France get final wish after Antoine Griezmann’s double sinks Germany (France 2: Germany 0)

France’s players an fans celebrate after Antoine Griezmann scored the second goal of their semi-final against Germany and France at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

The din that greeted the final whistle served as an exorcism. The French need never shudder again at the memory of traumas suffered at the hands of these opponents in Seville and Guadalajara three decades ago, or even the deflation endured in the steamy heat of the Maracanã at the last World Cup. They have wrested themselves free of a hold the Germans have had on them in competitive fixtures stretching back over half a century and in the process, removed the world champions from the tournament.

It was Antoine Griezmann, entirely appropriately, who skipped in delight at the head of the line of triumphant France players towards the home support on the Virage Sud at the final whistle, the victors leading the crowd in their version of an Icelandic “Huuh” before breaking away in frenzied celebration of their own. Those crammed into the stand, where the Russians had infamously charged English supporters almost a month ago, bounced along in sheer delight, waving their tricolores and drowning out the music blared out of the PA system with a chorus of La Marseillaise. This was an outpouring of joy.

Portugal 2-0 Wales: five talking points from the semi-final in Lyon

Gareth Bale contemplates defeat with Chris Gunter at the end of the match against Portugal on Wednesday. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters

1) Wales can look back on the tournament with pride and no regrets

This was the death of a dream, but not a reason to wallow or curse at the thought of what might have been. Wales have been a breath of fresh air at this championship, a side back at a major finals for the first time since 1958 having excelled on the pitch while their magnificent support chorused them gloriously from the stands. They missed the banned Aaron Ramsey’s composure and creation here but, even so, it took a phenomenon in Cristiano Ronaldo to break them. Gareth Bale and Ramsey have played their stellar roles but there have been outstanding performers throughout the squad: from James Chester at the back, through the bearded Joe Ledley in midfield – it is staggering to consider he broke his leg in early May – and the clubless but tireless Hal Robson-Kanu up front. “We can’t come off with any regrets,” said Chris Coleman before kick-off. Even in defeat, they should return home with none.

Cristiano Ronaldo ends Wales fairytale to put Portugal in Euro 2016 final: Portugal 2: Wales 0.

The Wales defence can only watch as Cristiano Ronaldo heads in the opening goal of the Euro 2016 semi-final for Portugal. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

Gareth Bale had made the point that Wales’s historic run to the Euro 2016 semi-final had somehow not felt real. “In a way, it doesn’t,” he said, earlier in the week. The craziness had been on the outside. They were insulated inside their bubble.

This was the night when it popped; when the brutal reality intervened. And when Cristiano Ronaldo decided that it was time he made a grand statement at this championship. There had been the fear among the Wales support that, after some indifferent performances, Ronaldo was surely due to step up. He scored the opening goal with a punishing header and set up the second for Nani. Point made.

Portugal have known plenty of pain in major semi-finals; they had previously lost five of their six across this tournament and the World Cup. But it belonged to Wales here. Despite Bale’s non-stop endeavours, they struggled sorely to create too much of clear-cut note. The suspended midfielder, Aaron Ramsey, was missed.

France beat Iceland 5-2 to reach Euro 2016 semi final

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud scored twice while Antonine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet also got their name on the scoresheet as France beat Iceland 5-2 at St-Denis on Sunday evening to secure their passage to the semifinals of Euro 2016.

Didier Deschamps made two changes to the side that won 2-1 against Ireland in their last match: Samuel Umtiti made his international debut in place of suspended Adil Rami, while N’Golo Kante, also suspended, is replaced by Moussa Sissoko.

Dimitri Payet drilled a low 20-yard shot that goalkeeper Halldorsson spilt out in front of him, but grabbed the loose ball in time.

France took an early lead through Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud. Matuidi played a lovely pass over the top of the defence to Giroud, who down the inside left channel scored with an excellent first-time shot.

Germany through to the Semis after a thrilling shootout.

Germany are through to the semi-final of the Euro 2016 championships after a dramatic 6-5 win over Italy on Saturday night in Bordeaux, France.

Both team played 1-1 in regulation period and had to settle scores via penalty kicks.

Though the game started predictably on a cautious note for both teams, the dramatic quarter-final clash sparked to life right from the first half when Germany had a goal disallowed and Italy failed to take a double chance on the stroke of half-time.

A common line in the mouth of commentators going into Saturday’s game was that Germany had never beaten the Azzurri in a major tournament, earning four draws and as many defeats.

Aaron Ramsey at the beating, Belgium-battering heart of Wales’s glory

As the clock ran down in those febrile, oddly still moments after Sam Vokes’s goal had confirmed what everyone in the Stade Pierre Mauroy already knew, the Welsh end lolled and bounced around like a huge, seething red-shirted basket of kittens. Wales were 3-1 up against Belgium, on their way to the semi-finals, and two games away from actually winning this tournament.

Really, though, this was too much detail. It was simply a glorious, self-contained moment, the kind that never leaves fans who were there, the sky in Flanders filled with the crackles and shouts and roars of a crowd entirely drunk on the spectacle. On the pitch Belgium’s players scurried about looking beaten and flattened and frankly a little incredulous.

Portugal reach Euro 2016 semi-finals with win over Poland on penalties

The Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patrício makes the decisive penalty save from Poland’s Jakub Blaszczykowski in their Euro 2016 quarter-final. Photograph: Michael Dalder/Reuters

It has become increasingly possible to imagine Portugal with their name on the Euro 2016 trophy. After three draws at the group phase and a grubby last 16 win over Croatia, following extra-time, they entered this quarter-final having not played particularly well but having played well enough.

Fernando Santos’s team deserved to win here, having been the better team for most of the game and, when it came down to penalties, they made sure that they set up a semi-final against Wales or Belgium next Wednesday. After the Poland winger Jakub Blaszczykowski had his kick saved by a diving Rui Patrício, the Portugal substitute Ricardo Quaresma beat Lukasz Fabianski to spark delirium.

Michy Batshuayi passes medical ahead of £33.2m switch to Chelsea after Tottenham are beaten in race for striker

• Chelsea have agreed a £33million fee with Marseille for Michy Batshuayi
• Tottenham had been confident of signing the 22-year-old striker
• Marseille had also accepted a £31m offer from Crystal Palace
• The French club need to sell before July 5 to avoid a transfer embargo
• Batshuayi is poised to sign a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge 
• Forward passed a medical at Belgium's Euro 2016 squad on Wednesday 

Chelsea have agreed a £33.2million deal with Marseille to sign striker Michy Batshuayi. 

The Belgium international had his medical with Chelsea staff at Chateau du Haillan, in Bordeaux on Wednesday ahead of agreeing personal terms on a five-year contract.

Marseille had agreed the fee with Chelsea on Tuesday evening after receiving counter offers from Crystal Palace, West Ham and Tottenham. 

Top XI Players Missing From Euro 2016

Euro 2016 is now well underway and the drama is building with every match played, making it all but impossible to predict the Euro 2016 odds. However, for some of Europe’s most talented players this is a bittersweet time, even if their teams are storming the tournament. That’s because many great footballers simply haven’t made it to France thanks to injury, personal disagreements or simply being omitted from their national squads. Let’s take a look at eleven of the players enjoying Euro 2016 from the sofa or the stands.

EURO 2016 Talking Points: Who will win the Golden Boot

The final last 16 tie of Euro 2016 ended on Monday evening with England beaten 2-1 by underdogs Iceland in Nice. It was a horrific night for Roy Hodgson and his men with not only a premature elimination to deal with, but also one of the most embarrassing defeats in the history of the English national team.

The eight last 16 ties threw up plenty of talking points, not least England’s failure to perform on the big stage once more. Only eight teams remain and its all to play for in France:

England 1-2 Iceland: Three Lions suffer the ultimate humiliation by falling to embarrassing defeat against tournament minnows before Roy Hodgson resigns 20 minutes after final whistle

• England captain Wayne Rooney opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Raheem Sterling was fouled
• Iceland cancelled out Rooney's effort just two minutes later when Ragnar Sigurdsson poked home from close range
• Kolbeinn Sigthorsson piled misery on the Three Lions, who have failed to win a knockout clash since 2006
• Roy Hodgson resigned from his role as England manager shortly after the full-time whistle in Nice 
• Iceland will now face Euro 2016 hosts France at the quarter-final stage in Paris on Sunday afternoon 

A lot of people in England have been trying to turn the clock back over the last few days – and Roy Hodgson managed to get it all the way to Belo Horizonte in 1950.

Not since a distant World Cup, 66 years ago, have England suffered a humiliation as great as this. Not since this country dipped a first tentative toe into the world of international competition, has a result sent such seismic waves through the national game. Beaten by Iceland – a nation with a population the size of Leicester. Beaten by Iceland – a team with a part-time coach, and a part-time football culture. Beaten by Iceland – a team that had never played a knock-out game at a tournament before.

Italy 2-0 Spain: Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle on target as Azzurri book Euro 2016 quarter-final spot with victory in Paris

• Italy are through to Euro 2016 quarter-finals after securing victory over Spain in last-16 on Monday night
• Juventus centre back Giorgio Chiellini reacted quickest to score opener, pouncing on Eder's free-kick rebound
• Barcelona's Gerard Pique avoided punishment for apparent stamp on Eder in second-half of tie in Paris
• Southampton striker Graziano Pelle scored Italy's second goal, latching onto fine long ball before finishing
• Azzurri are set to face Germany in last eight after their 3-0 victory over Slovakia on Sunday 

Not just the end of a tournament for Spain but the end of an era. In all likelihood this meek defeat to a terrific and emerging Italian team will spell the end of coach Vicente del Bosque too.

This was a crushing defeat for Spain, the European champions of 2012 and 2008. Del Bosque’s team were outplayed and out thought by a magnificent Italian side led by the incredible life force that is the incoming Chelsea coach Antonio Conte.

It was a two goal margin but it could have been more.

Goalkeeper David de Gea was Spain’s best player and they only created one good chance all game, Italian totem Gianluigi Buffon saving brilliantly from Gerard Pique in the very last minute of normal time.

Eden Hazard unplayable in Belgium 4-0 Hungary

Eden Hazard scored and set up another as Belgium thrashed Hungary 4-0 in their second round match at Euro 2016 on Sunday.

Goals from Toby Alderweireld, Michy Batshuayi, Eden Hazard and Yannick Carrasco saw Belgium become the first team to score four goals in a single game at this summer’s tournament.

Marc Wilmots’ side started the game on the front foot and could have been ahead even before Jan Vertonghen headed home Kevin De Bruyne’s free kick in the 10th minute.

Somehow the Red Devils did not double their lead before half-time, with both Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens not taking more than one opportunity each versus a vulnerable Hungary defence in what was a very open game.

Hungarian goalkeeper Gábor Király was forced into seven saves alone in the first half – as many as he had made in the three group stage games combined.  By full-time, their goals against tally had doubled from four to eight in the competition overall.