France vs Germany Euro 2016 semi-final live blog: Paul Pogba and Co take on world champions for a place in the final
Germans without crocks Sami Khedira and Mario Gomez while Mats Hummels is banned in Marseilles
LEICESTER midfielder N'Golo Kante is back for France after suspension in the semi-final battle of of the big guns against a Germany side missing three big names.
Kante is targeting an extraordinary premier League and Euro 2016 double - after the Foxes' 5001-1 title triumph.
And the hosts' chances have risen as Germany defender Mats Hummels is banned, while his team-mates Sami Khedira and Mario Gomez are injured.
Germany coach said Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will start, having returned to training yesterday after hurting his knee in the quarter-final shootout victory over Italy.
France coach Didier Deschamps pondered whether to retain Samuel Umtiti in defence or recall Adil Rami following a one-game ban.
Deschamps even had the luxury of a fully-fit squad of 23 training on Wednesday.
- GERMANY have eliminated the hosts nation of the Euros or World Cup SIX times in the semi-finals - and seven times in all.
- THIS includes surely the biggest shock ever for South American football in an international tournament - the 7-1 last-four victory over Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.
- GERMANY and France have met four times at a major event - the Germans scoring every time.
- FRANCE won the first clash, at the 1958 World Cup, but lost in 1982, 1986 and 2014.
- GERMANY have been semi-finalists for six major tournaments in a row - the longest run by a European nation.
- TWENTY years without winning the Euros is their longest drought.
- THOMAS MULLER has failed to score in 10 games at the Euros - even missing a shootout penalty against Italy. But the striker has netted 10 times in 13 World Cup matches
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And on that cheery fact, that's all from me tonight! Thanks for being there. I'll be back for the final on Sunday. Don't miss it! Night night.
22.01: So what a final lies in store for us on Sunday. The Griezmann versus the Greaseball! Ooh it's gonna be a cracker
9.57: Well played France. They withstood that German onslaught in the first half then picked the Germans off. In truth, they never looked in trouble in that second half. Hard luck Germany. What England would give to be losers like that because in that first half they looked unstoppable.
9.54: German players collapse to the floor in tears. Thomas Muller exits the competition without having scored. Rejoice England fans! This is as good as it gets for us!
FULL TIME: GERMANY 0 FRANCE 2. FRANCE WILL PLAY PORTUGAL IN THE FINAL!
9.51: What a save this is! Lloris reacts brilliantly to keep out a point blank Gotze header. Incredible stop!
9.50: On the touchline, a dejected Joachim Low stands and scratches his head. Makes a change.
9.48: We're in the 90th minute. Even the Germans can't come back from this!
9.44: Talk about Griezed lightning! Griezmann scampers half the length of the pitch before drilling a low exocet that young Clunesy flops on
9.41: CHANCE! The Germans are lobbing everything at this as Howedes powers a header from a Kroos free kick a whisker over. You know what? The Germans aren't going to do this.
9.38: Giroud off, Gignac on for France. Schweinsteiger off, Leroy Sane on. Crivens! The German sub nearly hits the target with his first touch but his header his scrambled clear at the far post before Mustafi lashes one in the crowd.
9.36: Martin Keown has just made a French resistance gag. He's waited 78 minutes to drop that. Bravo monsieur!
9.35: CLOSE! Draxler pings a 30 yard free kick just a foot wide of the far post. Lloris was touching cloth there. He thought that was in. By the way, Kante has replaced Payet
9.33: POST! Germany almost strike back instantly as Kimmich's left foot curler smacks the outside of the post. That was a peach and deserved more.
Germany all over the shop as Neuer flaps at a Pogba cross and there's Griezmann to stab home from close range!
GOOOAAALLLLL!!! GERMANY 0 FRANCE 2
9.29: Toni Kroos stands over a free kick and delivers a terrible execution. It was a dreadful attempt at a gob with half of it ending on his shirt. That was Harry Kane-like delivery
9.26: Twenty minutes left! Gotze goes straight up top alongside Muller with Ozil and Draxler in behind. This is just made for Muller to break his duck isn't it?
