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Home > Lamine Yamal-Inspired Spain Beat Misfiring France To Reach Euro 2024 Final

Lamine Yamal-Inspired Spain Beat Misfiring France To Reach Euro 2024 Final

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Teenager Lamine Yamal scored a world-class goal to level the score before Dani Olmo added a second minutes later in Spain’s defeat of France in Tuesday night’s European Championship semi-final in Munich Credit: Reuters/Michaela Stache Lamine Yamal may well still be in contention to represent Spain come Euro 2044, although for now Europe’s most celebrated schoolboy footballer is one game from scaling the heights that some of the greats never achieved over a whole career.

The 16-year-old turns 17 on Saturday and on Sunday he will be in the XI for Spain in the European Championship final, having changed the course of this semi-final with a goal that did so much to charge a tired tournament. This was the night that changed Yamal’s life, even if his trajectory has been pretty spectacular thus far. Yet the story of football is charted in the collective memory of the biggest moments and few moments rank as highly as scoring this kind of goal, against this sort of France team.

He was selected for this squad having played a single season in Spain’s La Liga, only 51 senior games in all competitions. Had he been registered to a Premier League club he would still have been paid no more than the standard scholarship salary until Saturday. He is testament to Barcelona’s capacity to develop footballers, whatever the turmoil elsewhere.

Yamal’s equaliser, beautifully done, gave the momentum for this Spain team to take the game to France. Spain were led by their teenager, who was by no means the only one. They attacked this game rather than sit back and let it happen to them. On the other wing to Yamal was Nico Williams, another uninhibited young winger at 22, who was ready to run at the French.

In midfield, the great Rodri, who has conquered English football with Manchester City, was once again dominant in a manner that makes it hard to imagine how he might be stopped. That will be the task facing either England or the Netherlands when one emerges from Wednesday’s semi-final to meet Spain in Berlin. There are still traces of the past in this Spanish team, not least the 38-year-old Jesus Navas who started the game, although the feeling this evening was a young team ahead of schedule.

From the Spain XI that was defeated by two Scott McTominay goals for Scotland just 16 months ago, only Rodri started this semi-final. Indeed, seven of that XI did not even make Luis De La Fuente’s 26-man squad. Spain have now beaten the hosts Germany and the favourites France, with a determination to play something that approaches attacking football.

There was a moment in the aftermath of victory when a security guard chasing a pitch invader slipped and collided with Spain’s captain Alvaro Morata who had been substituted in the second half. De La Fuente said that his captain was unlikely to miss the final as a result. “He’s hurt, but we think he is going to be okay,” De La Fuente said.

The Spain manager, a relatively low-profile coach promoted from the Spain Under-21s, with a solid playing career at Athletic of Bilbao among others, now finds himself presiding over the argument as to whether teams have a responsibility to attack. “Not always,” he said, “but you need to believe in it. You need to make sure your team plays in the way that it can. This is a very versatile kind of team with many styles. But that is because of the footballers we have.”

Yamal celebrates his first-half strike Credit: Getty Images/Tonias Schwarz De La Fuente, who succeeded Luis Enrique after the last World Cup, deferred to his players. Like his opposite number Didier Deschamps, as well as Gareth Southgate in recent weeks, he reflected on the criticism that had been directed at him. “You have been asking for this player and that player,” he said to the Spanish media. “But you don’t know the history behind every one of them. I do know my players. I also know they can give much more.”

He would also say that he hoped Yamal would not let the success he has enjoyed in the last few weeks change him. It had been, he said, “a touch of genius” for the goal. “I would like him to work with the same humility and keep his feet on the ground and keep improving. We want to take care of him.”

Yamal’s goal and then Dani Olmo’s that followed showed that Spain had located a pocket of uncertainty in France, in the inside right channel. It was from there that Yamal struck. Lean and fast and perfectly balanced, it is not so much what he does, as the speed at which he does it. There was the feint, the shift, that for a fraction of a second put Adrien Rabiot’s weight on his wrong foot, as Yamal switched left.

That was the room for the shot created but the shot itself had a narrow corridor of possibility. It was flighted up and down with enough loft on it to take advantage of the smallest mistake in Mike Maignan’s positioning. A touch off the post and in.

