Euro 2016 Schedule: TV Coverage, Live Stream, Odds and Semi-Final Predictions
World champions Germany stand in the way of another major tournament success for France on home soil, as the two teams meet at the semi-final stage of the 2016 UEFA European Championship on Thursday.
In the last two tournaments they’ve hosted—the Euros in 1984 and the FIFA World Cup in 1998—Les Bleus sampled glory in front of their adoring supporters. The prospect of downing a Germany side that are confident, organised and savvy when it comes to the latter stages of these illustrious competitions is daunting, though.
Here is a closer examination of how the bookmakers are seeing this contest, all the key viewing details ahead of the game and a look at how things are likely to pan out at what will no doubt be an atmospheric Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
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| Germany (9-10) | France (19-20) | |
| Germany (2-1) | France (9-5) | Draw (2-1) |
| Olivier Giroud (11-2) | Dimitri Payet (15-2) | Andre Schurrle (17-2) |
| Thomas Muller (11-2) | Mario Gotze (15-2) | Leroy Sane (17-2) |
| Antoine Griezmann (6-1) | Andre-Pierre Gignac (8-1) | Mesut Ozil (10-1) |
Full listings available via OddsChecker and odds are accurate as of 6 p.m. (BST), July 6.
Date: Thursday, July 7
Time: 8 p.m. (BST), 3 p.m. (ET)
TV Info: ITV One (UK), ESPN (U.S.)
Live Stream: ITV Hub (UK), Watch ESPN (U.S.)
Hosts Can Capitalise on Depleted World Champions
Ahead of Germany’s quarter-final win over Italy, there was a lot of talk about the former’s poor record against the latter and the potential mental strain it could put on Joachim Low’s team. Heading into this one, they’re the side that seem to have a longstanding hold over their opponents.
That’s because France haven’t registered a competitive win over Germany since 1958. Manager Didier Deschamps has reason to believe that could change in front of a raucous crowd on Thursday, though.
Their performance against Iceland in the quarter-finals is one. The link up between Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud at the point of the attack blossomed in that contest, as it did in the other knockout tussle against the Republic of Ireland. As OptaJean noted, when they play together, France typically fare well:
With Dimitri Payet offering a superb supply line, the attacking options in the French setup are enough to give Germany problems, especially when you consider the tweaks Low will have to make to his team.
Not only are Mario Gomez and Sami Khedira out of this one, there’s a big doubt over team captain Bastian Schweinsteiger. Mats Hummels, who has had a fine tournament so far, is also suspended for the match, meaning the world champions will be forced into a rejig of their defensive structure for the second consecutive match; Low moved to a back three against Italy.
What they will need to see is an improvement from their attacking options, particularly Thomas Muller. As noted by Squawka Football, the usually reliable forward has struggled badly in this competition:
The Bayern Munich man will be under even more pressure to perform due to the absence of Gomez, but with the creative talents of Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler and Mario Gotze in support, chances should come, especially against a France defence that was troubled by Iceland at times in the quarter-finals.
France have a momentum behind them at the moment, though. For a semi-final, the Marseille venue is perfect too. The hosts’ win over Albania in their second group game at this stadium was arguably the best atmosphere of the tournament and that should galvanise the side in blue on Thursday.
Bleacher Report’s latest tournament rankings considered these two teams the finest outfits remaining in the competition heading into the semis:
France find themselves in a fine position. They were able to take their foot off the gas against Iceland after romping into a comfortable lead, have a clutch of options to choose from in various positions and will have 67,000 supporters at their backs in the Stade Velodrome. Expect a performance bristling with pride and purpose in the semi.
A full-strength Germany could potentially nullify that threat and exert themselves on the contest. However, a clash like the one against Italy in the quarters will jade them, and the cohesion that has been a hallmark of their efforts at this tournament won’t be quite so prevalent without some key men. That’ll give the French the advantage in a pulsating contest.
Prediction: Germany 1-2 France
