08 July,2016 04:52 PM IST | | IANS
France head coach Didier Deschamps heaped praises on match-winner Antoine Griezmann, who scored a brilliant brace to power his team to a convincing 2-0 win over Germany in the semi-final and set up a final showdown against Portugal in the European football Championship
Marseille (France): France head coach Didier Deschamps heaped praises on match-winner Antoine Griezmann, who scored a brilliant brace to power his team to a convincing 2-0 win over Germany in the semi-final and set up a final showdown against Portugal in the European football Championship.
Antoine Griezmann. Pic/ AFP
Euro 2016's top goalscorer, Griezmann took his tally to six goals after France on Thursday, defeated world champions Germany at a major tournament for the first time since 1958.
"He's (Griezmann) a great player and he proved that against Germany, he works very hard, along with Olivier Giroud from a defensive perspective he made us a very compact unit," Deschamps was quoted as saying by goal.com after the win.
"He has this speed and technical ability, he had a few chances. He's a very important player just as he has been with Atletico Madrid throughout the season," the coach said.
Griezmann's six goals at a single European Championship is bettered only by countryman Michel Platini's nine-goal haul at Euro 1984, while the 25-year-old has now scored as many goals for France at the Euros as Thierry Henry (six).
Deschamps praised his side for ending their 58-year long drought against Germany and now has his sights firmly set on Euro 2016 glory.
"We've already written history. It was a long time since we'd beaten Germany but that didn't mean anything today," he told reporters after the match.
"We're into the final and there's a trophy up for grabs. I'm delighted for the players, it was a very tough game against a team who made us suffer but we suffered together.
"When you see the passion and the fervour in the stands around the groundâ¦this team has everything it takes to be loved."
France now look ahead to Sunday's showdown with Portugal, a quick turnaround for the hosts, who only have two full days of rest.
"It's very short before the final, just three days so we have to savour tonight. I will ensure that even if it's just two or three per cent we will go into Sunday's game in top possible condition," the 47-year-old said.
"We have a chance and Portugal has a chance, just because we are the host nation and beat Germany, it doesn't give us additional powers. Portugal believe in themselves, we believe in ourselves," the coach added.
