France are unbeaten in their last nine games, while Germany have not lost in their last six.
Didier Deschamps' talented France block the path of Germany's spluttering juggernaut in Thursday's Euro 2016 semifinal and the world champions have mounting personnel problems.
With an element of revenge in the air, France can expect near-fanatical support from home fans in Marseille as they seek a place in Sunday's Paris final. The hosts are 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 are also in a confident mood, despite missing key players with injury and suspension after their penalty shoot-out win over Italy in the last eight. France are unbeaten in their last nine games, while Germany have not lost in their 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 shoot-out win in Bordeaux came at a high price. Centre-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 semi-final. To compound their problems, Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is highly doubtful with a knee strain.
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 champions, 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' on Tuesday. 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.
Match timing: 12,30 am, July 8
Where to watch: Sony Six, Sony ESPN and live streaming.
Deadly duel
Laurent Koscielny
Age: 30
Position: Defender
Caps: 34
Goals: 1
Thomas Muller
Age: 26
Position: Forward
Caps: 76
Goals: 32
With Mario Gomez injured, Muller is the only player left in Germany's squad who likes to run in behind opposing defences. With Koscielny sometimes having problems dealing with such incursions from deep and turning towards his own goal, this could be Müller's opportunity to score his first goal of the tournament
Predicted XI
Germany: M Neuer, J Kimmich, J Boateng, B HOwedes, J Hector, T Kroos, B Schweinsteiger, J Draxler, M Ozil, M Gotze, T Muller
France: H Lloris, B Sagna, A Rami, L Koscielny, P Evra, P Pogba, B Matuidi, M Sissoko, A Griezmann, D Payet, O Giroud
Stat Attack
Germany conceded only 1 goal in the tournament. France have beaten Germany only once in competitive matches. Their most recent meeting was a 1-0 victory for Germany in the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup.
Germany have knocked out the tournament hosts in four separate Euro semifinals, beating Belgium 2-1 in 1972 and overcoming Yugoslavia 4-2 four years later. They then downed Sweden 3-2 in 1992 and edged England on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the next edition.
Germany have won six semifinals of the European Championship, the most by any country. France have won just twice France are unbeaten in their last 17 competitive matches on home soil, winning 15 and drawing two.
Germany have scored 43 goals against France in their 27 encounters against each other. Surprisingly, France have scored the same number of goals against the World Champions.
Blast from the past
France 6 West Germany 3, 1958 World Cup third place match
A comprehensive 6-3 win over West Germany to claim a consolation third-place finish in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden remains France's only competitive victory over the Germans. With four goals in the nine-goal thriller, Just Fontaine emerged as a hero for Les Bleus after a performance that also saw Raymond Kopa hit a penalty and Yvon Douis hit the net in the 50th minute
West Germany 3 France 3 (West Germany win 5-4 on penalties), 1982 World Cup semifinal
Considered one of the all-time World Cup classics, West Germany's semifinal win over France in 1982 will forever be overshadowed by goalkeeper Harald Schumacher's mid-air charge on Patrick Battiston, leaving the French defender with broken teeth and broken ribs. He briefly slipped into a coma and teammate Michel Platini said he feared Battiston had died on the pitch because he had no pulse. Schumacher, who has always said he was going for the ball, went unpunished because Dutch referee Charles Corver stated he did not see the incident. Platini equalised from the penalty spot only minutes after Pierre Littbarski had given the Germans a 17th minute lead. The game went to extra-time, where France took a 3-1 lead thanks to Marius Tresor and Alain Giresse, only for Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Klaus Fischer to pull the match level 3-3. At the penalty shootout, Maxime Bossis's missed spot-kick handed a 5-4 win to West Germany. Post-competition, a French newspaper poll asked which German was the least popular in France: Schumacher beat Adolf Hitler
France 0 West Germany 2, 1986 World Cup semifinal
Four years after the infamous Schumacher-Battiston incident, relations between two European giants had barely thawed. Any pre-match nerves were kicked into touch after just nine minutes when Andreas Brehme gave the Germans an early lead in Guadalajara. The combined talents of Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Luiz Fernandez and Alain Giresse failed to conjure a leveller and West Germany, with Harald Schumacher still in goal, were left rejoicing when Rudi Voeller hit their second in the final minute of regulation time
France 0 Germany 1
2014 World Cup quarterfinal
Over 74,000 fans packed the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro to see France and Germany meet for the fourth time at a World Cup and the Germans walked away victorious. After just 13 minutes, centre-back Mats Hummels got ahead of his marker Raphael Varane to meet Toni Kroos's free-kick and head past France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris
Manager Talk
Didier Deschamps, France
Deschamps agrees that Germany is a strong team that is always attacking, hence France need to go beyond defending to win the match. He said, "We're looking better but Germany remains Germany. They are the best team in Europe and in the world and the only ones totally controlling the situation, with technical quality everywhere, from the goalkeeper to the forwards. We'll fight for our chances, knowing what we are up against."
Deschamps said that their challenge is not just Neuer but the entire team. Commenting on the quarter-final that France lost to Germany in World Cup 2014, he said, "No one can change history, but there are new chapters to be written."
Joachim Loew, Germany
Loew believes that France is not an ordinary team that they can tackle easily. "Against France I still have to think about it. Italy are a team with automated plays. They are world class in playing them but they are predictable. France are different. They constantly change positions, they are much more unexpected and difficult to predict," said Loew.
Loew added that Germany has to play strong on defence and try not to give France their space. On key Germany players missing the semi-final, he said, "I trust their replacements 100% and I hope it won't disturb our style of play. We'll be the strongest opposition France have had so far and we'll give our all to reach the final."
In France's last match against Iceland, Loew noticed a few weakness that he says they will use against them.
Team News
Germany's Hummels will not be playing the semi-finals due to suspension while Gomez and Khedira are out due to injuries.
With agency and UEFA input.
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