France's Antoine Griezmann Underlines World-Class Credentials with Germany Brace

France are into the 2016 UEFA European Championship final after a 2-0 win over Germany at Stade Velodrome on Thursday.

The world champions dominated the hosts possession-wise, but ultimately Les Bleus took their chances in clinical fashion and Joachim Low’s men did not.

The two-time winners will now have the chance to earn their third title in the competition and it will be their third out of four international crowns won on home soil if they are successful.

Antoine Griezmann struck twice for the French against Die Mannschaft to book their berth at Stade de France against Portugal on Sunday, and the Atletico Madrid man now has six goals to his name this tournament.

In such a rich vein of form and on the verge of winning Euro 2016, Griezmann must be an early contender for this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or.

Speaking after the match in southern France, the 25-year-old revealed his delight at the result and expressed his hope that he will be lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy this weekend.

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We're very happy. We can start dreaming of 10 July. We have to keep our feet on the ground, there's still a match to go. We're going to enjoy tonight but tomorrow we'll prepare for the final.

We're delighted. Both before and during the game it was great with our fans—let's hope we can relive that in the final. I hope we'll lift the trophy, but for now let's enjoy tonight.

We're thrilled, we feel like kids. We know the whole country is behind us, so we're giving everything for them. I'm absolutely delighted and very proud.

There's still one match to go to finish with a flourish—it's going to be very tricky but I hope this won't be the end. It's our duty to win matches for the French public and let's hope we can finish on a high.

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The difference between France and Germany on the night at Stade Velodrome was Griezmann’s clinical finishing.

Low's men beat their hosts in everything apart from putting the ball in the back of the net and although they did not enjoy dominance of possession, the French created some good opportunities.

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Griezmann stepped up and calmly slotted away from the penalty spot for the hosts’ opener on the stroke of half-time, and he displayed his predatory eye for goal when he seized upon defensive uncertainty to poke home in the second half.

The man from Macon could and arguably should have had more goals too; Manuel Neuer denied him with a low save in the first half, while a late counter-attack could easily have ended with Griezmann netting a third for France.

He was constantly a thorn in the Germans' sides and every time the hosts looked like doing something, it was through their in-form attacker.

Much has been made of the hosts' route to the final, with the Republic of Ireland and Iceland not of the same quality as the world champions.

Griezmann's four goals against Albania, Ireland and Iceland were detracted from somewhat by the fact that Germany had faced the likes of Italy on their way to the semi-final and Les Bleus' path was rather favourable.

However, the former Real Sociedad man's brace against Die Mannschaft has eliminated all doubt and he has once again added to his rapidly growing reputation.

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Atletico’s decision to extend his contract until 2021 earlier this summer already looks extremely wise and with Diego Simeone—the man responsible for Griezmann's conversion into the prolific figure he is now—staying at Vicente Calderon, the future looks extremely bright for Los Colchoneros.

In fact, El Cholo deserves immense credit in France for his work with Griezmann. Without the Argentinian's tactical innovation and demanding training routines, the Frenchman would not have become the player he is now.

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Put simply, Les Bleus are reaping the rewards from Simeone's graft and it is paying off big time for Deschamps after he moved Griezmann inside.

Captain Hugo Lloris and defender Samuel Umtiti’s roles in the win over Germany should not be overlooked, but it was Griezmann who was the man who made the most tangible difference with the two goals and a vibrant performance.

Once again, the France No. 7 benefitted from being deployed behind Olivier Giroud in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and Deschamps has hit upon a system that could serve France well for the final and in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, too.

As long as Griezmann remains in that position behind a more physical presence, such as Giroud, Andre-Pierre Gignac or Karim Benzema—once the Real Madrid man returns from internal suspension—he will remain a major influence on this French side.

Speaking after the final whistle at Stade Velodrome, Deschamps was effusive in his praise of Griezmann and played up his players' chances of success this weekend.

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Antoine is a great player and he proved that again tonight in everything he did. He works very hard and along with Olivier Giroud, from a defensive perspective he made sure we were a very compact unit.

He's a very important player, as he has been for Atlético all season. At the Euros, he has scored goals, set up team-mates and got others around him playing well.

We have three days before the final, it's very short so we have to savour this victory. It's an important step forward but the most important step is Sunday. We're going to do everything in our power to go into Sunday's game in the best possible condition.

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Now, though, Griezmann must concentrate on helping the French past Portugal in the final before thinking about what lies ahead.

Before the Germany match, Griezmann was arguably the player of Euro 2016 but now there is no doubt. He has been the star man and regardless of what happens against Portugal, he will have had a better tournament that the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid man is a bona fide superstar, and although Griezmann now also belongs in that same bracket, the Portuguese currently has the trophy to show for it after Los Blancos' UEFA Champions League victory over Atletico back in May and the Frenchman does not.

If Griezmann can help his country to their third Euro title on home soil, then he will have given himself a chance to beat the likes of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the Ballon d'Or. If he can do that, then he will rightly be considered one of the three best players in the world.