No teams more different in their style of play at this tournament could not meet this Tuesday (10 PM EAT) at the Allianz Arena than Spain and France. What these EURO semi-finalists have shown so far in Germany is diametrically opposed. The Spanish played beautiful football, and the French reached the end with unattractive performances that came out as wins nevertheless.There is no doubt, the Red Fury played by far the best quality football in the previous five games. They won all the matches, albeit in the quarter-finals against Germany only after extra time, 2-1. Before that, Croatia (3-0), Italy (1-0), Albania (1-0) and Georgia (4-1) fell in order before Luis de la Fuente’s team.The Spaniards scored the most goals in the tournament (11), and as many as eight different players scored. Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz were the only ones to hit the net twice each, while Daniel Carvajal, Alvaro Morata, Ferran Torres, Rodri and Merino each scored once.Eight Spaniards, and only one French international on the scorers list. Kylian Mbappe, who scored the only goal for Les Bleus from the penalty spot.France still hasn’t scored a single goal from open play in the entire tournament, and they made it to the semi-finals! At the premiere of the group stage, the Gaelic Roosters defeated Austria with a 1-0 own goal by Maximilian Wober. Mbappe scored in the next round against Poland (1-1), while Belgium was defeated 1-0, also by an own goal, this time by Jan Vertonghen.SPAIN VS. FRANCE IN THE EURO 2024 SEMIFINALS 🍿🍿🍿 pic.twitter.com/OUurLbN0Gb— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 5, 2024 In the quarterfinals, the French played another tactical match against the national team that insisted on high ball possession, Portugal. There were no goals for 120 minutes, and Didier Deschamps’ men were flawless in their penalty attempts. They shot 5/5, which was just enough to win and advance to the semi-finals.It seems that before this tournament, Deschamps deliberately prepared something completely atypical for France, which we have been watching since 2012, since he has been on the national team’s bench. In the previous five tournaments, Deschamps’ team always played the most beautiful, most attractive and most efficient football. And what did that get him?At the World Cup in Russia in 2018, along with Belgium, which they defeated in the semi-finals, France was the closest to perfection. They fully deserved the world title, demolishing defensive-oriented Croatia in the final with 4-2. The Gaelic Roosters ended that tournament with 14 goals scored, and the biggest stars were Antoine Griezmann and the then 19-year-old Mbappe with four goals each.##EDITORS_CHOICE##However, it is the only time that the French managed to break a team that plays destructive football in the final. Two more times, Deschamps, insisting on an offensive approach, led the national team to the finals. On home soil, at the 2016 European Championship, the French were big favorites for the gold, especially after convincing victories over Iceland (5-2) in the quarterfinals and Germany (2-0) in the semifinals. As a rival, they had a tough Portugal, which did not have a single victory in the group stage, and then after extra time they beat Croatia and eliminated Poland via penalties. The first triumph in 90 minutes was recorded only in the semi-finals, over Wales, while at Saint-Denis the Portuguese won with a goal from Eder in extra time with 1-0, despite the fact that the host had more shots (18-9, 7:-3 on goal) and more ball possession (53-47).Deschamps similarly missed out on gold at the World Championships in Qatar two years ago. They convincingly beat Australia, Denmark, Poland, England, and in the semi-finals, Morocco, but in the final they again ran into a tough match. Argentina outplayed the French, it was 2-2 after 90 minutes, 3-3 after overtime, and the Gauchos won the throne after penalties. The fact that they scored as many as 16 goals and played likeable in Qatar was worth nothing to Les Bleus.Deschamps has managed only one tournament badly so far, the European Championship 2020, which was played in 2021 due to the corona virus pandemic. The French then lost in the round of 16 to Switzerland, after a penalty shootout.RESULTS OF FRANCE SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF DESCHMAPSWorld Cup 2014: 3-1-1; 10:3 – defeat in the quarter-finalsEuro 2016: 5-1-1; 13:5 – defeat in the finalWorld Cup 2018: 6-1-0; 14:6 – gold medalEuro 2020: 1-3-0; 7:6 – defeat in the round of 16World Cup 2022: 5-1-1; 16:8 – defeat in the finalBecause of that tragically played tournament, Deschamps especially cares about winning the European Championship now. After all, that’s the only medal he’s missing. That is why he has now completely changed his approach and is not at all touched by criticism and comments that France plays ugly football.”If you’re bored, watch another game. You don’t have to watch us, it’s okay. This is a special European Championship. It is difficult