Day 20: Euros 2024 Germany: Semi Final 1: Spain vs France

Day 20 of the Euros saw Spain take on France in what always looked like a treat of a semi final at the Munich Football Arena. Spain had arguably been the best team so far, fielding a team mixed with exciting young players alongside experienced players that have played all over Europe. France had maybe been the disappointment of the competition so far, failing to score a goal from open play. They soon changed that stat though as they opened the scoring within the first 10 minutes. Kylian Mbappe received the ball inside the left side of the penalty area where he chipped a ball over to the back post. Anticipating the cross was French striker Randal Kolo Muani who jumped to head the ball into the top corner, sending France into a shock 0-1 lead. It didn’t take long for Spain to equalise, finding their first of the match just 12 minutes later in spectacular fashion. Wonderkid Lamine Yamal picked the ball up just outside the 18 yard area and set himself up, looking like Spain’s most dangerous man so far. The Barcelona winger looked up just outside the penalty area and curled the ball perfectly into the top left corner. It was an outrageous strike from the 16 year old which will be talked about for years to come. 4 minutes later, Spain completed the turnaround when Dani Olmo found the back of the French net too. 38 year old Jesus Navas whipped in a ball from the right wing which was headed clear from French defender William Saliba. It bounced to Olmo who was placed just inside the penalty area. The Leipzig man saw the challenge of Aurelien Tchouameni and quickly flicked the ball over him. Olmo then took a touch towards goal before drilling the ball at Mike Maignan’s net. It just about crept in, with Jules Konde failing to keep the ball out with a last ditch clearance, the ball bouncing off his heel and bobbling over the line. Spain saw out the half for the remaining 45 minutes and went into the interval leading 2-1.

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France made multiple changes for the second period and came close to scoring in the first 15 minutes of the half through 2 headers from corners. Theo Hernandez then missed a big chance in the 74th minute when Eduardo Camavinga found him on the edge of the Spanish penalty area. The defender panicked when he made contact, with the French end having to watch painfully as the ball rocketed over the bar and into their stands. France then created their best chance of the game when the exciting and young Bradley Barcola played it to his ex PSG teammate, Kylian Mbappe. It was the man all French fans wanted the ball to fall to as he dribbled down the left wing. He did everything right, creating space for himself to run into as he cut into the Spanish 18 yard box in the 86th minute. Mbappe has made a successful career from scoring from these sorts of chances for fun but the soon to be Real Madrid man got it all wrong, opting for power over finesse and blasting the ball well over the upright. That was it for France as Spain defended strongly for the remaining minutes to win this famous semi final 2-1 in Munich. Spain booked their place in the final on Sunday, they will take on the winner of England or the Netherlands in Berlin, with that game taking place tomorrow. It was a very disappointing tournament for France in the end, with Didier Deschamps’ team failing to back up some of their brilliant performances from the 2022 World Cup. Kylian Mbappe was maybe the biggest disappointment of them all, with everyone expecting big things from the man who some people call the best player in the world right now.

Picture Credit: Getty Images

Written by Ollie Wade