A spot in the Euro 2024 final is at stake for the victors in Munich. Here’s a look ahead to Wednesday’s showdown with our Spain vs. France prediction and preview.
A thrilling clash between two giants of European football is set for Munich. Spain has dazzled throughout the tournament, standing as the only team to win all five of their matches.
Who won Euro 2020?
Italy
Standing in La Roja’s path, however, is a formidable French team that has kept four clean sheets in their five matches so far.
Read More: Spain’s Euro 2024 Stars: Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, and Nico Williams Shine for La Roja
Spain vs France: Match Preview
Spain and France are just one match away from the Euro 2024 final as they prepare for Wednesday’s semi-final clash in Munich. Both teams have different forms coming into this game but share the same goal.
Luis de la Fuente’s squad stands out as the only team to win all five of their matches in this tournament, including a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory against Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany in the quarter-finals. Dani Olmo put Spain ahead early in the second half, and despite a late equalizer from Florian Wirtz, Mikel Merino emerged as the unlikely hero with a 119th-minute headed winner.
This victory marked Spain’s fifth consecutive win, although no team in European Championship history has won six matches in a single tournament or six Euro games in a row.
France, led by Didier Deschamps, faces this challenge knowing Spain is in excellent form, having won 15 of their 19 matches since the beginning of 2023. Spain’s 79% win rate during this period is the highest of any European nation.
Inspired by the dynamic wing play of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain has won their last seven matches consecutively, the longest streak since their 12-game winning run from June 2009 to June 2010.
Yamal has created 14 chances for his teammates in this tournament, the most by a Spaniard in a major competition since Xavi’s 25 at Euro 2012. This tally is also the highest by a teenager at a major tournament since Opta began keeping records (1966 for the World Cup, 1980 for the Euros). The Barcelona winger has provided three assists from these opportunities, including a perfect pass to Dani Olmo on Friday, marking the highest assist count by a Spanish player in a single European Championship.
This Spain team, however, is not traditional in style, favoring clinical efficiency and defensive tenacity over possession dominance. They have recorded lower possession totals than their opponents in two of their five Euro 2024 matches (48% vs. Germany, 47% vs. Croatia), a stark contrast to their previous 44 games in major tournaments between the 2006 and 2022 World Cups, where they had less possession only once (46% vs. Germany in the Euro 2008 final).
Spain is also joint-top in goals scored (11) and leads in total attempts (102) and balls recovered (230), showcasing their impressive performance both offensively and defensively.
Regardless of their approach, Spain aims to reach their fifth European Championship final, with only Germany having more (six). The Spaniards have advanced from four of their five semi-finals, their only loss coming on penalties to eventual winners Italy at Euro 2020.
France aims to reach their fourth Euros final, having done so in 1984, 2000, and 2016, but only the second time outside French soil (Euro 2000 in the Netherlands).
In stark contrast to Spain, Les Bleus have struggled to impress in this tournament. Didier Deschamps’ team narrowly advanced past Portugal on penalties after a goalless draw on Friday, again failing to score.
Only four goals have been scored in France’s five Euro 2024 matches (three for, one against), all coming from penalties (2) or own goals (2). Despite 128 non-penalty shots (86 for France, 42 for their opponents), none have found the net. France is the only team since 1980 to have more than 50 non-penalty shots in a Euros without scoring any.
Those attacking struggles can partly be attributed to the form of Kylian Mbappé, who has scored just one goal from 20 shots in this tournament, a penalty on matchday three against Poland.
Indeed, the Real Madrid-bound forward has netted just once from 34 attempts at the European Championship overall (3%), compared to 12 goals from 39 shots (a 31% conversion rate) at the World Cup.
On the defensive end, Didier Deschamps’ success can be credited to Mike Maignan. The French goalkeeper boasts a 94% save percentage in this competition, the highest of any goalkeeper who has played more than once.
Maignan’s impressive efforts match the best performance by a goalkeeper at a Euros since Iker Casillas in 2012 with Spain (also 94%). The Frenchman is expected to be tested again on Wednesday.
Spain vs France: Head-to-Head
These two teams are well-acquainted with each other at major tournaments, with Wedesday marking their sixth such encounter.
France won three of the first four matchups: 2-0 in the Euro 1984 final on home soil, 2-1 in the 2000 quarter-finals of the same competition, and 3-1 in the 2006 World Cup round of 16.
