France take on Germany in what is arguably the biggest clash of this Euro Championship. With both sides boasting of world class footballers on the pitch and on the bench, Germany vs France to be a mouth watering encounter.
The crowd and the home conditions would favour France but when you play against Germany, all that home advantage boils down to nothing, something that Germany pretty vividly showed us all when the mauled Brazil 7-1 in their own backyard in the 2014 World Cup Semi Final.
France would be looking to stop a repeat of that in tonight’s semifinal, as Deschamps would be weary that Germany know how to approach these big knockout games.
Germany would be looking to for an inspired performance from Goetze, who should be replacing Mario Gomez at the top of the line. Gotze scored the World Cup final winner two years back after coming off the bench, lifting his team when they needed it most and Low would be expecting something similar from the Bayern Muncih forward tonight as well.
Also Read: 5 Players to watch out for in France vs Germany
Germany will also be without Sami Khedira and Mats Hummels for this fixture. Hummels is suspended whereas Khedira has had his Euro 2016 cut short due to injury. Bastian Schweinsteiger will be replacing him in the starting XI and will also captain the side tonight.
France will be welcoming Adil Rami into the side as they are desperately looking for some solidity in their defensive line after Iceland finding a way past them twice in the last game. Rami and Koscielny have been decent in the league stages and the round of 16 and should be able to deal with the goal threat of Draxler, Gotze and Muller.
Payet, Pogba, Griezmann and Giroud will be the ones France will be banking on for tonight’s game. These 4 need to get together and create magic if France want to have any chance of overcoming this highly experienced German side.
The biggest advantage that Germany have right now is that they are used to playing these big semi finals and finals whereas this crop of French players find themselves in unfamiliar territory, something that could play on the minds of these young superstars.
Also Read: Federer vs Cilic- Review
It should be a very tactical encounter and I don’t expect any of these two teams to go all out on attack. One moment of brilliance could decide the game and I feel France haave a lot of players who can produce that.
Head to Head
In the 27 games played between these two sides, France have emerged victorious 12 times and Germany have won 10 times. 5 games have ended in draws.
Germany XI- Neuer, Kimmich, Boateng, Howedes, Hector, Schweinstegier, Kross, Draxler, Ozil, Gotze, Muller
France XI- Lloris, Sagna, Koscielny, Rami, Evra, Matuidi, Kante, Pogba, Payet, Griezmann, Giroud
Do tune into Germany vs France
