The semifinal clash everyone has long craved since the Euro draw released has finally come: Germany vs. France. World champions vs. tournament favourites. Experienced and battle-tested vs. young and talented. Visiting adversaries vs. hometown heroes. Who will you be betting to make the Euro 2016 Finals with William Hill?
The lack of resemblance between the sides exposes the dichotomy in this match. Despite the stark contrasts in style, history and personnel, Germany and France alike have grown accustomed to one thing: winning.
Only one side will experience such a thrill on Thursday night. The deciding factor could lie in a matchup between Arsenal’s leading scorer, Olivier Giroud and top assist man, Mesut Ozil.
Giroud has played an outstanding tournament, which was accentuated in yesterday’s 5-2 triumph over Iceland. He scored two goals and recorded an assist in just 60 minutes of play. The striker’s steady involvement and influence in four out of the five goals validated Didier Deschamp’s decision to name Giroud as centre forward for the tournament.
The puzzling, and perhaps unsettling, aspect of Giroud’s career lies in his inconsistencies. At times, his inactivity up front and struggle to score warrant his exclusion from the field. Other times, he dominates aerially, holds the ball well and creates scoring chances at will.
The latter Giroud is what we are seeing. He is playing arguably the best football of his international career. But he hasn’t been the only Arsenal stand out in the EUROs.
On Saturday, Ozil turned in a classic offensive display against Italy. German manager Joachim Low switched to a 3-5-2 formation, allowing Ozil more freedom to operate behind strikers Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller.
Ozil completed 95 percent of his 65 short passes successfully and recorded a 65-percent accuracy on through balls. Most importantly, he broke into the scoring column for the first time of these EUROs with a clinical one-touch finish in the 65th minute.
On Thursday, the Arsenal teammates will line up on opposite sides. Will Giroud extend his man-of-the-match performance into the semifinals, or will Ozil’s quality in the attacking midfield win the individual matchup?
Giroud owns the tournament edge with three goals and two assists (in only four games played) to Ozil’s one goal and one assist. However, the German midfielder has created 17 total chances as opposed to Giroud’s six.
Meanwhile, both teams have dominated throughout the tournament. Germany has scored seven goals and only allowed one. France has netted 11 times with four goals allowed, albeit five of their goals scored came in their recent match against Iceland.
The French have the home crowd advantage and just turned in their best performance of the tournament. But their road to the semifinals has been much more manageable than Germany’s. Low’s squad has faced Poland, which reached the Round of 16, and Italy, a side capable of winning the EUROs.
Until Germany loses in a major tournament, there’s no reason to think they’ll falter. Germany won the World Cup with stingy defence, world-class goalkeeping and devastating spurts of offensive dominance. The same formula has led the squad to the semifinals of the EUROs.
As far as the Arsenal matchup between Giroud and Ozil goes, expect the German to prevail. Quite simply, he is the better player.
Ozil’s efficient performance against Italy is more impressive than Giroud’s explosion against Iceland because of the quality in opponent.
Italy had not conceded a goal prior to their matchup with Germany. Ozil ended that streak. All game long, he exploited a stout Italian backline with creative passing in the attacking third.
Meanwhile, Giroud has abused defences for the past three weeks, but the Frenchman hasn’t yet played against a defence of Germany’s quality. Their backline is the best remaining unit in the tournament. Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels can match the Frenchman’s aerial ability and will stifle Giroud’s forward-moving play.
The tournament’s most anticipated matchup will live up to the hype. In the end, Ozil and Germany will retain their throne.
Regardless of outcome, Arsenal fans can only hope Giroud and Ozil maintain their recent form entering the Premier League season.
