France boss Didier Deschamps calls for heroes

France boss Didier Deschamps has called on his players to 'write their own chapter' in the history of French football ahead of Thursday's Euro 2016 semi-final against world champions Germany.

The Blues were installed as the pre-tournament favourites to lift the title on home soil and they are now one step away from making the final after overcoming Iceland in the round of 16.

Germany knocked France out of the 2014 World Cup in the quarter-finals, but Deschamps has insisted that history "is not important" as the pair prepare to go head to head in Marseille.

"No-one can change history but there are some new chapters to be written and the players can write them. This page is currently blank and they need to fill it tomorrow. What has happened before is not important. What happens now is important," Deschamps told reporters.

"I believe the players have belief in themselves. We know the opposition, they are still the best side in the world but we are going to go out with everything.

"We've always had this confidence, this desire to get to where we are today. It's not been a linear process but the players have done everything to get into the semi-final against Germany."

Deschamps captained France to World Cup success on home soil in 1998.