Germany vs France reaction: Didier Deschamps pays tribute to his players after brilliant semi-final win

Joachim Low, Germany's coach, believed his side had the better of the game in Marseille

Deschamps was delighted by his players' performance (Getty)

Didier Deschamps claimed his France team has driven the nation ‘crazy’ after overcoming the odds to reach the Euro 2016 final in Paris.

Two goals from Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann secured a 2-0 semi-final victory for France against world champions Germany in Marseille to confirm a final against Portugal at the Stade de France on Sunday.

The French overcame Germany at a major tournament for the first time since 1958 to claim their place in the final.

And Deschamps, who captained France to World Cup glory in 1998, admitted that his team were forced to battle all the way against the Germans in order to bring joy to the nation.

"We found it tough but we didn't give up," Deschamps said."There is quality in this German team and when they don't have the ball it gets even more complicated. We had the best team in the world opposite us.

"But before we came to the stadium we saw people going crazy - they are going to be even crazier on Sunday.”

Deschamps made a bold selection by leaving N’Golo Kante out of the team following the Leicester City midfielder’s one-match suspension.

But the decision to stick with Blaise Matuidi and Paul Pogba in midfield proved key before Griezmann made the difference with a first-half penalty and second-half strike, which took his tournament tally to six goals.

"I've always believed in my players,” Deschamps said. “The ones I chose to form this group have repaid me handsomely, this is their story, their victory.

There's a lot of joy, happiness, pride. This match was tough, against a great team in the world champions, but our level never dropped.

"We suffered at times, but we won. It is fabulous, it is the final for us now.”

Germany coach Joachim Low saw his team spurn a series of clear chances during the game at Stade Velodrome.

And he insisted he had no complaints about the performance, claiming Germany were the better team.

I've always believed in my players. The ones I chose to form this group have repaid me handsomely, this is their story, their victory.

&#13; <p>Didier Deschamps</p>&#13;

“Not too many things went wrong,” Low said. “I must compliment my side. We were the better team.

“We've put in a good performance, a powerful display. Conceding the goal was unfortunate a minute from half-time... of course we had our chances and, regretfully, we didn't score.

“We just didn't have the luck we needed today. But in 2010 or 2012 when we went out, the sides were better than us.

“Today this wasn't the case. We were better than the French.

“The side did everything I asked of them. We had a lot of courage. I can't blame them for anything.”

Low, meanwhile, has backed the French to emerge as European champions by defeating Portugal on Sunday.

“If you win 2-0 you deserve it, and I think the French will win against Portugal,” Low said. “Portugal, in the games so far, have not convinced me that much. But I think the French are a very good side, even if we were the better team today.”