for everyone, fewer goals are scored. It wasn’t like that in the past, but we all have the desire to make every Frenchman and Frenchwoman happy with the final result,” said Deschamps before the match with Spain, after being provoked by a Swedish journalist.The impression is that the Roosters are ineffective in Germany also because they rely too much on Mbappe, and he is playing a below-par tournament. Deschamps defended the new star of Real Madrid, he pointed out that he was negatively affected by a broken nose in the first match against Austria.”This is a new situation for him. He has to wear a mask, which means his field of vision changes. It was a huge shock to him, something he had to get used to. The swelling has gone down, his nose is getting stronger every day, but he will have to wear a mask for a few more weeks, maybe months. He played 110 minutes against Portugal, we wanted to rest him as much as possible. Even if he is not fully fit, he will be on the field against Spain. I am convinced that his head is in the right place, like all our other players. It wasn’t easy for him when he walked off the court in the quarterfinals, he knew it might be a farewell to the tournament for him, but he quickly digested it. There is no doubt that he will give 110 percent of himself against Spain,” said Deschamps.Mbappe was the star of the tournament in 2018, and now the super-talented Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal has caught all the public attention. The 16-year-old winger is the tournament’s best assist maker, setting up three goals so far.Lamine Yamal on his Instagram story ahead of Spain vs. France 👀 pic.twitter.com/aepEJnN1kk— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 9, 2024 It won’t be all about Barcelona’s talent of course, Spain has a variety of weapons in its arsenal. One, by no means negligible, tip on the scale is the experience of coach De la Fuente. He led this generation from the youth selection, with which he became the champion of Europe twice. First in 2015 in the under-19 category, and then in 2019 with the young national team.A very interesting fact is that De la Fuente beat France in the semi-finals on the way to both gold medals! First in 2015 with Marco Asensio’s goals with 2-0, and then four years later even more convincingly, with 4-1 after a turnaround.Several players from the current Spain squad took part in that second triumph. Of those who played in the quarter-finals against Germany, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino outclassed France five years ago, while Unai Simon sat on the bench. Olmo and Oyarzabal scored one goal each. Admittedly, from the current team of France, only stopper Dayot Upamecano and Marcus Thuram played in that game.”We deserve to be here, but now we must not make a mistake. Every detail counts. We have recovered, and with motivation we will overcome every problem we have. France is a very strong team physically, we will have to fight them using our characteristics. We are simply two different teams.” explained De la Fuente.De La Fuente: Fifty percent of Mbappe could be 100 percent of any other playerSpain’s playmaker Rodri, who is the leader of this team, also had to comment in front of the media on the specific style of Deschamps’ French team, different from previous years. However, the Manchester City midfielder did not like the term “boring”.”I don’t find them boring, I don’t see them that way.” France is physically strong and we have to play a perfect game to match them. The ultimate goal is the same for all of us,” Rodri said.Unfortunately for Spain, they will be weakened in the semi-finals. Defenders Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal are suspended due to the cards they picked up against Germany, so they will have to cheer on their teammates from the stands. France has no such problems.The last time France and Spain met was in the final of the Nations League in 2021, on a neutral ground at the San Siro in Milan. At that tournament, Spain had just promoted this rejuvenated team, it surprised the then European champion Italy (2-1) in the semi-finals, but in the final it did not last against France. La Furia Roja took the lead first, with a goal by Oyarzabal in the 64th minute, but then Mbappe took matters into his own hands and first assisted Karim Benzema for the equalizer, and then he himself shook the net after a pass from Theo Hernandez. Out of 10 meetings in the 21st century, Spain won six in their favor, France won three, and once they played a draw.The last time France played Spain. 🇫🇷🤝🇪🇸Kylian Mbappé did Kylian Mbappé things. 🤫Will he recreate his best form against the Spanish tonight? 🤔 #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/lM3HE9T8ZZ— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) July 9, 2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – 1/2 FINALSSemifinalsTuesday22.00: (2.70) Spain (3.05) France (3.15)Wednesday22.00: (3.15) Netherlands (3.10) England (2.60)***odds are subject to change***
