Date: 3rd July 2016 at 8:59pm
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Euro 2016 hosts France set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash against Germany as they thrashed Iceland 5-2 in Paris on Sunday night.

First half goals from Olivier Giroud, Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann gave Les Bleus a convincing lead at the break, but Kolbeinn Sigthorsson reduced the arrears, before Giroud added his second and Bjarnason scored a late consolation on a damp evening at the Stade de France.

Samuel Umtiti made his France debut alongside Laurent Koscielny in central defence in place of the suspended Adil Rami, while Newcastle United’s Moussa Sissoko came in for another player missing through suspension, N’Golo Kante.

Meanwhile, Iceland named the same starting XI for the fifth consecutive match at Euro 2016, with nine of those a booking away from missing the semi-final.

And it was the underdogs who had the first sight of goal in the third minute, but Gylfi Sigurdsson could only hit a tame effort straight at Hugo Lloris in the France goal.

Payet then fired in a low effort that was collected by Hannes Halldorsson at the second attempt, before Birkir Bjarnason’s shot went well wide.

In the 12th minute, Didier Deschamps’ men did take the lead though, as Blaise Matuidi’s brilliant ball down the channel found Giroud, who fired low through the legs of Halldorsson – his ninth goal in nine starts for his country.

10 June 2016 - UEFA Euro 2016 - France v Romania: Dimitri Payet celebrates after scoring the second French goal. Photo: Mark Leech

Dimitri Payet and Olivier Giroud were both on the scoresheet as France ran out 5-2 winners. Photo: Mark Leech/Offside

Seven minutes later, France doubled their lead when Pogba rose highest to head home Griezmann’s corner.

Iceland then had a great chance to reduce the advantage, but Jon Bodvarsson could only fire over from six yards out.

Two minutes before the break, the French scored their third goal and put the tie beyond doubt, and it was one of their star men of the tournament so far.

Payet received the ball from Griezmann just outside the area, before switching the ball on to his left foot and striking low into the far corner.

France were rampant and they added a fourth on the stroke of half time, as Giroud cleverly dummied a through ball, allowing Griezmann to break through on goal before producing a delightful dink over the onrushing Halldorsson.

It was the first time that any nation had scored four goals in the first half of a match at a European Championship finals, and it was already game over.

11 minutes after half-time, Iceland gave themselves a glimmer of hope as Kolbeinn Sigthorsson stabbed the ball past Lloris from six yards following a cross from Sigurdsson, but three minutes late the four-goal advantage was restored.

Payet’s free-kick was met by the head of Giroud, who beat Halldorsson to the ball to score his second on the night, and third of the tournament.

Half-time substitute Alfred Finnbogasson then volleyed over from another Aron Gunnarsson long throw-in, before another substitute, Sverrir Ingason, had a great chance to score for Iceland, but his header from six yards was brilliant tipped over the crossbar by Lloris.

Six minutes from time, Iceland did get another consolation as Bjarnason headed past Lloris from six yards, but it was the tournament hosts that marched into the last four.

Man of the Match: Antoine Griezmann (France)

The forward is now the top scorer at the tournament with four goals, and as well as his brilliant dinked finish in the first half, he also assisted Paul Pogba for his goal with an expertly taken corner, before laying the ball off to Dimitri Payet, who finished from the edge of the box for France’s second goal.

What’s Next?

France will face Germany in the semi-final in Marseille on Thursday night, while Iceland’s fairytale is over but they will go home proud of their performances and progress at their first-ever major tournament.

 
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