France have booked their spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2016 courtesy of a 5-2 win over Iceland in Sunday night's last-eight clash at the Stade de France.

Iceland scored twice in the second period of action, but the damage was done in the first half, when goals from Olivier Giroud, Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann secured a 4-0 lead for the hosts.

France will now march on to the semi-finals of the competition, where world champions Germany are waiting. Meanwhile, Iceland will return to their country as heroes having enjoyed a remarkable tournament.

The game's first attempt on target came from Iceland in the third minute as Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson tried his luck from inside the France box, but Hugo Lloris was on hand to make a fairly comfortable save.

Down the other end, Payet tested Hannes Halldorsson with a strike from just outside the box, but once again, it was a comfortable save for the goalkeeper during what was a lively start to events in Saint-Denis.

Iceland had a clear gameplan to test Samuel Umtiti, who was making his international debut, at the heart of the French defence and Bjarnason turned and fired wide of the post as Iceland had another half-chance inside 10 minutes.

It was France that took the lead in the 12th minute of action, however, as Blaise Matuidi released Giroud with a pass and the Arsenal striker found the back of the net from a wide angle.

Iceland looked to respond six minutes later when lively forward Jon Dadi Bodvarsson met a cross from the right, but his header was straight into the arms of the waiting Lloris.

Iceland were struggling defensively though, and conceded a second in the 19th minute when Griezmann delivered a dangerous corner into the box and a towering Pogba header found the back of the net from close range.

Ragnar Sigurdsson almost had one back for Iceland in the 25th minute when France failed to deal with a long throw into the box, but the centre-back, who scored against England in the round of 16, fired over under pressure from Umtiti.

Despite trailing 2-0, Iceland were still in the game, but they were finding it increasingly difficult to stem the flow of pressure from the home side, who were inspired by their vocal support.

Indeed, Iceland conceded a third in the 43rd minute as a spell of pressure led to Griezmann setting up Payet, who sent a low effort into the bottom corner, before Griezmann read a dummy from Giroud and raced clear to chip Halldorsson for 4-0 in the final minute of the first period.

Payet had a chance to score his second of the match early in the second period after finding all sorts of space inside the Iceland box, but the West Ham United attacker fired his effort over Halldorsson's goal.

Iceland had a half-chance in the 53rd minute when Johann Gudmundsson collected the ball outside the France box, but the midfielder was leaning back under pressure and his effort went into the stands.

Iceland had one back in the 56th minute, however, when Gylfi Sigurdsson delivered a cross in to Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and the towering striker converted past Lloris at the near post for his second goal of the competition.

France responded with a fifth goal three minutes later as Giroud towered above everyone inside the Iceland box to head a Payet free kick into the back of the net from close range.

Iceland almost had another in the 63rd minute when substitute Sverrir Ingason rose inside the France box to meet a cross from the right, but Lloris was on hand to make a point-blank save.

Andre-Pierre Gignac had a couple of half-chances for the home side after coming off the bench, but the striker could not register as it remained 5-1 entering the final 20 minutes of action at the Stade de France.

There was a special moment for 37-year-old Eidur Gudjohnsen in the 83rd minute as the former Chelsea forward replaced Sigthorsson to take to the field for a 88th time in an Iceland shirt.

Gudjohnsen's introduction inspired Iceland and the minnows had their second goal in the 84th minute when Birkir Bjarnason headed a Ari Freyr Skulason cross home from inside the box.

France will take on Germany in the second semi-final in Marseille on Thursday night, while the first semi-final will pit Portugal against Wales on Wednesday night in Lyon.