That was Spain’s equaliser and the second came from the same area. A triangle of passes on France’s left side with Yamal, Olmo and Navas involved. A weak clearing header dropped to Olmo and his masterful first touch took him clear of Aurelien Tchouameni for the shot, which was already in before it clipped Jules Kounde’s heel.

For France, the opener on nine minutes – Kylian Mbappe’s cross to Randal Kolo Muani – seemed to hint at a more attacking, free-spirited approach. Yet they never hit their stride. One suspects there will be many recriminations to come. Deschamps reacted with anger to the question that this might be the end of his time in charge. “I’m trying to answer these questions calmly,” he said. “But I’m not going to answer this one. Maybe you ask the [French Football Federation] president.”

Mbappe had discarded the mask but his performance was flat. Deschamps dropped Eduardo Camavinga and Antoine Griezmann and then called them from the bench as well as Olivier Giroud, at 37 years old, but France went quietly.

Spain vs France: As it happened . . .

Live Reporting Related Stories 9 July 2024 • 11:47pm

10:26PM

Lamine Yamal: I want to win, win and win This is what Spain’s goalscorers had to say after the game. First, Lamine Yamal.

I’m very happy to have made it to the final. Now the most important thing is to win it. We were in a difficult moment, you wouldn’t expect a goal so soon, I wanted to put it in where it went in, and I’m very happy. I try not to think too much, enjoy it and help the team and if it works out like this, I’m happy and content with the victory. I want to win, win and win. I’ll celebrate my birthday here in Germany with my team.

And then Dani Olmo

There is one step missing. It is unbelievable to be in the final. We deserve it. We’re a step away from glory. It was unfortunate to fall a goal behind but we did not give up. Then Lamine scored an absolutely unbelievable goal. It does not matter who we have in the final.

Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal put Spain into the final of Euro 2024. Credit: ODD ANDERSEN/AFP 10:23PM

Didier Deschamps’ reaction Spain proved tonight that they are a very good team. We were fortunate to open the scoring, but they caused us problems because they were superior in terms of control. Tonight they showed all their qualities. We were… perhaps a little less fresh, which led to some technical waste, particularly in the construction of the game. We didn’t push forward often enough.

10:22PM

The player of match is Lamine Yamal 10:11PM

Morata injured after the game During Spain’s celebrations, another supporter got onto the field. In the rush to catch him, a steward slipped and caught Alvaro Morata, who was left limping. It will be scandalous if he misses the final because of that.

A steward slips into Alvaro Morata. Credit: Kieran McManus/Shutterstock 10:09PM

One game away Spain celebrate after their memorable victory over France. Credit: MOHAMED MESSARA/Shutterstock 10:02PM

Play that one again and again 10:00PM

All alone A dejected Kylian Mbappe leaves the field. Credit: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images 9:57PM

Boy of the match Lamine Yamal turns 17 on Saturday. Credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images 9:54PM

FT: Spain 2 France 1 Spain have done it! They will play Netherlands or England in the Euro 2024 final after edging France in a terrific semi-final.

All the goals came in a pulsating first half. Kolo Muani headed France ahead, and then it happened: an astonishing equaliser from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal that was quickly followed by a brilliant goal from Dani Olmo.

France had chances in the second half, with Kylian Mbappe – who faded after a blistering start – missing their best late on.

9:53PM

90+5 min: Spain 2 France 1 Griezmann’s heads over, a quarter chance at best, and that should be that.

9:51PM

90+4 min: Spain 2 France 1 Spain substitutions Ferran Torres and Martin Zubimendi come on for Lamine Yamal, whose equalising goal will be remembered forever, and the superb Nico Williams.

9:50PM

90+3 min: Spain 2 France 1 All night, the whistling of Marc Cucurella has rung out from the local fans in Munich like a knife on glass. The ploy, it is safe to say, has not worked. The left-back, targeted by fans for handling in extra time against Germany in the quarter-final, has enjoyed one of his most effective games here, appearing transformed from the haunted figure he sometimes cuts at Chelsea. Even against a France team who have graced the last two World Cup finals, Spain look comfortable in seeing this out. The extraordinary Lamine Yamal receives a standing ovation as he is replaced by Ferran Torres.

