The road to Berlin has started to take shape as France are set to play Spain in the first semi-finals of Euro 2024 at the Allianz Arena in Munich today.
The march towards Berlin offers another epic showdown today as the best defense of Euro 2024 lock horns against the best attack.
Spain has lit up the tournament so far and are the only side to win all five of their games. They are also joint-top in the number of goals scored (11), top on total attempts at goal (102), and ball recoveries (230), demonstrating how impressive they have been both offensively and defensively, while France have conceded only one goal in five games.
La Roja finished top in a group of death with Italy and Croatia, proceeded to beat Germany 2-1 in a last-gasp quarter-final win, and remain the only team to have won all five matches; thus beating every team they have found in their way.
France on the slip side of things have not been that convincing. They have failed to net a single open-play goal in the whole tournament, winning the round of 16 against Belgium thanks to an own-goal, and then resorting to a dramatic penalty shootout to oust Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
The Blues of France will be hoping to win the championship for the first time since they last won it in 2000, while De la Fuente and his players will be poised to add a fourth title to the three European championships they have already won.
Views from the two tacticians
Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s coach:
“We’re facing a football superpower, a great opponent. They are not just powerful as a team, physically very strong, very quick; they also have brilliant individual players. Undoubtedly, they have some of the best in the world. We’re going to demonstrate all of our potential. I think we’re on the same level as them, both collectively and individually – it’ll be a brilliant spectacle.”
Didier Deschamps, France’s coach:
“[Spain] have had the best EURO so far and have left the best impression after every game. All Spain teams have always had a good midfield who are able to control games. Rodri in particular is essential to the Spanish team, but all their players are important.”
This is the sixth meeting between Spain and France at a major tournament. France won three of the first four (2-0 in Euro 1984 final, 2-1 in Euro 2000 quarter-final, 3-1 in 2006 World Cup last 16), while Spain won the most recent game 2-0 win in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals. The other game was a 1-1 draw during the Euro 1996 group stage.
History has it that, every time Spain and France face off in a knockout tie at the Euros, the winner went on to win the cup. It happened in 1984 (France), 2000 (France) and 2012 (Spain). Is it going to happen again?
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Story by: Rabbi Adu Agyei| univers.ug.edu.gh
