La Roja and Les Bleus are set for a mammoth semifinal clash in Munich
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Spain and France are set to take the field in Munich on Tuesday in the first of UEFA Euro 2024's two semifinals. These two European giants are each just one game away from a place in the Berlin final. On one side, La Roja have a 100% winning record so far, although they needed extra time to see off hosts Germany. On the other, Les Bleus are the strongest defensive side in this year's edition, having conceded just once and seeing off Portugal on penalties. There's a real argument that these are the Euro's two strongest teams going up against each other to face England or the Netherlands who will face off on Wednesday.
A 2-1 win over the Germans was enough for the the Spanish to book their final four berth thanks to Dani Olmo and Mikel Merino goals either side of Florian Wirtz's equalizer. Luis de la Fuente's men are the only side to have won all five games so far and no team in Euro history has done six wins in a single edition or even six consecutive wins. Possession is of less importance than before for Spain and their win rate is at 15 from 19 games under De la Fuente which is impressive. Four of five Euro semis have ended in victory for La Roja, but penalties did see them eliminated by Italy at this stage in 2020 but a fifth continental final could now await.
France are chasing a fourth Euro final but only the second one played outside of their homeland. Didier Deschamps engineered the 2016 run which ended in defeat to Portugal and he will be keen to avenge that having now seen off the Portuguese. Although the French have been less impressive than the Spanish, they are in a strong run of form generally since the World Cup 2022 final and have shown character to see off Belgium and Portugal after a tricky group stage which has still only seen them concede just once. Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe is not in his best form and has still scored just once, though this French outfit did beat Spain in the 2021 Nations League final and now aim to do so again.
Here are our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
Date: Tuesday, July 9 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Allianz Arena - Munich, Germany
TV: Fox | Live stream: Fubo (try for free)
Odds: Spain +175; Draw +180; France +200
How they got here
Spain came out on top of Group B with a 100% winning record which remains intact after playing Georgia in the round of 16 and Germany in the quarterfinals. Should La Roja see off France here, England or the Netherlands will await in the final but that will be easier said than done against Les Bleus who have conceded just one goal across five games. The French came second in Group D before edging past Belgium in the round of 16 and then Portugal in the quarterfinals which required a penalty shootout.
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Team news
Spain: Three absences will change De la Fuente's XI with Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand suspended and Pedri out injured. The latter's tournament is already over and there was initially some confusion over Alvaro Morata's eligibility. The captain will be available but Nacho and Jesus Navas could come into the XI bringing experience while Dani Elmo should be Pedri's replacement. Expect to see Morata supported by Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal.
France: Adrien Rabiot should walk back into the XI after suspension so Mbappe's form and fitness is the main worry for Deschamps ahead of this clash. Mike Maignan is in form and could star once more behind an untouched defense with Rabiot replacing Eduardo Camavinga. However, there is some debate in France about whether or not Antoine Griezmann will be dropped with concerns over his form and fitness against the country where he plies his trade.
Prediction
Expect this to be another tight encounter that sees plenty of tension and very little free-flowing soccer. It will likely come down to a key moment to decide who reaches the final and France appear slightly better at minimizing goals against to ensure that they continue to march on without fear. Pick: Spain 0, France 1 (France win after extra time).
Spain take on France in a heavyweight battle in the first semi-final at Euro 2024, with the winner taking a place in the final in Berlin on Sunday 14 July.
La Roja battled past hosts Germany in an entertaining quarter-final in Stuttgart, with a 119th-minute Mikel Merino header giving them their place in the last four after an enthralling game.
Les Bleus fared a little worse in their quarter-final, squeezing past Portugal on penalties after a 120-minute display that was often tepid, pedestrian and lacking in attacking threat.
Questions remain over whether Didier Deschamps can take this side – who have not scored an open-play goal of their own all tournament – into a fourth final of his tenure. Luis de la Fuente’s impressive Spain side – who remain favourites to win the competition – lie in wait.
France’s biggest problem is not really a problem thanks to Didier Deschamps trick
Two of the three players to score for France in Euro 2024 are out of Euro 2024. One no longer plays international football at all. And one single goal from a French player? Well, that was a penalty.
It puts France two games away from an extraordinary achievement: from winning the European Championships without any of their team mustering a goal in open play. It sounds like a feat that the Greece side in 2004 - limited in ability, clean-sheet specialists and set-piece experts - could have pulled off. Not France, who scored four and three in the last two World Cup finals respectively; who have Kylian Mbappe, potentially the best player in the world for the next few years and, in time, the best in the World Cup’s history; who have a galaxy of attacking talent. But maybe it would be the definitive Didier Deschamps triumph, doing so in his own very particular way.
Thus far, his blueprint includes a cocktail of own-goals and a spot kick, stalemate, extra-time and a penalty shootout. Or if not the France manager’s gameplan, a by-product of his safety-first approach. “When you don’t get goals, it is better to not have goals scored against you,” he reflected. “I am a head coach that is defensive so my team plays in defence.” That was tongue in cheek, referencing his reputation.
Goals, assists and perfect passing - Nico Williams is the consistent star Spain have been searching for
For many reasons, a majority of them valid, Lamine Yamal seemed to become the face of this Spain side heading into Euro 2024. For one it’s his youth, of course - a star at just 16. There’s also the potential for so many storylines, with his birthday the day before the final itself.
Then there’s the fact he plays for Barcelona - all this before we even approach the subject of his quality, which is clearly off the charts.
But while he gives Spain traits they’ve been desperate for over the last few years and tournaments - guile around the box, balance in the forward line and, above all else, speed - he isn’t the only player to do so. He isn’t even the only starting forward who offers much of the same traits, if in mirror image.