9:49PM

90+1 min: Spain 2 France 1 France have five added minutes in which to equalise. Lamine Yamal is booked for a tactical foul on Hernandez. Imagine how cynical he’ll be at 17!

9:48PM

90 min: Spain 2 France 1 Camavinga is booked for a very late tackle on Cucurella. The BBC commentators are also saying that Rodri has a hamstring problem, though he’s on the ball as I type.

9:46PM

88 min: Spain 2 France 1 If it goes to extra-time you’d fancy France, because Spain looked really tired. Mind you, we said the same when Germany played Spain in the quarter-finals.

9:44PM

86 min: Spain 2 France 1 Great chance for Mbappe! Barcola slips a defender and plays a terrific pass down the inside-left channel to Mbappe. He zips into the area, cuts across Vivian and then shoots over from 15 yards! Mbappe did all the hard work by beating Vivian; he should have scored.

9:42PM

84 min: Spain 2 France 1 Spain are six minutes plus added-time away from their first major final since 2012. Laporte is down after running into Giroud nose-first. It looked like he might be trying it on but he’s down for so long that it’s probably genuine.

Aymeric Laporte receives treatment. Credit: Manu Fernandez/AP 9:40PM

81 min: Spain 2 France 1 Yamal almost does it again! He crackled inside from the right, away from Hernandez, and curled just over from 20 yards. Imagine how good he’ll be at 17.

9:38PM

80 min: Spain 2 France 1 The impressive Barcola runs Nacho to win another corner for France. Griezmann takes and it’s cleared.

9:37PM

79 min: Spain 2 France 1 France substitution Olivier Giroud, 37, replaces Ousmane Dembele. At his peak he was such a good substitute. We’ll soon see how much he has left.

9:35PM

78 min: Spain 2 France 1 Simon hits a pass straight on the head of Dembele, who can’t react quickly enough to cushion the ball. Spain are starting to look a little jittery.

9:35PM

77 min: Spain 2 France 1 Spain substitutions Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal replace Dani Olmo and Alvaro Morata.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente embraces Alvaro Morata. Credit: Ariel Schalit/AP 9:34PM

76 min: Spain 2 France 1 Chance for Hernandez! That’s the best chance of the half. Griezmann’s deep cross was volleyed back across by Dembele, Spain didn’t clear properly and Hernandez wafted over from 15 yards with his right foot. Had it been on his left he may well have scored.

Theo Hernandez reacts after shooting over. Credit: THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP 9:33PM

75 min: Spain 2 France 1 Spain give themselves a breather by allowing the ball to do the work for 90 seconds. They needed that.

9:31PM

73 min: Spain 2 France 1 An inviting cross from Kounde is cleared by Yamal, who has had a quiet second half. Moments later Mbappe dances into the area before being crowded out. Lots of pressure on Spain now.

Kylian Mbappe runs into trouble. Credit: Annegret Hilse/Reuters 9:29PM

71 min: Spain 2 France 1 Barcola makes a fine run down the left, beating two players before his cutback takes a slight but crucial deflection away from Mbappe.

9:27PM

68 min: Spain 2 France 1 Plenty of France pressure now, with Spain sitting on their lead as they did against Germany. It’s human nature, I guess, but it’s a risky approach. They haven’t had a shot in the second half.

Theo Hernandez reacts after another France attack peters out. Credit: FILIP SINGER/Shutterstock 9:23PM

65 min: Spain 2 France 1 The second half hasn’t yet matched the first, though it’s still been high-class stuff.

Mbappe is now playing up front by the way, with Barcola on the left and Griezmann in behind.

9:21PM

63 min: Spain 2 France 1 Triple change for France Antoine Griezmann, Eduardo Camavinga and Bradley Barcola replace Kolo Muani, N’Golo Kante and Adrien Rabiot.

A big inswinging corner is headed down into the ground and wide by Upamecano. That was a chance, though he was being challenged.

9:19PM

61 min: Spain 2 France 1 Tchouameni is booked for a scissor tackle on Morata.

Aurelien Tchouameni fouls Alvaro Morata. Credit: James Baylis/Getty Images 9:19PM

60 min: Spain 2 France 1 Kounde does well to recover after being nutmegged by Williams. France break at speed and Dembele’s cross is pawed away by Simon, who gambled and almost dived past the ball.

