Hosts France battled against a rigid Germany side to claim a Euro 2016 final spot.
A double via tournament top scorer Antoine Griezmann in the end was the difference, however Jogi Lowe’s men will be scratching their heads wondering how they didn’t turn the lions share of possession into goals.
France, stirred by a rousing rendition of their national anthem, began brightly and almost had the lead when a superb effort from Griezmann was saved equally well by Neuer.
10 minutes in Germany got on their stride and dominated the ball for the next 30 minutes, Kroos acting their in house metronome. The World Champions however were soon hit with a sucker punch when Evra’s header hit the arm of captain Bastian Schweinsteiger in the box – the ensuing penalty decision drawing gasps from around the stadium.
Griezmann tucked the ball away nicely, leaving the blue side of the Stade Velodrome to celebrate wildly…and it was soon to get even better for them.
A bitty second half began very much like the first, France giving it a go and Germany retaining the ball for long periods. The strategy failed to come off, largely due to the efforts of centre half rock Umtiti, one of many defenders with questions marks hanging over his head prior to the start of the competition
An hamstring injury to the superb Boateng rocked the German boat, on 72 minutes their ship had truly sunk.
Pogba, showing mixed form in the tournament as far, two stepped marker Kimmich and hanged a cross only for the usually dependable Neuer to flap nervously. With the golden boot very much in his eye-line (his 6th), Griezmann tucked the ball away to make it it 2-0.
In the dying seconds Loris made a quite wonderful, acrobatic save from a joint Müller and Kimmich header. It was to be the icing on the cake for Les Bleu as the final whistle brought truly moving jubilation to a country rocked by so much over the past year.
France head into the final as heavy favourites against Portugal – surely Ronaldo wont try and cause an upset?