Germany beat Italy to reach Euro 2016 semi-finals after epic penalty shootout

theguardian.com ^ | July 3, 2016 | Daniel Taylor

[Berlin_Freeper]

[Berlin_Freeper]

Preamble

Hello. The European Championship is a tournament that makes an ass out of u and me. Czechoslovakia, Denmark and Greece have won it, and the list of finalists and semi-finalists includes Yugoslavia, Belgium, Turkey, Russia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Hungary and – no Robbie, it’s not a dream - Wales. All logic suggests Iceland won’t join the list, and that France will beat them comfortably tonight. In this crazy football year, however, logic doesn’t draw much water. In fact, after the events of the last week, logic doesn’t draw s- [that’ll do - ed].

France are not playing especially well and were given a scare by Ireland in the previous round. They also know better than most that the European Championship can confound expectations. As well as their memorable performances, the celebrated outsiders of Denmark (1992), the Czech Republic (1996) and Greece (2004) had another thing in common: they all put France out of the competition.

[Berlin_Freeper]

GOAL! France 1-0 Iceland (Giroud 12)

What a simple goal. Matuidi, on the halfway line, curves a fine pass over the top of the defence to Giroud, who galumphs down the inside-left channel and rattles an excellent first-time shot through Halldorsson’s legs with his left foot.

⚽ Giroud makes it 1-0 for France against Iceland

[BeadCounter]

Allez Les Bleus! 1-0

So, the US might not even be a country without France! Tell me, where are Germany and Italy in that??

[Berlin_Freeper]

GOAL! France 2-0 Iceland (Pogba 19)

France have doubled their lead through Paul Pogba. Griezmann drilled a flat corner to the far post, and Pogba roared about Bodvarsson to thump a fine header into the net from six yards. That was a Ronaldo-like leap, aided by the fact that he had the run on the static Bodvarsson. This game is surely over.

⚽ Pogba scores vs Iceland (2-0)

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GOAL! France 3-0 Iceland (Payet 43)

Dimitri Payet makes it three!

⚽ Payet scores vs Iceland (3-0)

[dfwgator]

Giroud makes it 4.

[dfwgator]

Imagine how England feels now.

[Berlin_Freeper]

GOAL! France 4-0 Iceland (Griezmann 45)

Antoine Griezmann makes it four!

⚽ Griezmann scores vs Iceland (4-0)

[Berlin_Freeper]

Something like this...

[dfwgator]

You’re right it was Griezmann

[Berlin_Freeper]

I just copy and paste from The Guardian.

[Berlin_Freeper]

If it wasn’t very easy for me to do I wouldn’t be doing it - LoL!

True.

[Berlin_Freeper]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2016/jul/03/france-iceland-euro-2016-live

[Berlin_Freeper]

Stop, stop he's already dead

[Berlin_Freeper]

GOAL! France 4-1 Iceland (Sigthorsson 56)

See, even Dame Fortune has fallen for Iceland’s charms. This is a really nice consolation goal. Gylfi Sigurdsson on the right whips a brilliant curling cross into the corridor of uncertainty at the near post, where Sigthorsson stabs it first-time past Lloris.

⚽ Sigthorsson scores vs France (4-1)

[Berlin_Freeper]

GOAL! France 5-1 Iceland (Giroud 59)

Well that didn’t take long. Giroud restores the four-goal lead with a towering header from an excellent Payet free-kick. Halldorsson came for it and got nowhere. That’s Giroud’s last touch of the match.

⚽ Giroud scores vs Iceland (5-1)

[Berlin_Freeper]

GOAL! France 5-2 Iceland (Bjarnason 84)

Iceland have turned a thrashing into a minor triumph. Their spirit is so impressive. Skulason swings over an excellent deep cross from the left, and Bjarnason steers a precise header away from Lloris’s dive and into the net.

⚽ Bjarnason scores vs France (5-2)

[Berlin_Freeper]

Video of all Germany's penalties from last night taken at once.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Zaza's ridiculous penalty routine gets destroyed on social media