Unai Simon clears Ousmane Dembele’s cross. Credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP 9:16PM

58 min: Spain 2 France 1 Spain substitution Daniel Vivian replaces the limping Jesus Navas, who recovered well from a tough start against Mbappe.

Before play resumes, a fan gets on the field for the umpteenth time at Euro 2024. Vivian has gone to centre-back with Nacho moving to right-back.

A supporter tries to get to Kylian Mbappe. Credit: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP 9:14PM

57 min: Spain 2 France 1 Kounde shows terrific pace to beat Nico Williams to a long through pass from Fabian Ruiz, then at the other end Mbappe shoots straight at Simon from a tight angle.

Kylian Mbappe goes for goal. Credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP 9:12PM

53 min: Spain 2 France 1 Now France are having a decent spell. Kounde’s cross is turned behind by the stretching Laporte, and Tchouameni heads the resulting corner straight at Simon. It was a tough chance, 12 yards out, though he didn’t connect with the header as he would have liked.

9:08PM

50 min: Spain 2 France 1 Maignan is okay for now, though he might have some work to do soon because Spain have started the second half on top. They’re the most joyful, expressive international team we’ve seen in years – perhaps since Spain themselves in 2008.

After another terrific move, Cucurella’s low cross is cleared by Saliba, who did well to get in front of Morata.

William Saliba beats Alvaro Morata to the ball. Credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images 9:06PM

48 min: Spain 2 France 1 It feels as if the Munich crowd are still recovering from that show-stopping strike by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The reactions were best summed up by the injured Pedri, who cupped his face in his hands in astonishment. To think, one of the major talking points around the 16-year-old at this tournament was whether he would be permitted to play under German labour laws preventing anyone under 18 from working past 8pm. As an athlete, Yamal has an exemption until 11pm. Such is Spain’s superiority here, Luis de la Fuente should not need to worry about any curfew just yet.

9:05PM

46 min: Spain 2 France 1 Spain play through France’s press quite brilliantly, then Morata curls a long through pass towards the speedy Williams on the left. Maignan charges out of his area and makes a desperate sliding tackle on Williams – but he may have injured himself in the process. He’s feeling his left hamstring as play goes on.

Mike Maignan makes a vital tackle on Nico Williams. Credit: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP 9:01PM

Yamal’s wondergoal from another angle Sixteen years old. It’s beyond comprehension.

8:49PM

HT: Spain 2 France 1 A sheer delightful first half in Munich. France came to play, with their captain Kylian Mbappe taking his mask off and become Superman again. He was electric early on and set up Kolo Muani to give France an early lead.

Spain kept doing their thing and stunned France with two memorable goals in the space of four minutes. Lamine Yamal, the astonishing 16-year-old, curled a glorious equaliser from 25 yards before Dani Olmo put Spain ahead with a goal of quick-witted brilliance. Thankfully, Uefa have now given that goal to Olmo rather than the France defender Jules Kounde.

France have been good and certainly aren’t out of this, not with Mbappe playing so well. Spain have been a life-affirming joy.

8:44PM

44 min: Spain 2 France 1 France are having a good spell as half-time approaches. Dembele’s curling free-kick from the left is headed away well under pressure by Morata, who has done some good defensive work.

8:42PM

41 min: Spain 2 France 1 Spain give France a taste of their own with a very quick break. Williams clips the ball infield to Yamal, who tries another long-range curler. It’s blocked at source and spins behind for a corner. Williams takes and Maignan claims.

8:40PM

39 min: Spain 2 France 1 Cucurella gives the crowd something to boo when he cynically legas up Dembele. Surprised he wasn’t booked for that.

8:39PM

39 min: Spain 2 France 1 Dembele, who has quietly had a good first half, wins a corner for France. He takes it himself and Laporte heads clear. This game could easily end 4-1 to Spain or 4-2 to France; it’s been the most brilliant first half.

8:38PM

38 min: Spain 2 France 1 I’m still reeling from Lamine Yamal’s goal, never mind Olmo’s. Given the context and especially his age, it’s among the greatest moments in European Championship history.

