France 5-2 Iceland: Olivier Giroud scores twice as Euro 2016 hosts cruise to victory to set up mouthwatering semi-final with Germany
Five-star France show England how it's done as first-half blitz sends Iceland packing and sets up semi-final against Germany
Olivier Giroud fired France ahead on 12 minutes after an assist from Blaise Matuidi against Iceland
Paul Pogba doubled the Euro 2016 hosts on 19 minutes with a bullet header from Antoine Griezmann's corner
France made it 3-0 just before half-time when Dimitri Payet drilled home from outside the box with his left foot
Griezmann added a fourth with a sumptuous chip to give Didier Deschamps' side a 4-0 lead at half-time
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson pulled one back for Iceland on 56 minutes but Giroud grabbed his second three minutes later
By Ian Ladyman for the Daily Mail
France were at their dazzling best on Sunday night as they put Iceland to the sword in their Euro 2016 quarter-final.
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud scored either side of half-time at the Stade de France as they hit Iceland for five to set up a semi-final clash with Germany on Thursday at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann also netted before half-time to give the tournament a four-nil lead.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Birkir Bjarnason pulled goals back for Iceland in the second half but they couldn't repeat their last-16 heroics when they defeated England.
Olivier Giroud wheels away in celebration after giving France an early lead against Iceland during their Euro 2016 quarter-final
The 29-year-old fired the tournament hosts ahead with this left-footed strike on 12 minutes
Giroud watches on as his low powerful strike flies through the legs of Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson
France's No 9 slides on his knees and points to the heavens after giving his country the perfect start
He was quickly joined by his ecstatic team-mates as they ran over to congratulate him on scoring the opening goal
MATCH FACTS
France: Lloris, Sagna, Umtiti, Koscielny, Evra, Pogba, Matuidi,Sissoko, Griezmann, Payet, Giroud.
Subs: Mandanda, Jallet, Cabaye, Gignac, Martial, Schneiderlin, Mangala, Digne, Coman, Costil.
Goals: Giroud 12 and 59, Pogba 19, Payet 43, Griezmann 45
Iceland: Halldorsson, Saevarsson, Arnason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Skulason, Gudmundsson, Gunnarsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Sigthorsson, Bodvarsson.
Subs: Kristinsson, Hauksson, Hermannsson, Ingason, Finnbogason, Sigurjonsson, Theodor Elmar Bjarnason, Magnusson, Hallfredsson, Traustason, Gudjohnsen, Jonsson.
Goals: Sigthorsson 56, Bjarnason 84
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland)
Seven minutes after Giroud had opened the scoring, France doubled their lead courtesy of Paul Pogba
The powerful midfielder rose the highest from an Antoine Griezmann corner to beat the zonal marking of Iceland
The 23-year-old's effort proved too much for Halldorsson and Birkir Mar Sævarsson (bottom) to nestle inside the far post
The Manchester United target celebrated his strike in his customary manner by dabbing
France's No 15 was mobbed by his team-mates as the majority of the Stade de France celebrated wildly in the background
Before half-time France trebled their lead with this strike from Dimitri Payet - his third in the tournament
The delightful playmaker managed to fire his low left-footed strike past three Icelandic attempted blocks
Payet's drive also proved too good Halldorsson who dived to his left to no avail as the ball found the bottom corner
The 29-year-old slides on his knee as France continued to rack up the goals in a dominant first-half display
Payet's left foot was kissed by Antoine Griezmann who marvels at his goal being scored on his weaker side
And with seconds left of half-time Griezmann too found himself on the scoresheet to compound Iceland's misery
The forward beautifully chipped Halldorsson when played through on goal at the Stade de France on Sunday night
The 25-year-old Atletico Madrid star promptly slide across the Stade de France turf on his front as France's rout continued
Johann Gudmundsson was deep in his thoughts following Griezmann's strike as Iceland faced a daunting challenge at half-time
However, for Gudmundsson and his Iceland team-mates there was a glimmer of hope after half-time when Kolbeinn Sigthorsson scored
Sigthorsson pulled one back for England's last-16 conquerors with this close-range finish on 56 miuntes
Sigthorsson watches on as his finish beats France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to reduce the scoreline to 4-1
And the Iceland striker's finish was a moment their fans won't forget as they supported their team in vast number
Three minutes later though, France were celebrating once more when Giroud scored his second and their fifth goal of the night
The powerful striker headed home a Payet free-kick - despite the presence of two Iceland challenges
Giroud watches on as his effort nestles into an empty net with Halldorsson caught in No Man's Land
Iceland's players look at each other quizzically as their dreams of a Euro 2016 semi-final spot evaporate
Giroud receives a word in the ear from Didier Deschamps after an impressive display leading the line for the tournament hosts
