Euro 2016: Semi-Finals Fixtures, TV Schedule, Times, Live Stream and Picks
Euro 2016 hosts France have the unenviable task of attempting to oust Germany from the championship when they collide in Marseille on Thursday, but Les Bleus have every reason to be upbeat about their chances.
Before that semi-final bout, Wales and Portugal will face off at Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday, with two of the surprise entrants for the competition's latter phases vying for a shot at the big time.
France boosted their hopes of a home European triumph on Sunday, where they thumped Iceland 5-2 to book their place in the last four of the tournament, and Germany will undoubtedly have been taking notes.
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Read on for the semi-final fixture schedule in full, complete with live-stream information and picks for who will make the Stade de France finale next Sunday.
| Wednesday, July 6 | 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET | Wales vs. Portugal | Wales Advance | ITV (UK)/ESPN (US) |
| Thursday, July 7 | 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET | France vs. Germany | Germany Advance | BBC One (UK)/ESPN (US) |
Matches can be streamed via BBC iPlayer (UK), ITV Hub (UK) and Watch ESPN (U.S.).
German Juggernaut to End Hosts' Dream
Germany have already battled to beat one major power out of the Euro 2016 running, having knocked Italy out of the tournament on penalties following their 1-1 draw on Saturday evening.
However, manager Joachim Low's side have little time for respite as France now block their path, and France coach Didier Deschamps told a press conference he's far from unaware of Germany's quality leading up to Thursday's clash:
"We showed in the second half against the Republic of Ireland and here, against Iceland, that we’re playing better now than we were.
Look, Germany are Germany. They’re the reigning world champions and one of the best sides at the European Championship. They had a scare against Italy in the quarter-final but other than that, they’ve been in control of all the games they’ve played. But it won’t be a stroll in the park for them: we’ll go all out for it. We’re playing in France, our own country, and we’ll go all out for it. We have to remember anything is possible.
"
The five goals scored past Iceland certainly suggested France are capable of threatening, and ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld has reported several German injury concerns that bode well for the hosts' chances:
"Germany's Sami Khedira out, Bastian Schweinsteiger uncertain vs. France [Can in? Weigl in? Sane!] https://t.co/2tRBsAJ97z
— uersfeld (@uersfeld) July 4, 2016"
It's been two years since a header from Mats Hummels—suspended for Thursday's clash—undid France in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals, where Germany prevailed 1-0 before going on to win the tournament overall.
Les Bleus have looked nervy when presented by defensively astute sides at Euro 2016, and Germany are likely to be the best they've faced so far, meaning a potential host exit sits in sight.
Prediction: France 1-2 Germany AET
Wales Keep Fairytale Alive With Portugal Win
Wales could hardly have hoped for a more spirited run through their maiden appearance at the European Championship, and Wednesday will see their mettle tested against another continental powerhouse, Portugal.
A 3-1 win over Belgium has given the Dragons all the confidence they need to believe they can make the final, although Di Marzio translator David Amoyal has predicted the Portuguese will advance:
There's also the added storyline of Real Madrid team-mates Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo clashing, two icons for Wales and Portugal, respectively, although the former doesn't see it that way, per Goal's Tom Webber:
"It's not about two players, everybody knows that, it's about two nations, 11 men v 11 men. It will be a very different game, they're in the semi for a reason but we'll enjoy the occasion as we have done.
[Ronaldo is] a fantastic player, everybody knows what he can do, but we speak about what we can do as a team. The teams we've played had very good individuals, but it's about how we perform as a team and by doing that we can shut out a lot of threats.
The star in our team is all of us. We are all together, we all work as one, running for each other, tackling for each other. We get on like brothers and we're having fun, enjoying the occasion, with no fear. It's working so far.
"
And that sense of camaraderie is what has been so helpful in Wales' run to the semi-finals, whereas Portugal have relied largely on brief sparks of brilliance from Ronaldo, Nani and Ricardo Quaresma.
The absences of suspended pair Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies will hurt manager Chris Coleman's side, but Wales are still an expressive team that know their tactics to a tee, and a slim win looks very plausible for the Welsh.
Prediction Wales 2-1 Portugal