Even Lamine Yamal can barely believe it. Credit: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP 8:37PM

36 min: Spain 2 France 1 Lamine Yamal cuts inside and finds Fabian Ruiz with a bit of space in the D. He takes a touch and hits a shot that is deflected not far wide. Spain’s response to going behind has been blistering.

8:34PM

33 min: Spain 2 France 1 Spain look utterly irresistible. Lamine Yamal, who has already eclipsed Pele’s record as the youngest player ever to play in a World Cup or European Championship semi-final, has now scored the goal of the tournament so far with his gorgeous, arcing strike beyond Mike Maignan.

The 16-year-old’s team-mates, galvanised by the stunning moment, duly went for the jugular, with Dani Olmo’s powerful shot taking a deflection off Jules Kounde for Spain’s second. A rapturous few minutes, cementing their credentials as the outstanding side here in Germany.

Mike Maignan is powerless to stop Lamine Yamal’s gorgeous equaliser. Credit: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP 8:32PM

31 min: Spain 2 France 1 Nacho makes a terrific tackle on Mbappe on the edge of the area. Mbappe looks razor sharp.

At the other end Nico Williams goes on a thrilling slalom and backheels the ball to Morata, who is eventually crowded out. There is so much joy and flair in Spain’s attacking football.

8:30PM

28 min: Spain 2 France 1 This feels like the game of the tournament, already.

8:26PM

Goal! Spain 2 France 1 (Olmo 25) Spain have flattened France with two goals in four minutes! Dani Olmo has given them the lead with another wonderful goal. Navas’s cross was headed away to the edge of the area, where Olmo controlled an awkward ball on the stretch. In the same movement, without the ball touching the ground, he cushioned it away from Tchouameni, who was like a fire engine going to the wrong fire. Finally Olmo rifled a low drive across goal that beat Maignan and went into the net off Kounde.

What a beautiful goal, so quick-witted. Uefa have given it to Kounde, but I think that will be reversed – it looked like Olmo’s shot was on target.

8:21PM

Amazing goal! Spain 1 France 1 (Lamine Yamal 21) The 16-year-old has scored a stunning equaliser for Spain! I can’t spake. He received possession 25 yards from goal in a central position, lost Rabiot through sleight of hip and flashed a spectacular curler that beat the leaping Maignan and flew into the net off the left-hand post. What a goal! The precision was uncanny, because Maignan was this close to getting to it.

Lamine Yamal becomes the youngest player ever to score at the European Championship: 16 years 362 days. Truly, we have never seen the like.

8:20PM

19 min: Spain 0 France 1 Another France break, another scintillating run from Mbappe. He cuts inside two players on the edge of the area and hits a shot that is blocked, though it was going off target. The ball ricochets across the area and evades Kolo Muani.

8:19PM

18 min: Spain 0 France 1 Mbappe looks on it tonight, which is making France a huge threat in transition. Poor Jesus Navas: he’s 38, on a yellow card and up against the world’s most electric attacker.

8:16PM

16 min: Spain 0 France 1 Rabiot gets to his feet after around 90 seconds’ treatment. Navas caught him painfully on the shin so he wasn’t acting up.

The free-kick is about 28 yards out, to the right of centre. Mbappe cracks it into the wall.

8:15PM

14 min: Spain 0 France 1 Navas is booked for a desperate, cynical lunge at Rabiot. He needed to do it because Rabiot would otherwise have been able to put Mbappe through on goal.

Jesus Navas is booked. Credit: ANNA SZILAGYI/Shutterstock 8:13PM

12 min: Spain 0 France 1 The goal hasn’t changed the game, with Spain still moving the ball very smoothly. Williams scoops a clever pass into the area towards Fabian Ruiz, who heads it on towards Morata at the near post. He misses a stooping header and Upamecano clears.

Randal Kolo Muani (right) celebrates his goal with Jules Kounde. Credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images 8:09PM

Goal! Spain 0 France 1 (Kolo Muani 9) A France player has scored from open play! It was a mirror image of the chance that Fabian Ruiz missed, with Mbappe playing the role of Lamine Yamal. He teased Navas on the left edge of the area and then, with no backlift, coaxed a lovely cross towards the far post. Kolo Muani pulled away from Laporte and guided a header past Simon.

