training session. Adam Byrnes hat-trick helped fire Leinst

MARSEILLE, France -- France is heading back to soccers elite, and Antoine Griezmann is the man leading the way.Griezmann scored both goals to give France a 2-0 win over world champion Germany on Thursday and a place in the European Championship final against Portugal.It was a victory built as much on German errors as it was on Griezmanns skill, with a handball in the box and a poor defensive pass paving the way for his goals.But that didnt matter to the fans who made Marseilles Stade Velodrome ring with the sound of the Marseillaise, Frances national anthem. Their team won this tournament in 2000, two years after lifting the World Cup, but it hasnt had a trophy since then.Developed as a player in Spain, Griezmann has been the star of the show for France, leading a high-scoring team with six goals, twice as many as any other player in the tournament.I think theres a lot of happiness around France tonight, said coach Didier Deschamps, whose team faces Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal on Sunday at the Stade de France.This team has everything it needs to be loved, Im very proud... Its fabulous to be in the final.Griezmann, who could have completed a hat trick in the 86th minute but shot straight at goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, was already looking ahead.Were very happy, he said. We have to keep our feet on the ground. We still have a match to go.For Germany, defeat cost it the chance to add the European title to the World Cup it won in 2014.It had gone 50 years unbeaten against host nations at major tournaments, dating back to its loss to England in the 1966 World Cup final and encompassing a famous 7-1 humbling of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semifinals.While a repeat of the Brazil rout was never on the cards, Germany could have scored more than once as it dominated the first half. But it was denied by poor shooting from Thomas Mueller, who ended his tournament scoreless, and a save by Hugo Lloris to block Emre Cans bouncing shot.France took the lead from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time after Bastian Schweinsteiger handled the ball in an aerial challenge with Patrice Evra.Griezmann stepped up to score, striking the penalty hard to Neuers right.I really wanted to take a penalty in a big match like that. I was very composed, I didnt think twice, Griezmann said.It was the second time in as many games that Germany had given away a spot-kick for handball. Jerome Boateng blocked the ball with an arm above his head in the quarterfinal against Italy.Its just bad luck, just an unlucky action, Germany coach Joachim Loew said of the penalty. In a challenge, when youre jumping, there are movements that you cant really control.Trailing in a match for the first time in the tournament, Germany could not recover its previous dominance after halftime. It then had to cope with losing key defender Boateng, who picked up an ankle injury after an hour.The German defense had not conceded from open play all tournament, but it fell apart for Griezmanns second goal in the 72nd minute. A sluggish pass by Benedikt Hoewedes to right back Joshua Kimmich was cut out by Paul Pogba and Neuer could only palm away the midfielders cross to Griezmann, who finished with ease.Germany responded well and could have pulled one back when Kimmich hit the post, before Julian Draxler sent a free-kick narrowly wide and Hoewedes headed over.We had chances to come back, Neuer said. We played a good European Championship and its very bitter to go out.Loew insisted his team had played better than France but had been denied by bad luck, including the injuries and suspensions that hit four key players -- Boateng, as well as defender Mats Hummels, midfielder Sami Khedira and forward Mario Gomez, with the latter three missing the game.Loew, who is under contract until the 2018 World Cup, said he was not sure of his future.France, while not always reassuring in defense, came through victorious in its first game of the tournament against genuinely top-class opposition.After the final whistle, Frances jubilant players celebrated with the fans by performing the Huh chant made famous at the tournament by Iceland.Across France and in the French team, the attention was firmly on the diminutive Griezmann after another decisive performance. Hes our little man that gives us that bit extra, teammate Olivier Giroud said. Nick Foligno Jersey . 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Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Adam Byrnes hat-trick helped fire Leinster back to the top of the Guinness PRO12 table with a 33-10 win at Zebre.Byrne crossed twice after half-time to complete his treble and secure Leinsters seventh win in eight games this season.Debutant Tom Daly and Jack Conan completed a five-try rout to secure a bonus point. Zebre had led for the majority of the first half and Dries van Schalkwyk scored their only try of the game after eight minutes while Mike McCarthy was sat in the sin bin.Carlo Canna converted and while Dalys converted score levelled matters, Canna kicked oveer a penalty on the half-hour mark to edge the hosts back ahead.ddddddddddddByrnes first try would send Leinster ahead for the first time moments later, profiting after a strong Barry Daly run, and paved the way for a dominant second period.Byrne crashed over for his second on 48 minutes before Conan got his name on the scoresheet. Isa Nacewa converted both and completed the scoring after Byrne touched down for his hat-trick on 64 minutes. ' ' '