France demolish Iceland to reach semi-finals

France ripped through Iceland to earn a semi-final against Germany at Euro 2016, scoring four times in a brilliant first-half display as a collection of brilliant individuals morphed into a team in a devastating 5-2 win.

It took France just 12 minutes to take the lead, Olivier Giroud heading home after Blaise Matuidi lifted a lovely ball into his stride. And seven minutes later, France doubled the advantage, Antoine Griezmann flighting a perfect corner to the far post, where Paul Pogba's violent header was too much for the zonal making and man on the line.

France spent the remainder of the first half passing and moving, the midfield balance giving Griezmann the chance to take up positions between midfield and defence. So it was no great surprise when, on 42 minutes, another goal arrived, one-touch passing creating space out wide before Moussa Sissoko's cross found Dimitri Payet, who drove home from the edge of the box.

And France were there again just before half-time, a long passing move giving Pogba the chance to laser a through-pass that Giroud stepped over, putting Griezmann in to score with a delightful chipped finish.

Iceland played better in the second half with goals from Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Birkir Bjarnason bookending another for Giroud. But even winding down, France looked a serious outfit, and for anyone with the remotest interest in football, sport or anything, Thursday cannot come soon enough.

Antoine Griezmann (France): This could have been Pogba, Matuidi or Giroud, but it was Griezmann's darting, intelligent movement that opened up the game for France. Iceland simply could not cope with him, and a German defence without Hummels will have a problem too.

Can France cope with Germany? France's record against Germany is not at all good - they totally bottled their last World Cup meeting and also lost to them in 1986 and 1982. Of course, that has no direct effect on what will happen on Thursday, but the French players will know about it alright. And they'll also know that they conceded far too many chances to Iceland, and two goals from set-pieces. They did well tonight, but the hard work hasn't even started.

France: Lloris 6; Sagna 6, Koscielny 6, Umtiti 7, Evra 6; Pogba 7, Matuidi 7; Sissoko 7, Griezmann 8, Payet 7; Giroud 7. Subs: Gignac 6, Mangala 6, Coman 6.

Iceland: Halldorsson 6; Saevarsson 5, Amason 5, R Sigurdsson 6, Skulason 5; Gudmundsson 6, Gunnarsson 6, G Sigurdsson 5, B Bjarnason 6; Sigthorsson 6, Bodvarsson 5. Subs: Ingason, 6, Finnbogasson 6, Gudjohnsen 6.

7 - CHANCE! Lovely from France, Griezmann pulling into the hole and befuddling the two centre-backs; but does he take a corner like Harry Kane? One-touch stuff between him and Sissoko creates space for Payet, and when the ball's laid off for him, he bangs a low shot that Halldorsson hold at the second attempt.

14 - GOAL! France 1-0 Iceland (Giroud). Matuidi raps a long pass from halfway, just left of the centre circle, that's so beautifully weighted it should be on the front cover of Vogue. Or something. It rinses the entire Iceland defence, delivers itself into the stride of Giroud, and he spanks a low shot across and through the legs of Halldorsson.

20 - GOAL! France 2-0 Iceland (Pogba). France win a corner down the right, which Griezmann flights beautifully to the far post. hanging it up outside the various zones - and when has a zone ever scored a goal, right? Exactly! Thanks. You're welcome. And, while the ball dallies in the air, Paul Pogba meets it with an absolutely petrifying headbutt to beat the man on the post and put France in the semi-finals!

25 - CHANCE! Umtiti makes sure that Sigthorsson doesn't have a free run at a throw-in pumped into the box, and the finish goes over the top. Brilliantly done by all parties.

43 - GOAL! France 3-0 Iceland (Payet). France are there! France will play Germany on Thursday! Sagna goes down the right and humps a cross towards the back post, where Giroud knocks down. The ball then finds its way to Dimitri Payet on the edge of the box, more or less dead centre, and he drags it left, playground style, then swivels into a shot across goal that's got enough to pace into the far corner.

45 - GOAL! France 4-0 Iceland (Griezmann). What a goal this is! What a performance this is! Payet was joint leading scorer for about two minutes, because Pogba whips his laces across a long through ball that Giroud steps over, and suddenly, Griezmann - he of the spectacular movement - is through, four defenders in pursuit! He draws Halldorsson - it's a pretty good likeness too - and messis, beardsleys a chip over him as he goes down.

49 - CHANCE! France are lacing passes through the Iceland midfield like embroiders, Sissoko working space inside the box and Griezmann looking like he's in. But a heavy touch allows Sigurdsson to intervene, and Payet, with a sight of goal from inside the D, wallops over the top.

56 - GOAL! France 4-1 Iceland (Sigthorsson). Get the ball from the back of the net! Lovely low, arcing ball from Sigurdsson, out on the right, and with Lloris on his heels, in slid Sigthorsson to divert it past him. Very nicely done.

59 - GOAL! France 5-1 Iceland (Giroud). Payet is more or less dead centre, not the best position for a free-kick. But he is the best person for a free-kick, and he imparts a frankly dangerous level of swazz on it, tearing it towards the far post, where Giroud inserts a head, running up his third goal of the competition.

63 - CHANCE! Iceland win a corner down the left, and Gudmundsson flights in a beauty - Lloris doesn't come and Ingason heads goalwards; Lloris tips over very well indeed.

84 - GOAL! France 5-2 Iceland (Bjarnason). This is a very nicely taken goal. Sigurdsson crosses well from the left, it eludes various heads waved in its direction, and Bjarnason plants a header beyond Evra who narrowly avoids the temptation of handling it clear.

France scored five goals in a single Euro match for the second time after the 5-0 win over Belgium in the Euro 1984 group stage.

Only Netherlands have ever scored more goals in a single EURO match than France, the 6-1 victory over Yugoslavia at EURO 2000.

France became the first team in EURO history to score four first-half goals in a single match. Les Bleus had not scored a goal before the break at EURO 2016 prior to today.

Iceland became the first nation ever to start five EURO matches in a row with the same 11 players in their starting line-up.