Spain forwards Lamine Yamal (number 19) and Fermin Lopez (number 25) inspect the pitch ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (Photo: AFP)
MUNICH, Germany (AFP) — Luis de la Fuente’s Spain are the in-form team at Euro 2024 but will face tournament specialists France in the semi-final in Munich on Tuesday.
Spain have had a stellar performance at Euro 2024, winning all five games and scoring 11 goals, to put them one win away from the final.
But to get there, Spain will need to beat France, who failed to impress in Germany but showed expertise and experience at a major tournament, reaching the quarter-finals.
France have only scored three goals at Euro 2024, none of which came from routine play.
Out-of-form captain Kylian Mbappe, playing in a special mask after suffering a broken nose in the opening game against Austria, scored one from the penalty spot and France added two own goals.
But under coach Didier Deschamps, France showed the intelligence and guile needed to come within one game of a fourth final in the last five major tournaments.
– “We’re in the semi-finals” –
With one of the youngest teams at Euro 2024 – and a 25-year-old captain – it’s easy to overlook how France have established themselves as a dominant force in European football over the past decade.
France have reached the final of every major tournament except Euro 2020 since losing in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup to eventual winners Germany.
That record includes a World Cup win in 2018, a penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in Qatar four years later and an extra-time defeat to Portugal at Euro 2016 on home soil.
The importance of France’s experience at major tournaments was clear in Germany, where despite reaching the semi-finals, France failed to impress.
France are yet to score through general play, with only a penalty from Mbappe and two own goals.
Exactly 10 years ago, their 1-0 defeat to Germany was their last defeat in regulation time at a major tournament.
Midfielder Adrien Rabiot said he was absolutely confident that France would win the tournament, even if they are yet to do so.
“We’ve always said it’s a team game and it requires a team effort. That’s been true in all the competitions we’ve been in recently and it’s true again at the Euros.”
“Even though there were difficulties, we made it to the semi-finals.”
Deschamps, a self-described pragmatist, said on Monday that results matter in major tournaments.
“It may not be the same as in the past, but we have the power to evoke emotions and make many French men and women happy with our results.”
– “Amazing sight.” –
De la Fuente dismissed suggestions that France were boring but said Spain’s game plan was “close to being a great show, a great spectacle, if we play it well.”
“In that respect, we’re a fun team to watch.”
Spain have scored 11 goals through eight different scorers and are a threat all over the pitch.
The Spain coach acknowledged that “at this stage it is important to win,” but repeated the comments of his rival team.
“France has a great team. I like watching football. I enjoy watching football and I enjoy watching the French.”
But with Pedri out of the tournament through injury and Spain also without defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand due to yellow card suspensions, France may sense an opportunity.
Replacing Carvajal will be right-back Jesus Navas, who, at 38, is older than wingers Nico Williams, 21, and Lamine Yamal, 16, combined.
But the Sevilla winger boasts experience, as the last surviving member of Spain’s golden generation that won two World Cups and two Euros between 2008 and 2012.
If Spain wins on Tuesday and reaches Sunday’s final, Navas could enjoy the rare honor of being part of the start of a new golden generation of Spanish football.
