Saudi ambassador to UK voted MENA diplomat of 2025    Saudi Awwal Bank signs SR2 billion credit facility with Saudi Binladin Group to propel development of King Fahd Sports City in Riyadh    Feast of Flavors and Prizes: LuLu Hypermarket kicks off the "World Food Festival" across Saudi Arabia    Pakistan closes airspace, suspends visaas in tit-for-tat measures against India    Saudia Group signs deal with Airbus for flyadeal's first wide-body aircraft    Saudi non-oil exports surge 14.3 percent to SR26.11bn in February    Saudi, Greek ministers co-chair inaugural meeting of Strategic Culture Committee    Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 26, Palestinian officials say    Trump's trade war olive branch met with derision and mistrust inside China    Ministry of Justice launches centralized court model to enhance judicial efficiency    Kyiv hit by deadly Russian missile and drone attack    Saudi Arabia elected chair of Asia region of World Meteorological Organization    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Super Max Verstappen scorches to pole with record lap in Jeddah    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



France thirsty for revenge against wounded Germany
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 07 - 2016

Didier Deschamps' talented France block the path of Germany's spluttering juggernaut in Thursday's Euro 2016 semifinal and the world champion has mounting personnel problems.

With an element of revenge in the air, France can expect near-fanatical support from home fans in Marseille as it seeks a place in Sunday's Paris final.

The host is buoyed by a 5-2 quarterfinal thumping of plucky minnows Iceland when Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet all netted at the Stade de France.

Germany is also confident mood, despite missing key players with injury and suspension after its penalty shootout win over Italy in the last eight.
France is unbeaten in its last nine games, while Germany has not lost in its last six.

"For us, there is no fear. We know that France are loaded with good individual players, but they are under pressure as hosts," said Germany forward Thomas Mueller.

"Iceland didn't look so happy with the goals they conceded.

"They have our respect, but I am optimistic that we will find solutions (to the injury problems). For us there is no loss of quality."

Germany's tense penalty shootout win in Bordeaux came at a high price.

Center-back Mats Hummels picked up a yellow card which sees him suspended in Marseille.

Striker Mario Gomez and midfielder Sami Khedira picked up thigh and groin injuries respectively, which rule them out of the semifinal.

To compound its problems, Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is highly doubtful with a knee strain.

Germany coach Joachim Loew is set to resort to a 4-2-3-1 formation having used a 3-5-2 against Italy.

With Gomez out, World Cup-winner Mario Goetze is set to start up front, but Loew said he may play his Bayern Munich teammate Thomas Mueller alongside him in attack.

Gomez's thigh tear means he will also miss the final, should Germany progress.

With Hummels suspended, Shkodran Mustafi or Benedikt Hoewedes will partner Jerome Boateng at center-back with Joshua Kimmich at right-back and Jonas Hector on the left.

Loew has said he expects to introduce a new face into the midfield with Liverpool's Emre Can or Julian Weigl of Borussia Dortmund set to partner Toni Kroos in the defensive midfield.

France striker Giroud has scored against Manuel Neuer in each of the last three games for France and Arsenal, a threat the Germans must counter.
"He is a very dangerous poacher inside the box," said Neuer.

"He is strong in the air, he is dangerous for central defenders.

"But we know him and can prepare for him and they have a lot of other quality players."

For France, defender Adil Rami and midfielder N'Golo Kante are back in contention after missing the win over Iceland through suspension.

The French camp is full of praise for the world champion, but the message is clear.

"We'd like to write another chapter in French football history," said Giroud while French sports daily L'Equipe ran the front-page headline 'Thirsty for Revenge' Tuesday.

Just as it was for the Germans against Italy, the semifinal is a fixture steeped in history.

Les Bleus lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana, thanks to Hummels' first-half header.

And France has never fully forgiven Germany for their penalty shootout defeat in a bitterly contested World Cup semifinal in Spain in 1982.

An epic 3-3 draw, with four goals scored in extra-time, came down to a penalty shootout which Germany won 5-4, but the match in Seville is remembered for a brutal incident.

France's Patrick Battiston was knocked unconscious, with two teeth missing and three cracked ribs, after a collision with Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher.

However, the German camp has been eager to play down the historical significance to focus on the here and now.

"The chance to win two titles back-to-back is not something you get everyday. We're looking forward to it," said Mueller as Germany look to add the European crown to their world title.


Clic here to read the story from its source.