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In Munich on Tuesday, three-time European champions Spain take on the team has become Europe’s so-called ‘tournament team’ in France as they both bid for another UEFA European Championship final.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday 9th July, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – BBC / US – FOX
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – ViX
SPAIN PREVIEW: STARTING TO TRUST LA ROJA
Throughout the tournament, Spain have been the best and most convincing side, especially on the ball and in attack, but reservations have remained. Profligacy in attack and being fairly untested and potentially unreliable at the back would have been reasons to be concerned but as each game goes by, those worries and concerns lessen.
Unai Simon, Spain’s number one at UEFA EURO 2024, was magnificent in their quarter-final defeat of hosts Germany and La Roja, when under pressure, found their way through with a last gasp Mikel Merino winner in extra-time. They have scored 12 goals and conceded just two in their five matches so far but, perhaps until they win it, questions will remain.
FRANCE PREVIEW: PLAYING POORLY BUT GETTING THROUGH
Alternatively, and almost paradoxically, France have played poorly throughout and have stumbled their way into the semi-finals but that is what Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus do and there will therefore be just cause to be positive ahead of their semi-finals as they seek to win their third international trophy in six years after the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Nations League.
France have scored just three goals in their five matches so far with two of those goals being scored by opposition players and the other being a penalty notched by Kylian Mbappe in a 1-1 draw against Poland. It has been unremarkable and underwhelming – and yet the French remain unbeaten despite having played the likes of Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.
SPAIN TEAM NEWS: DEFENSIVE HEADACHES
It has been quite a settled eleven for Luis de la Fuente but he has some suspension issues for this one. In an ideal world, Nacho Fernandez would likely have been understudy to the suspended Dani Carvajal but the fact that Robin Le Normand is also unavailable means that Nacho will probably play at the heart of the defence alongside Aymeric Laporte with 38-year-old Jesus Navas coming in at right-back.
Another issue for Spain to deal with is the injury to Pedri that occurred early on against Germany but his replacement, Dani Olmo, is in excellent form at the moment.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Unai Simon; Jesus Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella; Dani Olmo, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Alvaro Morata, Nico Williams
UNAVAILABLE: Le Normand (Suspended), Dani Carvajal (Suspended), Pedri (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
FRANCE TEAM NEWS: RABIOT BACK IN
Adrien Rabiot is likely to come back into the France eleven for this semi-final. The Juventus midfielder missed the quarter-final with Portugal due to suspension but he should return in place of Eduardo Camavinga. The other selection issue for Deschamps will be Kylian Mbappe.
The France captain is suffering with a broken nose and is clearly uncomfortable in his mask and was substituted in extra-time against the Portuguese. It would remain a shock, though, to see Mbappe not feature from the start against Spain.
Ousmane Dembele's impressive impact off the bench against Portugal, which even led to him being named Player of the Match, may have given Deschamps a dilemma in attack but Dembele's previous performances from the start may mean that Deschamps sees Dembele as what he was against Portugal - an impact player.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-2-1-2): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez; Tchouameni; Kante, Rabiot; Griezmann; Mbappe, Thuram
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Mbappe (Injured)
KEY STATS
SPAIN VS FRANCE PREDICTION
Spain have been brilliant at this tournament and have come a long way since Luis de la Fuente came under significant pressure following their 2-0 loss to Scotland in March 2023. However, the UEFA Nations League champions of last summer will head into this semi-final against a smart, efficient, albeit frustratingly dull French side with a 38-year-old at right-back, two centre-backs playing their club football in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Chelsea’s scapegoat at left-back and a goalkeeper who often makes high profile mistakes and would have been at the centre of another humiliation if Kai Havertz had converted from his wayward goal-kick in the last eight. France have not been good and yet they have conceded just one goal in this tournament – a penalty against Poland, and even that had to be retaken. Spain have a lot of talent that will likely dominate tournaments in the years to come but it makes sense to side with Europe’s inevitable force.
SPAIN VS FRANCE TIP: FRANCE TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS