SAINT-DENIS, JULY 4 , 2016 - Frenchgoalscorers Olivier Giroud and Dmitri Payet followed up the hosts' easyprogress to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 by warning that now the hardest work isabout to start.
LesBleus swept aside the adventurous minnows of Iceland 5-2 in their quarter-finalin the Stade de France in Saint-Denis to set up a semi-final in Marseille onThursday against world champions Germany.
Thematch will inevitably raise memories of the World Cup quarter-final in Braziltwo years ago which Germany won 1-0 but Didier Deschamps's side have two years'more experience under their belt as well as home advantage.
Giroud,who scored twice to take his tally to three for the tournament, said: "Wewere very pleased with this evening although we did concede a couple of goalsbut we had a lot of fun and we'll try to erase some of the small defensivemistakes because against Germany we would be made to pay a heavy price.
"Sowe are not confident because they are the world champions and they will befavourites. But we'd like to write another chapter in French footballhistory."
DmitriPayet, who also scored his third goal of the campaign, refused similarly toaccept that victory over Iceland said anything about the likely outcome againstGermany.
TheWest Ham winger said: "We managed to score a lot of goals and, what'smore, we we were able to score quickly. This was our best performance in theEuros. But playing against Germany will be different. Just because they havesome injuries does not necessarily mean that they will be weakened in anyway."
TheIcelanders had become hugely popular – almost as the novelty act – with theirgiant-killing exploits in reaching the quarter-finals. This proved a step toofar, however, as their static defence and sloppy marking were punishedruthlessly.
Theslaughter began after only 12 minutes. Patrice Evra lofted the ball over theIcelandic defence and Giroud timed his run perfectly to collect the ball, runon and shoot easily beyond keeper Hannes Halldorsson for his second goal of thefinals.
Notonly that but it was the first time in the campaign that Les Bleus had scoredin the first half.
Sevenminutes later Antoine Griezmann arrowed a right-wing corner across the goalarea for midfielder Paul Pogba to head majestically home. The simplicity of thegoals raised more questions about how England had failed to dispatch Iceland insimilar fashion.
HoweverIceland, as they had proved in both the qualifying tournament and the finals,were made of stern stuff and not ready to capitulate.
Francewere nearly caught out in the 24th minute when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson reached aheaded cross before Samuel Umititi – deputising in the French defence forsuspended Adil Rami – only to jab it over the bar from close range. But thatwas the last flurry of first-half resistance.
Inthe 42nd minute Giroud headed down a right-wing cross from Bacary Sagna and Griezmann pushed it back so Dmitri Payetcould side-step a defender and shoot home left-footed. Then Griezmann ranthrough from halfway to score himself after Giroud helped on a long throughball from Laurent Koscielny.
Thiswas the 100th goal of these finals and Payet knelt to kiss Griezmnann’s boot inmock homage.
Thegoals kept on coming after the interval. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson jabbed home aGylfi Sigurdsson cross to pull one back for Iceland just before the hour butwithin two minutes Giroud had headed his own second from Payet’s swirlingdownfield free kick.
CaptainHugo Lloris in the French had one scare when he had to push a point-blankheader from Sverrir Ingasin over the bar but he had no chance when BirkirBjarnason struck a second ‘consolation’ goal for the spirited and indefatigableIcelanders.
Thatpulled the tie level as the second highest scoring Euro finals game on record,behind only Yugoslavia’s 5-4 defeat of France in the 1960 semi-finals.
