01 November 1897
Paul Pogba net his first goal of Euro 2016 as France produced a convincing display to reach the competition’s semi-finals with last night’s 5-2 victory over Iceland in Paris.
Oliver Giroud’s strike and Pogba’s header enabled the French to storm into a two-goal lead after just 20 minutes, while Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann left the tournament’s surprise package with a mountain to climb ahead of the half-time break.
In spite of the daunting task ahead of them, plucky Iceland refused to throw in the towel and pulled one back on 56 minutes through Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s close-range finish.
France’s four-goal lead was however soon restored, Giroud heading in a free-kick three minutes later.
There was still time for one final flourish from Iceland, who treated their magnificent travelling support to a leaving present courtesy of Birkir Bjarnason’s header.
France, for whom Bianconeri duo Pogba and Patrice Evra played the entire 90 minutes, will now look ahead to a mouthwatering semi-final battle against Germany, to be played on Thursday night in Marseille.
