Here’s what happened on Sunday on Matchday 20 of UEFA Euro 2016 in France, in case you missed it…
THE RESULT
• Match report: France 5, Iceland 2 in Saint-Denis || Match stats
THE MAIN STORY
France: Shades of 1998 World Cup: Eighteen years ago, France dismantled a Brazil side featuring Ronaldo in Saint-Denis, with les bleus’ 3-0 destruction of the Selecao securing their first World Cup and helping to unify a nation undergoing political and social turmoil. France was at it again on Sunday, thrashing Iceland in the most dominant French performance since Zinedine Zidane and his cohorts famously skewered Brazil at the very same Stade de France.
Mon dieu, what a showing this was by the host nation! No doubt France benefitted from Iceland’s naiveté in playing a ridiculously high defensive line. In doing so, Iceland’s defence became disconnected from its midfield, which created vast pockets of open space in-between for France to exploit. The French took full advantage, doing something that England couldn’t do in the previous round by finding ways to not only break down Iceland, but also rip them apart.
Even with Iceland 2-0 down after only 20 minutes (courtesy of goals from Olivier Giroud and Paul Pogba) you still had the sneaking feeling that it could come back, and show the same spirit and determination that saw them beat England after going down early. Dimtri Payet’s goal in the 43rd minute broke Icelandic hearts, and when Antoine Griezmann scored to make it 4-0 just before the halftime whistle, you found yourself wishing this was a boxing match, and that the ref would step in and mercifully end it. It was getting out of hand.
Iceland was its worst enemy in the first half, its defensive disorganization contributing to its downfall. However, full credit must be given to the French who were positively ruthless in ending the contest before the break. Iceland restored a bit of pride by “winning” the second half in outscoring the French 2-1. That owed to the home side taking their foot off the gas pedal more than anything Iceland did, though.
This was exactly the type of result and performance Didier Deschamps’ men needed after a somewhat quiet and lacklustre group stage and Round of 16 win. The French needed to put down a marker, and send a not-so-subtle message to Germany, their opponent in Thursday’s semifinal, that they are hitting their stride and have momentum. Eighteen years ago, France shredded the reigning World Cup champions to lift the trophy for the first time in their history. After this game, they’ll have the belief they can beat the world champions again and take another step closer to being crowned the kings of Europe.
MORE ON EURO 2016: Sportsnet has you covered with in-depth coverage of Euro 2016 in France, which runs from June 10 to July 10.
• Match schedule || Group standings || Live scoreboard || Latest news
• Profiles: All 24 teams || History of Euro || Top 10 moments in Euro history
• Feature stories || Soccer Central podcast || Team roster lists ||
GOAL OF THE DAY
Plenty to choose from, but we’ll go with Antoine Griezmann’s goal in the 45th minute. With Iceland pressing high, Griezmann ran onto a through ball and chipped it over the onrushing Icelandic goalkeeper. It was a lovely dummy by Olivier Giroud that released Griezmann on goal.
SAVE OF THE DAY
In the 63rd minute, Iceland’s Sverrir Ingi Ingason beat Laurent Koscielny to a corner played deep inside the box and sent a thumping header towards goal, only to see Hugo Lloris come up with a fabulous reflex save to turn it over the crossbar.
BEST MOMENT OF THE DAY
After the final whistle, the legion of Icelandic fans inside the Stade de France heartily applauded their team off the pitch, despite being demolished by les bleus.
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
TWEET OF THE DAY
https://twitter.com/KurtLarSUN/status/749694360695046144
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Iceland on Sunday became the first team in history to name an unchanged starting XI in its opening five games of a European Championship tournament.
• Samuel Umtiti is the first France outfield player to earn his first cap in a major international tournament since Gabriel de Michele in 1966.
• Olivier Giroud has scored nine goals in his last nine starts for France.
• France vs. Iceland is the first game at the European Championship with seven goals since Netherlands beat Yugoslavia 6-1 at Euro 2000.
• France is the first team to ever score four goals in the first half of a match at the European Championship.
• Antoine Griezmann is the first player to score four or more goals for France in a major tournament since Michel Platini at Euro 1984.
Stats courtesy of Opta
BURNING QUESTION
3 STARS
1) Olivier Giroud, France: One of his best performances in a French jersey. The Arsenal forward scored a brace and was intimately involved in the French attack before being subbed out.
2) Paul Pogba, France: He did it all—scored a goal, marshalled the attack with his sublime passing, and was outstanding on the defensive end, making tackles and recovering the ball.
3) Antoine Griezmann, France: Scored one goal—he leads the tournament with four—and unnerved Iceland’s defence with his pace and touch.
TOURNAMENT SO FAR
•Matchday 1 recap: Magnificent Payet rescues France || Typical Giroud performance
•Matchday 2 recap: England gets what it deserves || Bale already proving his worth for Wales
•Matchday 3 recap: Modric pure magic for Croatia || Germany’s Goetze not a false 9
•Matchday 4 recap: Spain’s resolve sees them through || Italy’s experience the difference
•Matchday 5 recap: Portugal blows it || The hoopla over Kiraly’s pants
•Matchday 6 recap: It can be a cruel game at times || What was Deschamps thinking?
•Matchday 7 recap: English relief after beating Wales || You gotta love Northern Ireland
•Matchday 8 recap: Spain sends a message
•Matchday 9 recap: Ronaldo cuts a distraught figure
•Matchday 10 recap: Albania has held its own || In defence of Ronaldo
•Matchday 11 recap: Slim margins could doom England || What is England? Does Hodgson know?
•Matchday 12 recap: Croatia turns tournament on its head ||
•Matchday 13 recap: Ronaldo is just trolling us || England should fear Iceland
•Matchday 14 recap: A day to completely forget in France || Shaqiri’s strike can’t save the day
•Matchday 15 recap: Irish adversity best thing for France
•Matchday 16 recap: Buffon’s ‘Zoff moment’ for Italy || So, what’s next for Italy?
•Matchday 17 recap: Not pretty, but Portugal grinds it out
•Matchday 18 recap: Wales much more than just Gareth Bale
•Matchday 19 recap: Italy leaves with heads held high
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