France 1-2 Spain
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s Euro 2024 semi-final liveblog.
It’d be fair to say it’s two teams with contrasting styles.
France have got to this stage despite scoring just three times — a penalty and two own goals. Meanwhile, Spain have scored 11 times.
So based on how the two teams played, La Roja should be the favourites.
But going by recent major tournament history and experience, France, who have reached the final in three of the previous four major tournaments, might get over the line ultimately.
So it’s a tough one to call and we’ve had a couple of disappointing big games at this tournament, but this will hopefully be an entertaining, high-octane, incident-packed watch.
Confirmation of the two starting XIs below…
๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ!!
— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) July 9, 2024
Hereโs the classic starting lineup view for you.
Keep it safe, it might make history ๐#VamosEspaรฑa | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/8XlyJO4qfZ
Our 1๏ธโฃ1๏ธโฃ warriors who will start the semi-final โ๏ธ
— French Team โญโญ (@FrenchTeam) July 9, 2024
๐ช๐ธ๐ซ๐ท#ESPFRA | #FiersdetreBleus | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/wyaEkUCTjy
3 mins – Decent start by Spain.
Fabian Ruiz finds himself with plenty of space inside the French area.
He tries to pick out Morata with a cross but overhits it.
5 mins – France have every player inside their half at this early stage.
As I type, Yamal puts in a great cross for Ruiz but the midfielder fails to hit the target with his header. That’s the first big chance.
7 mins – Muani suddenly finds space on the counter-attack.
He slips it through to the onrushing Mbappe but Navas is well-positioned to make the interception and clear to safety.
FRANCE 1-0 SPAIN (MUANI 9)
Spain look vulnerable on the counter and France have punished them with their first goal from open play in this tournament.
A sublime Mbappe cross finds Muani who is in the right place to head home unchallenged with relative ease.
14 mins – Navas has just been booked for a late challenge on Rabiot.
Spain need to get through this difficult spell. They’ve barely had to do any defending at this tournament up to now, so this is the first major test of their backline.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
๐ซ๐ท v ๐ช๐ธ
— RTร Sport (@RTEsport) July 9, 2024
France have scored their first goal from open play of these championships... Spain 0-1 France in Munich.#RTEsoccer #EURO2024
๐บLIVE RTร2 & RTรplayer
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18 mins – So far, this isn’t that different to the Spain-Georgia round-of-16 game.
La Roja have dominated possession and territory, but their rivals have been clinical on the counter.
SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE (YAMAL 21)
Out of nothing, Spain are back in this game.
Yamal receives the ball on the edge of the area. Rabiot allows him an inch of space and he curls a stunning shot off the post and in.
What a talent!
SPAIN 2-1 FRANCE (OLMO 25)
Spain have turned this game on its head with two goals in quick succession.
Navas’ cross is headed to Olmo who beats the defender before firing low into the net.
Kounde gets the final touch but it looked like it was going in anyway, so the goal will probably be credited to Olmo rather than the France defender.
Here’s a look at that initial Spain goal…
๐ซ๐ท v ๐ช๐ธ
— RTร Sport (@RTEsport) July 9, 2024
We're all square in Munich - and what a way to draw level. Spain's teen sensation Lamine Yamal with an absolute pearler.
Spain 1-1 France.#RTEsoccer #EURO2024
๐บLIVE RTร2 & RTรplayer
๐ฑ FOLLOW Updates https://t.co/YXqp4pbqKj pic.twitter.com/1HPhzadTH6
And here’s a look at the goal by Olmo, who has made quite an impact since replacing the injured Pedri in the starting XI.
๐ซ๐ท v ๐ช๐ธ
— RTร Sport (@RTEsport) July 9, 2024
What a turnaround! Dani Olmo's deflected strike - Spain's second in five minutes - has put his side in the lead. Incredible opening half in Munich.
Spain 2-1 France.#RTEsoccer #EURO2024
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This is the first time at this tournament that France have found themselves a goal behind.
