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Paul Pogba

MARSEILLE. — Didier Deschamps’ talented France block the path of Germany’s spluttering juggernaut in tonight’s Euro 2016 semi-final and the world champions have mounting personnel problems.

The match kicks-off at 9pm.

With an element of revenge in the air, France can expect near-fanatical support from home fans in Marseille as they seek a place in Sunday’s Paris final.

The hosts are buoyed by a 5-2 quarter-final thumping of plucky minnows Iceland when Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet all netted at the Stade de France.

Germany are also in confident mood, despite missing key players with injury and suspension after their penalty shoot-out win over Italy in the last eight.

France are unbeaten in their last nine games, while Germany have not lost in their last six.

“For us, there is no fear. We know that France are loaded with good individual players, but they are under pressure as hosts,” said Germany forward Thomas Mueller.

“Iceland didn’t look so happy with the goals they conceded.

“They have our respect, but I am optimistic that we will find solutions (to the injury problems).

For us there is no loss of quality.”

Germany’s tense penalty shoot-out win in Bordeaux came at a high price.

Centre-back Mats Hummels picked up a yellow card which sees him suspended in Marseille.

Striker Mario Gomez and midfielder Sami Khedira picked up thigh and groin injuries respectively which rule them out of the semi-final.

But Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger returned to training yesterday, boosting his chances of getting a starting place for his country’s Euro 2016 semi-final against France.

The 31-year-old Manchester United midfielder hurt knee ligaments during Germany’s penalty shoot-out win over Italy on Saturday and missed training on Tuesday.

Defender Benedikt Howedes also returned to full training in another boost for coach Joachim Loew.

Loew has said he will take no risks with Schweinsteiger and that the influential German player will have to be “100 percent” to win a starting place in tonight’s game in Marseille.

Loew is set to resort to a 4-2-3-1 formation having used a 3-5-2 against Italy.

With Gomez out, World Cup-winner Mario Goetze is set to start up front, but Loew said he may play his Bayern Munich team-mate Thomas Mueller alongside him in attack.

Gomez’s thigh tear means he will also miss the final, should Germany progress.

With Hummels suspended, Shkodran Mustafi or Benedikt Hoewedes will partner Jerome Boateng at centre-back with Joshua Kimmich at right-back and Jonas Hector on the left.

Loew has said he expects to introduce a new face into the midfield with Liverpool’s Emre Can or Julian Weigl of Borussia Dortmund set to partner Toni Kroos in the defensive midfield.

France striker Giroud has scored against Manuel Neuer in each of the last three games for France and Arsenal, a threat the Germans must counter.

“He is a very dangerous poacher inside the box,” said Neuer.

“He is strong in the air, he is dangerous for central defenders.

“But we know him and can prepare for him and they have a lot of other quality players.”

For France, defender Adil Rami and midfielder N’Golo Kante are back in contention after missing the win over Iceland through suspension.

The French camp is full of praise for the world champions, but the message is clear. “We’d like to write another chapter in French football history,” said Giroud while French sports daily L’Equipe ran the front-page headline “Thirsty for Revenge” on Tuesday.

Moussa Sissoko admits France are on a revenge mission against Germany .

Euro 2016 hosts France were knocked out by Germany in the quarter-finals at the 2014 World Cup and now have a semi-final rematch in Marseille tonight.

Newcastle midfielder Sissoko said: “We want to win at all costs in order to qualify. Being knocked out in the quarters at the last World Cup still sticks in the throat. This is the time to make amends for that defeat.

“I don’t think there is a special rivalry with this Germany team. They have a young team, just like us. They have a great team with some great players.

“We have a calmer team than two years ago and we’ve had good results. We now need to prove ourselves on the field. Thursday, on paper, is the biggest game of the tournament. We’ll do everything we can to reach the final.

“It will be a difficult match against the world champions. But we have the home advantage. We have all the weapons to put in a good performance and to reach the final. — AFP.