Last Updated on August 15, 2024
Spain started this summer’s tournament strongly, winning all five of their matches and scoring 11 goals along the way. They only conceded their first goal in the finals during a 4-1 win over Georgia and their second against Germany in the knockout round.
Lamine Yamal made history as the youngest player in Euros history when he faced Croatia and became the first teenager to record three assists in a single Euro or World Cup. Álvaro Morata also made his mark by scoring his seventh goal, making him the joint-third top scorer in competition history. If victorious in Germany, Spain could become the first team to win four European Championship titles.
They will face France in the Euro 2024 semi-final on Tuesday, July 9th, at the Fußball Arena München in Munich. France didn’t win their group for the first time since Euro 2012 but remained undefeated with tough matches against Austria, the Netherlands, and Poland.
Kylian Mbappé scored a crucial penalty in their final group match. They advanced past Belgium in the round of 16 and beat Portugal on penalties in the quarterfinals. Didier Deschamps, aiming for his sixth major final as a player and coach, has a strong team ready for the challenge.
La Roja named the same team to face Germany, with Nacho Fernández and Ayoze Pérez back on the bench after recovering from minor injuries. For the semi-final, coach Luis de la Fuente faces challenges as Pedri is out after getting injured from a tackle by Toni Kroos.
Olmo, who took Pedri’s place in the last match and contributed significantly with a goal and assist, is expected to step in again. Spain will also miss two key defenders, Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, who are suspended.
Nacho is likely to cover one spot, while veteran player Jesús Navas might play right back since Carvajal got a red card against Germany. Alejandro Grimaldo is another option for the full-back.
Meanwhile, during the quarterfinal against Portugal, French striker and captain Kylian Mbappé asked to be substituted due to fatigue but is set to lead France’s attack again. Adrien Rabiot will return from suspension to strengthen Deschamps’ midfield, replacing Eduardo Camavinga.
While it’s unclear who will support Mbappé upfront, Antoine Griezmann is expected to stay in the attack, and Ousmane Dembélé hopes to reclaim a starting position after an impressive substitute appearance. Historically, Spain has won five of their last eight matches against France, though one of their two losses came in their most recent encounter.