Clairefontaine, France (dpa) – France face Germany in the Euro 2016 semi-final on Thursday determined to secure a first tournament win over their old rivals since 1958.
«Germany is a little bit of hoodoo opponent for us,» Olivier Giroud said Monday at the French base in Clairefontaine. «We want to change this trend.»
France lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals and also lost semi-finals in 1982 and 1986. Their only win over Germany at a finals was a third-place game in the 1958 edition.
However, they did win a friendly game between the teams in November last year on the same day of the Paris terror attacks which claimed the lives of 130 people.
Giroud hit two goals in France’s last eight win over Iceland and is now preparing for a tougher challenge against Germany keeper Manuel Neuer in Marseille.
«He is a key player for the team but I have already scored against him,» Giroud said. «He is not an insurmountable wall.»
