The Atlético Madrid forward scored a contentious penalty on the stroke of half-time before he poked home a loose ball following an uncharacteristic mistake by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer 18 minutes from time.

The result in front of a partisan home crowd sets up a meeting with Portugal, who beat the competition's surprise package Wales yesterday, in the final in Paris on Sunday (July 10). 

As well as ensuring France get the opportunity to battle for their first major international honours since they won the 1998 World Cup on home soil, Griezmann also looks set to clinch the Golden Boot as his second goal in the win over Germany was his sixth of the tournament.

The result ended Germany's pursuit of a first European title since the 1996 event in England.

In truth, the German side played the better football throughout the contest but were undone by a clinical French team, who benefitted from a harsh penalty decision from Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli as well as an error from Neuer.

Germany had the better of the first-half but were unable to turn their dominance into goals and just as it looked as though the semi-final would remain goalless at the break, Rizzoli gave France the perfect chance to break the deadlock.

The hosts swung in a corner from the right-hand side and Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was adjudged to have handled Patrice Evra's header despite being within inches of the ball.

There was a moment of confusion as Rizzoli pointed to the spot, amid no clear shouts of a penalty from the French team, before Griezmann stepped up and sent Neuer the wrong way, sparking scenes of delirium inside the stadium.

Clearly boosted by the crucial blow before half-time, France improved after the restart but still Germany looked the more dangerous.

It was France, however, who scored what proved to be the pivotal second as Griezmann reacted quickest to stab the ball into the net after Neuer had flapped at a cross delivered from the left by Juventus' Paul Pogba.

Germany had chances late on to halve the deficit as Joshua Kimmich was unfortunate to see his effort distance crash back off the crossbar and France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris kept out the defender's header with a superb save in the dying embers of the match.