9.25: Here comes a German change but it's not Schurrle. Instead it's Mario Gotze who replaces Emre Can.
9.24 Germany just haven’t got going in this half. So how long before they call for Andre Schurrle? If you need inspiration and a goal, he’s your man
9.19: This is a huge blow for Germany. Defender Boateng is hobbling off after what looks like twanging a hammy. On comes Mustafi
9.15: BBC co-commentator Martin Keown can't get his head around the fact that host nation have got such noisy support inside the stadium. The tidy-bearded dolt.
9.13: France seem content to sit back and soak up what the Germans can throw at them. There's only 35 minutes to go. Madness!
9.09: Draxler then gets himself carded for a scissor challenge on Sissoko. Do I detect a smidgeon of frustration from the Germans?
9.07: By the way, the last time Germany won after being 1-0 down at half time was in Feb 2013 when they beat…France 2-1. They'll be praying for a spot of whatever the German is for Deja Vu.
9.05: CHANCE! Wowzers. here's a glorious chance for France to go 2-0 up in the opening minute but Giroud shows all the pace of continental drift and Germany slam the door on him
9.04: PEEEP! We go again. France are just 45 minutes away from a final against Portugal..
8.51: That looked an incredibly harsh decision from young Nicola but like Boateng in the quarter final, Schweinsteiger had his arm in the air as the ball came into the box. Always a risk. So after getting absolutely battered for 35 minutes, France have the most unlikeliest of leads. Extra time, it is then!
8.49: And that's the last action of the half! Incredible. HALF TIME: GERMANY 0 FRANCE 1
GOOOAAALLLLL!!! GERMANY 0 FRANCE 1 Griezmann slams the penalty home, sending Neuer the wrong way.
PENALTY TO FRANCE! Schweinsteiger handles in the box. It looks harsh. But it's the Germans so who cares!
8.41: After taking a pummelling, France gain some respite as Giroud suddenly bursts clear. It looks like he's towing an iron lung as he trundles into the German box before Howedes slides in with a simply monstrous tackle as the Frenchman's about to pull the trigger. Awesome defending!
8.37: Can gets carded for a foul on Griezmann but Pogba can only slam a disappointing free kick straight down Neuer's throat. Somewhere in Manchester, Ed Woodward is making a note in preparation for negotiating another tenner off .
8.36: Don’t know about you but I’m loving Thomas Muller’s current goal drought. It really couldn’t happen to a more deserving wonky-faced goon.
8.34: They way this is going, France will do well to keep things level until half time. The Germans are just relentless as Umtiti is forced to scramble clear with Draxler and Muller lurking
8.27: Germany respond with a break of their own which ends with Schweinsteiger unleashing a rasping dipper that Lloris is forced to tip over. We've had 27 minutes and this is already the game of the tournament!
8.25: Hello. Here's a free-kick in Payet country. Ten yards outside the box, the wee magician lines it up, leathers it over the wall but it hurtles into Neuer's Bavarian bosom.
8.22 Germany fancy a penalty here as Toni Kroos goes down under a Pogba challenge. No chance. And it was outside the box.
8.20: The Germans are absolutely bossing this now after that rip-snorting French start. We've got a classic on our hands at last! Shame about the ref's ridiculous blue socks though.
8.15: SAVE! Hector picks out Can on the edge of the box who rifles a low stinger that's creeping in the corner until Lloris plunges to palm it away one handed. Great stop!
8.13: After that rollocking start from France, Germany manage to take the sting out of the game. And here's a cracking chance for Muller as Can crosses but the lanky striker prods wide. Honestly, the Muller of the last World Cup would have farted that in from there.
8.10: It's a real high octane start full of nimble feet and silky skills. Until Pogba commits a £100m hack on Draxler. Jose will be drooling over that.
8.07: Wowzers, the Germans have been carved right open! Griezmann skips through the backline and attempts a low curler into the corner but young Martin Clunes is down smartly to his left to push it away. It's a real whizzbang of a start from France. So expect a German opener any minute now.
