It was the place, also, for La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, belted out and then Deschamps’ team ripped into their opponents. They should have gone ahead. It came after an intricate double one-two (a three-four?) of passes between Blaise Matuidi and Greizmann with the latter?dumping Bendikt Howedes ? in for the suspended Mats Hummels ? on the turf but failing to get enough power on a low shot with Manuel Neuer diving to push the ball away.?
Deschamps was bold. He elected to use France’s best weapon: attack. He elected also to try and tap into the wave of febrile intensity and seize the initiative. “Allez les Bleus” was the chant. And they did go for it. It had been baking hot all day and it was cooking inside this stadium.?
But this is Germany. They held the ball; drew the sting ? and struck.?