France 5 Iceland 2
Giroud 12 Pogba 19 Payet 42 Griezmann 45 Sigthorsson 55 Giroud 59 Bjarnason 84
Athletic, ruthless and rampant, Les Bleus scored early, and outclassed the best & bravest underdogs we’ve seen for decades.
They led 4-0 at half-time.
Before last night’s’ quarter-final, France hadn’t scored before the 57th minute. You might say they’re growing in confidence.
Gylfi Sigurdsson of Swansea had the first shot on target in 2 minutes and 50 seconds, an effort comfortably fielded by his erstwhile colleague at White Hart Lane, Hugo Lloris.
New centreback Sam Umtiti is left-footed, so Koscielny switched to right centreback.
When Dimitri Payet drilled in a left foot shot, keeper Halldorsson spilled it, then grabbed the ball.
When Barnasdon hooked in a shot after 10 minutes, that promised a good game, perhaps.
Then Matuidi, near the halfway line on the left flank, measured a sublime pass over the top that found Giroud onside and his left foot shot nutmegged keeper Haldorsson.
When Griezmann took an inswinging corner from the right, Pogba made a jump at the far post that was beautifully timed. His header from five yards made it 2-0 and appeared to end the contest after 19 minutes
But when a long throw was headed out by Evra to right back Saevarsson his cross was flicked on and stabbed over the bar. The replays showed that it should have been a corner to Iceland, since the ball went off the shin of Umtiti.
The outstanding feature was the amount of intelligence that the French team had already applied to their task
In 38 a good chip by Payet was blaized wide by Matuidi.
After France strung together six good passes, Giroud nodded a cross down to Griezmann,who neatly set up Dimitri Twinkletoes Payet on the edge of the D and his left foot shot made it 3-0.
On 45, when Pogba was nearer his own box than the halfway line, the giant gladiator delivered a perfect straight pass to Giroud in the centre circle and big man’s flick released Griezmann beyond the square back four. The Atletico Madrid goal ace only needed to take one touch to put himself in a one-on-one with the keeper and deft chip floated in to make it 4-0.
For now on the game should have been a rehearsal for Germany in the semi-final. But there were injuries and yellow cards to consider.
Even without Kante, a tiny warrior who can construct as well as destroy, France were demonstrating an impressive blend of muscle and artistry.
Big Sissoko, the Newcastle powerhouse, was on the right.
At half-time ITV pundit Ryan Giggs talked about the young Pogba he knew: “You don’t realise how big he is. Physically, he’s immense. He’s strong, he’s quick, he’s got everything. He has got everything.”
Lee Dixon said, “The movement has ruined Iceland. We didn’t have movement when we played against them. The French movement has been superb.”
Second half, Iceland made two substitutions before the game resumed, as they had used the same starting eleven in all their games.
Iceland produced a slick move, followed by a killer cross by Gylfi Sigurdsson to the front post, where Sigthorsson stabbed in for 4-1.
Although they were getting battered here, Iceland had scored in every match. And this goal was the first that France had conceded in open play.
However, the French machine replied three minutes later when a pinpoint cross by Payet was headed in by Giroud.
In 63, Hugo Lloris had to tip over a header that came straight at him.
Koscielny went off, replaced by Mangala. In 84, a left wing cross by Skulason provided a chance for Bjarnason, the blond Viking warrior, to score with a lovely header.
If Iceland can score two goals in open play against France, Germany can do the same.
Therefore Thursday night should be a high-scoring semi-final.
Clearly, Paul Pogba has been growing into the tournament. And France have more firepower than Germany. With N’Golo Kante back to win tackles and protect the defence, France will offer a far bigger physical challenge to the world champions than Italy did on Saturday night.
Thursday night will be tons of fun and I’ll be very surprised if France don’t win in the Stade Velodrome.
I’ve always fancied a wild night in Marseilles & it’s a pity I’ll have to watch this one on TV.
Portugal v Wales is on Lyon on Wedesday
PS. My report on Germany v Italy will follow here at 10am.