8.03: France look bang up for this. Payet tears a Hector a new one with a sublime step-over forcing an early corner. Incredibly, the Germans look nervous!
8.02: By the way, tonight’s referee is Italy’s Nicola Rizzoli. A lovely lady. Who invented the cigarette paper. Apparently
8.00: PEEEEP!! France get us underway. This is happening!
7.59: Right, the teams are out. We’ve had the anthems. What are your score predictions? I’m going for a 1-0 win to the Germans. I’ve not predicted one correct result in this tournament but you just can’t back against the Germans. Ever.
7.55: Give it a month and Kerry Katona and Peter Andre will be doing it in Iceland adverts. Guaranteed.
7.52: I'm hearing reports of sickening scenes inside the stadium. Apparently, officials are getting the German and French fans to perform the Iceland clap. Shameless. I half expected Palace fans to nick it next year but not just days after Iceland have gone home.
7.48: By the way, who’s getting your vote for player of the tournament? Payet? Ronaldo? Ramsey? Nah, not for me. I’m going for England’s Tom Heaton. He was faultless. Never put a foot wrong.
7.46: By the way, that ‘plopping’ sound you can hear is the ball from Bastian Schweinsteiger’s quarter final penalty just touching down
7.39: If you're just joining us, the big team news is that France are unchanged which means Kante remains on the bench. While Germany replace the suspended Hummels and the injured Khedira and Gomez with Emre Can, Draxler and Schweinsteiger.
7.34: If you’re having a flutter on the first scorer tonight, have a bang on this. Olivier Giroud has scored in each of his two starts against Germany. He has also scored past Manuel Neuer the last three times he has faced him (once for Germany, twice for Arsenal).
7.25: Check this. Thomas Muller hasn't scored a single goal in 10 games at the Euros - he also missed his penalty in the shoot-out against Italy last Saturday. That’s a barren spell of Ann Widdecombe proportions. Ah, but will it be Muller time tonight?
7.21: FACT ME AGAIN BIG BOY! France have scored five headed goals - a record by a team in a single Euro finals.
7.19: FACT ME! France are the top scorers at Euro 2016 with 11 goals in five games. France have not scored that many in a major tournament since Euro 2000 (13).
7.14: STATS AMAZING! Germany have reached the semi-finals in each of their last six major tournaments. Like Joachim Low’s fingers, that’s not to be sniffed at
7.08: FACT ME! This will be the fifth encounter between Germany and France at a major tournament, but their first in the European Championship.
7.03: Some say France have had it easy so far – having only faced the likes of Albania, Romania, Ibiza, Switzerland, the Isle of Wight, the Republic of Ireland, Iceland and Me and My Mum. Well tonight, we’re about to find out what they’re really made of when they come up against the mighty Germans
6.56: France are unchanged. Which means Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko keeps his place while N'Golo Kante kicks his heels on the bench. Are they nuts? Even Newcastle fans would prefer Kante every time. I'm telling you now. France have just lost this game... FRANCE: Lloris, Sagna, Koscielny, Umtiti, Evra, Pogba, Matuidi, Payet, Sissoko, Griezmann, Giroud
6.54: BREAKING TEAM NEWS: Germany make three changes with Liverpool’s Emre Can, United’s Bastian Schweinsteiger and James Bond’s Julian Draxler all starting. Schweinsteiger also skippers the side…GERMANY: Neuer, Hector, Howedes, Boateng, Kimmich, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Draxler, Can, Kroos, Muller
6.45: Welcome to Sun Sport’s live coverage of tonight’s truly monstrous semi-final – Germany v France. The world champions versus the hosts! Yes, Euro 2016 has only been mucking about up to now. This is a serious heavyweight clash of the titans!
6.42: Evenin’ all! Look you, now in a minute, it’s Germany v France, you see. There’s lovely. Oh sorry, I forgot I can stop pretending to be Welsh now. Good job too. These Ivor The Engine undercrackers are really starting to chafe.