France vs. Iceland: Score and Twitter Reaction from Euro 2016

UEFA Euro 2016 hosts France booked their semi-final spot with a simple 5-2 win over Iceland on Sunday, dominating the tournament debutants from start to finish. 

Olivier Giroud gave the hosts an early lead, and Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann put Les Bleus on the road to victory before half-time. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson pulled a goal back early in the second half, but Giroud restored the four-goal lead almost immediately. 

Birkir Bjarnason made it 5-2 inside the final 10 minutes, but an unlikely comeback never seemed realistic. France will meet Germany in the semi-finals on Thursday.

As shared by Euro 2016's official Twitter account, France manager Didier Deschamps gave centre-back Samuel Umtiti his debut:

France were the clear favourites going into the match, and Bleacher Report UK just couldn't help themselves:

Many fans and pundits expected Iceland to sit back and cede possession to Les Bleus, but the underdogs showed remarkable attacking intentions early. The first shot on goal came courtesy of Gylfi Sigurdsson, but his tame effort didn't trouble Hugo Lloris.

Payet did better after a lovely combination move around the box, and goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson needed two tries to get the ball under control. Moussa Sissoko nearly found Griezmann with a first smart cross, but Halldorsson read the play well.

Meanwhile, the Iceland fans rocked the Stade de France with their now-infamous clap. SportsCenter got in on the fun:

France soon took control of possession, but Les Bleus couldn't find any real pace with their passing. That didn't stop Giroud from giving his team an early lead, however, after a lovely ball over the top from Blaise Matuidi isolated him in front of Halldorsson.

The Arsenal man kept his composure, firing the ball through the stopper's legs to open the scoring. Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe was impressed:

Iceland responded by pushing their midfielders slightly deeper into the opposition half, France's defence easily stood firm, and a looping ball into the box was gathered by Lloris.

And just five minutes later, Les Bleus struck again. Griezmann fired a superb corner kick into the box, and Pogba powered home a header near the far post to double his team's lead.

Reykjavik Grapevine still believed in his favourite team's chances:

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

On the other side of the pitch, Iceland came close to a goal of their own after another one of their typical long throws. The ball was deflected into the centre of the box, but Jon Dadi Bodvarsson couldn't keep his volley on target.

But France were fully in charge of proceedings, dominating the battle in midfield. Iceland barely saw the ball for large stretches of the first half, and when they did, every French player worked to close the gaps.

Les Bleus were happy to keep the tempo of the match low when in possession, and chances were few in the middle and latter parts of the first half. Matuidi tried his luck with an ambitious volley after a good run from Payet, but his shot flew well off target.

With five minutes left to play, a free-kick from Sigurdsson went untouched, but Lloris judged it well and parried the ball before it crossed the line. Shortly after, Payet ended the match as a contest with a beautiful low strike from outside the box.

Per Squawka Football, the West Ham United man has been in fine form of late:

Brynjar Gunnarsson/Associated Press

And there was time for one more goal, as Giroud cleverly let a pass from Pogba roll through his legs, allowing Griezmann to run at Halldorsson unopposed before finishing off the move with a superb lob.

Fans felt bad for Iceland, the feel-good story of this year's tournament. Comedian Dara O Briain was one of them:

Bleacher Report UK had similar ideas:

Iceland introduced Alfred Finnbogason and Sverrir Ingi Ingason at half-time, while Deschamps didn't immediately substitute those players in danger of missing out on the semi-finals through a booking.

Payet fired France's first chance of the second half over the bar, while Sigurdsson suffered the same fate at the other end of the pitch.

Iceland pulled a goal back with their first real attack of the second half, as Sigthorsson beat Umtiti to a great cross from Sigurdsson and poked the ball past Lloris. Football writer Sid Lowe appreciated the quality of the goal:

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

But all thoughts of an unlikely comeback were erased just minutes later, as Giroud beat goalkeeper Halldorsson to a great delivery from Payet to make it 5-1.

Giroud was substituted immediately, ensuring he wouldn't be suspended for the semi-final, while Finnbogason fired a volley over Lloris' goal, as Iceland continued to look for goals.

Lloris produced a great reflex save to deny an Ingason header from close range, and he barely got his hand on the resulting corner. Iceland wanted a penalty after a clear handball from Patrice Evra, but official Bjorn Kuipers refused to point to the spot. 

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson kept his opinion diplomatic:

Claude Paris/Associated Press

A deflected shot from Payet nearly beat Halldorsson at his near post, before Laurent Koscielny's night also came to an end, as Eliaquim Mangala was given 20 minutes. 

There was little of high quality left to watch in those 20 minutes, however, as France gladly defended their lead and Iceland were powerless to stop them.

Veteran striker and Icelandic football legend Eidur Gudjohnsen was given a late run-out, and Bjarnason added a consolation goal, but France's semi-final spot was never in doubt.

France will play Germany in the semi-finals on Thursday, July 7.

Post-Match Reaction

Ari Freyr Skulason was one of many to thank the fans for the incredible support the Iceland team received:

France barely broke a sweat in the second half and were able to swap out their players in danger of missing out on the semi-finals, a tremendous advantage entering the last stages of the competition.

Germany will have the more tired legs and a couple of key absentees in the semi-finals, and at this point, the hosts have to be considered favourites to win it all.