reports of a falling out with Roy Hodgson and then this, as the paucity of their ‘performance’ against Iceland in the last 16 was laid bare for all to see.

The ease with which France destroyed the unlikely insurgents of Euro 2016 by racing into a four-goal lead, crushing them with all the enthusiasm that the bloodthirsty Marseillaise, bellowed out to spinal shivers at Stade de France, promises, merely accentuated just how bad England were. Maybe Iceland had expended too much emotional energy in vanquishing Hodgson’s side to replicate the feat against France; maybe starting the same 11 players in all five matches, Iceland becoming the first team to do so in European Championship history, is not a good idea at a compact major tournament such as this; or maybe England really are all that bad.

Still, it is one thing to prey on the deep-seated insecurities of one of international football’s great underachievers, quite another to beat the host nation, a team of deep talent and quality with a very good chance of winning the whole thing, at their national stadium. Knocking England out of the last 16 was a moment that Iceland’s players will recall vividly for their rest of their lives, but a destructive performance from France ensured their fairytale would not continue on to another chapter. A glass ceiling was found, and bumped against quite painfully.

BUT THERE IS ONE PROBLEM...

Iceland's Birkir Bjarnason celebrates after scoring their second goal Image credit: Reuters

A note of concern amid the eulogising over France's attacking display: they showed some defensive weaknesses that Germany will be keen to exploit. France should have kept a tight grip on the game at 4-0 and then 5-1 up but they allowed Iceland to score twice at the Stade de France, both times exploiting some unconvincing defending. First, Gylfi Sigurdsson was allowed to pick out a cross for Kolbein Sigthorsson to slot home, with neither Patrice Evra nor debutant Samuel Umtiti looking particularly convincing. Then, Birkir Bjarnason got in behind Evra to score again.

Hugo Lloris was also called upon to make a sensational save from Sverrir Ingason while late substitute Eliaquim Mangala had to make an important interception to prevent a goal late on. It was a curious result: France were brilliant and yet it could quite easily have been closer.

FRANCE V GERMANY COULD BE SOMETHING SPECIAL

France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring their fourth goal Image credit: Reuters

There has been a baton handed over in the two biggest games of Euro 2016 so far: Spain losing their crown to Italy in the last-16, and then Italy, the tournament’s supreme tacticians, falling to Germany at the quarter-finals. Thursday night’s semi-final in Marseille between France and the Germans is the biggest match of Euro 2016, whoever ultimately contests the final, and it could be similarly epic.

The hosts, who finally found their stride in such magnificent fashion here in Saint Denis, up against the reigning world champions. Two of the favourites for the competition at its outset, both blessed with a menagerie of stars and the capacity to thrill. If the pattern continues then France will sweep Germany’s feet from under them; but this one is just too close to call, especially after France’s masterclass.

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