It will be interesting to see how Didier Deschamps’ defence-oriented team respond to the pressure of needing to play on the front foot.
36 mins – Spain continue to threaten.
A Ruiz shot from the edge of the area is deflected a few inches wide.
41 mins – Yamal gets another sight at goal as Spain counter-attack with pace.
This time, however, the youngster curls his edge-of-the-area effort well wide.
45 mins – France are enjoying a decent spell of possession and territory but have created little of note.
You suspect we might see Antoine Griezmann on the pitch sooner rather than later.
HALF-TIME: SPAIN 2-1 FRANCE
So that was an interesting first half.
Before tonight, France were a rough watch, but tonight’s encounter has not disappointed.
Spain probably deserve their lead on the balance of play as they’ve been the more adventurous team and attacked with greater conviction.
France, though, have looked dangerous on the counter-attack and there were signs that they are coming back into this game as they finished the half strongly.
Deschamps’ team are lacking creativity in midfield, so the introduction off the bench of Griezmann seems like the obvious fix to that problem.
47 mins – Maignan takes a big risk, running about 30 yards off his goalline.
But it pays off as he tackles Williams and stops a dangerous Spanish attack.
51 mins – It’s been a quiet start to the second half.
Neither team has looked especially threatening, though Spain continue to look the more in control of the two sides.
53 mins – Dembele curls in a corner and Tchouaméni meets it, but his header is straight at Simon.
Spain can’t really afford to sit back or let this game drift. France have so many talented players that you suspect they’ll punish their rivals eventually if afforded too much respect.
56 mins – Mbappe hits a low shot from a tight angle that’s comfortably saved by Simon.
It hasn’t been the Real Madrid star’s night so far.
Meanwhile, Spain make the game’s first change. 38-year-old Navas, who was on a booking, is replaced by Dani Vivian. It means Nacho will move to right-back.
60 mins – Dembele fires a cross in after being played through by Kante.
Simon manages to parry it clear with Mbappe lurking nearly.
63 mins – France make a triple change.
Camavinga, Griezmann and Barcola are on.
Rabiot, Kante and Muani are off.
Moments later, Dembele’s corner finds Upamecano, whose header is off target.
69 mins – Those France changes haven’t had much of an impact so far.
The second half has been a little disappointing in comparison to the first.
74 mins – Spain are taking the sting out of this game well.
They had a lengthy spell in possession there where France just couldn’t get the ball off them.
77 mins – More changes for Spain.
Olmo and Morata are replaced by Merino and Oyarzabal.
79 mins – Another substitution for France.
Dembele is replaced by Giroud, who should add something different to the French attack.
80 mins – Nacho does really well to cut out a Barcola cross.
The French attacker has been a threat down the left since coming on.
81 mins – Yamal comes inside and shoots again, but his effort is a few inches over the bar this time.
The teenager is still looking energetic at this late stage.
85 mins – Laporte is down receiving treatment after seemingly taking a blow to the face.
It looks like the defender will be okay to continue.
86 mins – Mbappe gets the ball on the counter-attack and drives at the defender.
However, he then blazes a shot from the edge of the area well over, which unfortunately sums up his tournament so far.
There will be five minutes of stoppage time.
Yamal has just been booked for a cynical challenge to stop a French counter-attack.
FULL-TIME: SPAIN 2-1 FRANCE
So that’s that.
Spain are in the Euro 2024 final.
It’s definitely deserved as Spain were the dominant team and controlled much of the game, with Lamine Yamal providing the necessary moment of inspiration.
It was another largely disappointing display from France.
Despite the boost of an early goal, they struggled to offer much of an attacking response once they went behind.
The big attacking players — Mbappe, Dembele, Griezmann and (on his limited time on the pitch) Giroud failed to make much of an impact.
Ultimately, it was a comfortable enough evening for Spain, with Simon seldom tested in the second half.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
