La Roja against Les Bleus. Surely a match-up worthy of gracing any continental final? As it is these two big-guns will go to war for the first place in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
Didier Deschamp’s team have made three of the last four finals in major competitions – winning the 2018 World Cup – so this would be a continuation of their dynasty, whereas Spain are the only country to have won three major tournaments in succession from 2008-2012. Luis de la Fuente and his men are seeking to start a new era here.
The teams will lock horns in Munich on Tuesday night, 8pm BST, with a place in the final against England or the Netherlands at stake.
Let’s take a closer look at five key areas where the semi-final could be decided, shall we?
🇪🇸🆚🇫🇷 Semi-final locked in 🔒
🗓️ Tuesday 9 July 2024#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/U7UTLPWvat
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
Mbappe v Spain’s makeshift defence
Kylian Mbappe has not been himself, let’s be very clear about that. The horrendous broken nose which he sustained late in the opening group game against Austria has clearly had an impact on him and he has shown mere flashes of his brilliance across the past three matches.
However Spain’s headache ahead of the semi-final might be even worse than Mbappe’s was three weeks ago. They will miss right-back Dani Carvajal – officially now a teammate of Mbappe at Real Madrid – after his sending-off for hauling down Jamal Musiala in the dying seconds of the last-eight encounter with Germany.
To make matters worse for La Roja, Marc Le Normand picked up cautions in their second group game, against Italy, and then in the first half against Germany, ruling the Real Sociedad centre-back out of the last-four clash through suspension too.
Whether Mbappe comes in off the left or plays through the middle with Ousmane Dembele potentially included after a fine substitute appearance against Portugal, either way Spain should worry.
Jesus Navas is the likely replacement for Carvajal, the 38-year-old Sevilla wing-back is the only member of the current squad who helped Spain win the Euros in 2010 and the World Cup two years earlier. He’s still playing at a high level but defending against Mbappe is another level entirely if the Frenchman is on his game.
Nacho is likely to come in for Le Normand, and although he is defensively sound and guided Real Madrid to Champions League glory last month, he is a different proposition to Le Normand, more accustomed to playing on the left of defence which might lead to Aymeric Laporte and even Rhodri having to take responsibility for launching attacks from the back.
Bringing the speed ⚡️#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/60h3HJR4cp
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 8, 2024
Lamine Yamal v Theo Hernandez
This match-up is one for the purists. The 16-year-old Barcelona star is lighting up his first international tournament, breaking records as he goes, and has contributed three assists already – more than any of the other 622 players taking part in Euro 2024 and level with Xavi Simons of the Netherlands.
He is a left-footer who operates on the right flank which will bring him into direct competition with Theo Hernandez – almost 10 years his senior but considered one of the best attacking left-backs in world football.
With Les Bleus struggling for inspiration for long spells in all five of their games at the tournament so far, it has often fallen to the AC Milan man to provide some impetus from the left flank, often being the furthest advanced player and not being afraid to fire in long-range shots if there are no better options.
Will the presence of the latest La Masia prodigy negate some of Hernandez’ attacking instincts? Will Yamal be forced to showcase his own defensive discipline in helping out stand-in right-back Jesus Navas, expected to come in for the suspended Dani Carvajal.
Do not take your eyes off this battle because whichever player comes out on top of it could prove to be the decisive factor in which country reaches the final.
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— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024
Williams v Kounde
Nico Williams is perhaps a little harshly overlooked when it comes to discussions about the Player of the Tournament.
The Athletic Bilbao wide-man caught the eye in group stage wins over Croatia and Italy and then scored one and set-up another as La Roja saw-off Georgia in the Round of 16.
He also caused Germany’s defence issues in their quarter-final matchup and you’d think Jules Kounde is already having sleepless nights.
The 21-year-old’s dazzling feet and raw pace and power look set to give the 25-year-old Barcelona right-back a real test.
Williams was suspended when Barca visited Bilbao in La Liga in March and given that Kounde made hard work of keeping Rafael Leao quiet in the quarter-final against Portugal, Williams might fancy his chances of adding to his stats in this one.
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N'Golo Kanté 🇫🇷#EURO2024 | #PORFRA pic.twitter.com/xcRzhsrekk
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 5, 2024
Ruiz v Kante
N’Golo Kante is 33-years-old and now plays for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, but you’d never know it.
Of all the players who now ply their trade in the Middle East, Kante has shown up to the Euros as the best version of himself.
The former Leicester and Chelsea man has rolled back the years, and his sleeves up, to be perhaps the shining light in an otherwise dull French campaign thus far.
He has played every minute of every game in central midfield, bar a 29-minute breather at the back-end of the final group game with Poland with no stress over qualification.
He will come up against Fabian Ruiz, the 28-year-old who plays in France for Paris Saint Germain – making him only too well aware of the threat posed by their semi-final rivals.
Ruiz is another who has risen to the occasion, much like Spain perhaps exceeding even their own expectations, and has scored and assisted in both the opening group game against Croatia and also the Round of 16 romp against Georgia.
If he keeps this up and Spain go on to win the final, he could run Rhodri and perhaps even Lamine Yamal very close for the Golden Ball.
But first he has to get past Kante…
Top midfielders in the game 🔥
👀 Do you have any in your team?#EUROfantasy | @visitqatar pic.twitter.com/avZTTG1IjV
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 7, 2024
Morata v Saliba
For a few heart-stopping moments some Spain fans feared skipper Alvaro Morata would be the third player to miss the semi-finals through suspension… admittedly other fans might not have been too bothered.
Broadcasters put an image on screen that it was the Atletico Madrid striker who had been shown a yellow card for his celebrations after Mikel Merino’s last-gasp winner in extra-time against Germany.
However Morata and UEFA cleared it up and the 31-year-old is expected to lead the line once again against France, despite telling the media on the eve of the game he feels disrespected in Spain, where he has been subjected to whistles from fans of the national team on several occasions. Expect this to be his last tournament, then…
The man seeking to marshal him is Arsenal centre-back William Saliba who has been one of Les Bleus’ brightest stars in Germany this summer.
Though they have had their own problems scoring them, Didier Deschamps’s side have only conceded one goal in their five games thus far in Germany, that coming from the penalty spot against Poland.
Mike Maignan has impressed with a 94% save percentage – the best by any keeper since Euro 2012 – but it is as much the solid work of Dayot Upamecano and Saliba infront of him which have kept the French sheets clean.
If Saliba can stand firm against Antoine Griezmann’s club teammate for 90 minutes (at least) then he might propel himself into the conversation for Player of the Tournament too.
