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Euro 2016: Meet the four semi-finalists

Last updated on: July 04, 2016 16:05 IST

July 7 (1st Semi-final): Portugal vs Wales, Lyon, 0030 IST

July 8 (2nd Semi-final): Germany vs France, Marseille, 0030 IST

Hosts France sealed the last semi-final spot and will meet World champions Germany in a mouth-watering clash at Marseille.

In another showdown, giant-killers Wales, inspired by their hero Gareth Bale, will take on Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal at Lyon.

Rediff.com takes a closer look at the four semi-finalists as the fight for European glory reaches its business end.

Portugal

IMAGE: Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2016 Euro in France. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images.

Route to last four: 1-1 Iceland, 0-0 Austria, 3-3 Hungary, 1-0 Croatia, 1-1 Poland (5-3 on penalties)

Top scorer in France: Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani (2)

Average possession: 54%

EURO best: runners-up (2004)

Semi-final record: Won: 1, Lost: 3

Last semi-final: 0-0 (2-4 on penalties) Spain (2012)

Killer stat: Cristiano Ronaldo is one goal shy of Michel Platini's all-time EURO record of nine.

Wales

IMAGE: Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring for Wales in the UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying Group B match against Belgium. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/Reuters.

Route to last four: 2-1 Slovakia, 1-2 England, 3-0 Russia, 1-0 Northern Ireland, 3-1 Belgium

Top scorer in France: Gareth Bale (3)

Average possession: 47%

EURO best: semi-finals (2016)

Semi-final record: maiden appearance

Killer stat: Wales have scored ten goals from 59 attempts – the best conversion rate among the semi-finalists.

Germany

IMAGE: German players during the penalty shoot-out against Italy. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters.

Route to last four: 2-0 Ukraine, 0-0 Poland, 1-0 Northern Ireland, 3-0 Slovakia, 1-1 Italy (6-5 on penalties)

Top scorer in France: Mario Gomez (2) (Gomez is ruled out of the tournament)

Average possession: 63%

EURO best: winners (1972, 1980, 1996)

Semi-final record: W5 L2

Last semi-final: 1-2 Italy (2012)

Killer stat: Joachim Leow's side boast the best defensive record of the semi-finalists, having conceded just once.

France

IMAGE: Antoine Griezmann of France celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Ireland. Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images

Route to last four: 2-1 Romania, 2-0 Albania, 0-0 Switzerland, 2-1 Republic of Ireland, 5-2 Iceland

Top scorer in France: Antoine Griezmann (4)

Average possession: 56%

EURO best: winners (1984, 2000)

Semi-final record: W2 L2

Last semi-final: 2-1 (aet) Portugal (2000)

Killer stat: France's previous two EURO semi-finals on home turf witnessed 14 goals! They lost 5-4 to Yugoslavia in 1960 but beat Portugal 3-2 in extra time in 1984.

Courtesy: UEFA

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