Spain
and
France,
two
titans
of
European
football,
will
meet
in
a
mouth-watering
semifinal
clash
between
both
the
current
and
pre-tournament
favourites.
The
talismanic
Kylian
Mbappe
will
lead
the
line
for
the
French,
while
promising
young
winger
Lamine
Yamal
is
also
catching
the
eye.
But
France’s
form
has
faltered,
the
team
having
been
expected
to
sweep
all
before
them.
Spain,
the
only
side
with
a
100
percent
record
at
Euro
2024,
are
joint-top
in
the
number
of
goals
(11)
and
top
on
total
attempts
(102)
and
balls
recovered
(230),
demonstrating
why
they
are
now
everyone’s
hot
tip
to
lift
the
trophy.
Criticism
has
been
hurled
at
France
for
a
string
of
unimpressive
performances,
including
progressing
to
the
last
four
without
scoring
a
goal
in
open
play.
Despite
reaching
the
final
of
the
last
two
World
Cups,
winning
in
Russia
in
2018
and
losing
only
on
penalties
to
Argentina
in
Qatar
in
2022,
France’s
Euros
record
under
coach
Didier
Deschamps
is
less
impressive.
In
his
12
years,
their
best
result
was
a
runner-up
spot
in
2016
on
home
soil.
In
the
quarterfinals,
France
edged
past
Portugal
on
penalties,
with
Mbappe
substituted
after
another
match
with
more
time
spent
fiddling
with
his
mask
rather
than
threatening
the
opposition
goal.
Mbappe’s
form
after
sustaining
a
broken
nose
in
France’s
opener
–
and
the
form
of
forward
Antoine
Griezmann
–
remain
big
question
marks
ahead
of
the
clash
with
Spain,
who
knocked
out
hosts
Germany
with
a
goal
in
extra
time.
“I
don’t
give
a
damn
[about
the
critics],”
midfielder
Youssouf
Fofana
told
a
press
conference
on
Sunday.
“We
are
semifinalists.
Questions
about
the
level
of
Antoine
and
Kylian?
We
have
to
realise
that
that’s
enough
to
be
in
the
semifinals.
So
I
don’t
see
why
we
would
nitpick.”
Can
Spain
excel
even
without
key
players?
Spain,
in
contrast
to
France,
are
in
imperious
form
with
five
straight
wins,
but
will
be
missing
a
few
key
players
in
the
semifinals.
Midfielder
Pedri
is
out
for
the
rest
of
the
tournament
after
injuring
his
knee
in
the
quarterfinals,
while
defenders
Robin
Le
Normand
and
Dani
Carvajal
are
suspended.
In
the
semifinals,
Nacho
will
play
centre
back
alongside
Aymeric
Laporte
and
38-year-old
fullback
Jesus
Navas,
the
last
player
of
Spain’s
golden
generation
who
won
the
2010
World
Cup
and
back-to-back
titles
in
2008
and
2012
in
this
very
tournament,
the
Union
of
European
Football
Associations
(UEFA)
Euros.
Navas
will
share
the
right-hand
channel
with
16-year-old
winger
Yamal,
one
of
the
key
players
of
the
Euros
so
far.
The
Barcelona
star
has
consistently
troubled
opponents’
defences
together
with
the
ever
so
slightly
more
experienced
21-year-old
Nico
Williams.
All
in
all,
the
team
is
a
blend
of
deep
experience
and
raw
talent
that
has
been
thriving
under
the
guidance
of
coach
Luis
de
la
Fuente.
“This
is
everyone’s
national
team.
Unity
is
strength
and
if
we
all
keep
pushing
in
the
same
direction,
we
can
achieve
our
goals.
If
we
are
connecting
with
our
fans,
then
I
am
more
than
happy
to
play
a
part
in
generating
enthusiasm,”
de
la
Fuente
told
reporters.
The
winner
of
this
match
will
face
either
England
or
Netherlands
in
the
final
on
July
14.
Fun
fact
Spain
are
the
only
team
to
win
all
five
matches
at
Euro
2024
–
but
no
side
has
ever
won
six
consecutive
times
at
the
European
Football
Championship
games.
FIFA
ranking:
Spain
(8),
France
(2)
Head-to-head
record:
36
games:
-
16
wins
for
Spain -
13
for
France -
7
draws
Last
five
matches:
Spain:
W-W-W-W-W
France:
D-W-D-D-W
Possible
line-ups:
Spain:
Unai
Simon:
Navas,
Nacho,
Laporte,
Cucurella;
Olmo,
Rodri,
Fabian
Ruiz;
Lamine
Yamal,
Morata,
Williams
Suspended:
Carvajal,
Le
Normand
France:
Maignan;
Kounde,
Saliba,
Upamecano,
Hernandez;
Kante,
Tchouameni,
Camavinga,
Griezmann;
Kolo
Muani,
Mbappe
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