Striker Giroud says France want revenge on Germany

The party in Iceland’s capital began hours before the match with the streets festooned with flags and face-painted fans, shops closing early, bars filling and a giant screen erected at the central Arnarhol park for an estimated 15,000 fans.

A header from Mats Hummels knocked France out in the quarter-final in Rio de Janeiro two years ago and Germany went on to win their fourth global crown.

France have not beaten the Germans in a competitive fixture since 1958, but Giroud believes home support will play a massive factor when they will attempt to alter the wretched record.

The Euro 2016 semi-finals start in Lyon tomorrow with Gareth Bale’s Wales taking on Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

“In the first half we didn’t handle it well mentally”, Lagerback said”. He was joined on the scoresheet by Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Griezmann.

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Birkir Bjarnason exposed France’s defence and Giroud was quick to pay tribute to his opponents.

“It will be a huge match, and we have to give our all”, said Deschamps. “They fought with valor, they were very determined”, the Arsenal striker said.

Germany, though, will be missing a number of key players for the match on Thursday as they will be without Mats Hummels, who has been suspended, while Mario Gotze will be sidelined due to an injury. We didn’t use our brains, but part of that might be France playing very well.

France manager Didier Deschamps felt his team thoroughly deserved their place in the semi-finals of Euro2016.

Worse was to come for the Icelanders with quick-fire goals inside two minutes before halftime. “There are a lot of positives to take away from this evening and I am delighted for the players as they deserve this”, he said.

France were the better team, controlled the game and never looked like they were going to lose, but that didn’t dishearten Iceland, who refused to relent until the final whistle had been blown.

“But after this experience we want to be back in incredible finals”.

Iceland had conceded just a single goal in each of their four previous outings at Euro 2016, their dogged, compact and cohesive displays ensuring that the tiny nation, competing in their first major global tournament, were far from whipping-boys. “We made mistakes and were too passive”.