Spain triumphed in their most recent clash, securing a 2-0 quarter-final victory on their way to winning Euro 2012. Their other meeting ended in a 1-1 draw during the 1996 group stage of UEFA’s premier international tournament.
With this semi-final, Spain vs. France becomes just the third fixture to be played at each stage of both the World Cup and Euros, joining Italy vs. Spain and England vs. Germany.
Spain vs France: Recent Form
Spain: WWWWW
France: WWDDW
Spain vs France: Team News and Predicted Line-up
Spain: Team News
Spain will be without three of their key players for the Euro 2024 semi-final against France.
Barcelona midfielder Pedri’s tournament ended after sustaining a knee injury from a challenge by Toni Kroos early in their quarter-final win over Germany.
Fortunately for Luis de la Fuente, this resolves one of his selection dilemmas, as Dani Olmo is a ready-made replacement in central midfield. Olmo, playing in a deeper role than he usually does for RB Leipzig, has scored two goals and provided two assists in the last three games.
Quarter-final match-winner Mikel Merino is expected to remain on the bench.
Spain will also be missing Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, both of whom received their second bookings of the tournament in the previous match. Carvajal’s red card adds further uncertainty about his availability for the final, should Spain advance.
Jesus Navas will serve as the backup right-back for Carvajal, and at 38, he would become the oldest player to win the Euros if Spain triumphs. Nacho Fernandez, who recently moved from Real Madrid to Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah, will fill in at center-back in place of Le Normand.
De la Fuente is expected to maintain the same 4-3-3 formation that has made La Roja the only team to win all five of their matches in Germany while scoring the most goals.
Alvaro Morata will lead the attack, flanked by impressive young wingers Nico Williams, 21, and Lamine Yamal, 16. Morata is available after incorrect reports claimed he received a second booking on Friday night.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri boasts an impressive record this season, losing only one game in 90 minutes—the FA Cup final—and remaining unbeaten in his last 14 appearances for Spain, with 13 wins.
Spain: Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper: Simon
- Defenders: Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella
- Midfielders: Ruiz, Rodri, Olmo
- Forwards: Lamal, Morata, Williams
France: Team News
Didier Deschamps might opt for his sixth different attacking setup of Euro 2024 when France faces Spain in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Les Bleus have yet to use the same system twice in their quest for goals in Germany, reaching the final four despite not scoring any goals of their own in open play. Aside from a Kylian Mbappe penalty, France has relied on two own goals and their strong defense, conceding just once in five games.
Mbappe’s broken nose, sustained late in the opening win over Austria, has disrupted their plans and affected the form of their star striker. Despite this, it has been a remarkably lackluster tournament for the two-time European champions and pre-tournament favorites.
Reports in France suggest Ousmane Dembele might be dropped after two underwhelming performances, despite his MVP display in the quarter-finals against Portugal when he came on late in the match. Deschamps is expected to persist with the diamond formation.
Antoine Griezmann is expected to start, with Mbappe fit to play on the left flank after a knock in the previous match, and Randal Kolo Muani likely to continue as the central striker.
Deschamps is also set to recall midfielder Adrien Rabiot after a one-game ban, which will likely see Eduardo Camavinga drop to the bench.
Otherwise, France should remain unchanged, with back-ups Marcus Thuram and Ferland Mendy reportedly fit for the bench despite dealing with minor injuries in recent days.
France: Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper: Maignan
- Defenders: Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez
- Midfielders: Rabiot, Tchouameni, Kante, Griezmann
- Forwards: Kolo Muani, Mbappe
Spain vs France: Match Prediction
Spain has looked like the most dominant team at the Euros but became increasingly ragged and tired as their quarter-final progressed. De la Fuente’s squad lacks depth, and suspensions could impact this game.
France, on the other hand, has been defending very well despite their lackluster attack. Deschamps seems unsure how to rejuvenate their offensive play.
If Les Bleus can sit deep, frustrate Spain, and capitalize on counter-attacks, their game plan could upset a popular young Spanish team that lacks their opponents’ experience in these high-stakes matches.
Prediction: France to win on penalties.
When and Where to Watch the Match LIVE in India?
UEFA Euro 2024 matches will be broadcast live on Sony Sports channels: Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 4, Sony Sports Ten 4 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5, and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD in India. Live streaming of Euro 2024 can be accessed through the SonyLIV app and website.
You can watch the match in 10 July from 12:30 am onwards on Sony Sports channels: Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 4, Sony Sports Ten 4 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5, and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD.
Live streaming of the match can also be accessed through the SonyLIV app and website.