8:08PM

7 min: Spain 0 France 0 France break dangerously, with Kolo Muani playing an early through ball towards Mbappe. Navas reads it really well and comes across to clear.

Just before that, Nacho broke his fall by putting his hand on the back of Kolo Muani’s head and slamming his face into the turf. Hmm, I’d like to see that again.

Nacho and Kolo Muani. Credit: ANNA SZILAGYI/Shutterstock 8:07PM

6 min: Spain 0 France 0 Marc Cucurella is being booed every time he touches the ball. Presumably that’s by local fans who haven’t forgiven him for the unpunished handball against Germany on Friday.

8:06PM

5 min: Spain 0 France 0 Great chance for Spain! After a long spell of Spanish possession, Lamine Yamala teases a gorgeous cross that is headed over from four yards by Fabian Ruiz. He arrived late, between Upamecano and Kounde, but mistimed his header.

Fabian Ruiz heads over the bar. Credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images 8:03PM

2 min: Spain 0 France 0 Spain have settled quickly. Williams plays in the underlapping Fabian Ruiz, who turns Kante well but then overhits his cross.

8:01PM

1 min: Spain 0 France 0 France kick off from right to left as we watch, nary a mask in sight.

7:57PM

Here come the players Spain are in red, France are wearing white – as they have for most of the tournament. More importantly, Kylian Mbappe is mask-free. That could make a huge difference as he clearly hated playing in it.

Incidentally, none of the players are on a yellow card as they were wiped after the quarter-final.

France line up for the anthems, with Kylian Mbappe (far left) playing without his protective mask. Credit: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images 7:54PM

France’s underwhelming support Having been here in Munich for the opening game, when Scottish fans carpeted an entire end of the stadium, it is difficult not to be underwhelmed by the extent of the travelling French support. Occupying only the lower tier of one stand, they convey a sense that sustained tournament brilliance has become all rather de rigueur.

It was the same for the World Cup final in Doha, where Argentinians’ dominance in numbers meant the game might as well have been played in Buenos Aires. First-world problems, perhaps. Beat Spain here and France will be heading to a seventh major final in 26 years.

Not all France supporters are as enthusiastic as this lot. Credit: Chris Brunskill/Getty Images 7:47PM

Our writers pick their England XIs Tonight’s winners will play the Netherlands or England in the final on Sunday. Our writers have been picking their XIs for tomorrow’s semi-final.

Read more…

7:37PM

A reminder of the teams Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon, Jesus Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Morata; Williams.

Subs: Raya, Vivian, Merino, Joselu, Torres, Grimaldo, Remiro, Baena, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Lopez, Perez.

France (4-3-3) Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez; Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe.

Subs: Samba, Pavard, Mendy, Camavinga, Giroud, Thuram, Zaire Emery, Fofana, Coman, Clauss, Areola, Konate, Barcola, Griezmann.

Referee Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)

Jesus Navas, 38, and Marc Cucurella will start at full-back for Spain. Credit: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP 7:29PM

Simply red Spain supporters get in the mood ahead of kick-off. Credit: Christina Pahnke/Getty Images 7:26PM

Previously on… Spain v France The last meeting between Spain and France, competitive or otherwise, was the Nations League final of 2021. France came from behind to win 2-1 with a controversial goal from Kylian Mbappe settling matters. Here’s how we reported it at the time.

Kylian Mbappe scored the winner for France against Spain in the 2021 Nations League final. Credit: CPS Images/Getty 7:16PM

De la Fuente: It’s about winning Spain have been the most stylish team at Euro 2024, but that isn’t the priority for their coach Luis de la Fuente

In principle, what you try to do is to prepare a gameplan that will help you win.

Of course you have an idea. If we talk about the show or whatever, we are talking about a model, an idea and maybe our idea is closer to a nice show, a nice spectacle – if we do it right. In that respect, I think we are a nice team to watch.

But in the end, it’s about winning and even more so at this stage. We try to play nice football, but we want to play practical football too because what you will analyse later and assess later is the result.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente arrives for the semi-final. Credit: Joosep Martinson/Uefa 7:13PM

Deschamps: If you think we’re boring, don’t watch the game The France coach Didier Deschamps was predictably unimpressed when asked by a Swedish journalist whether France had been playing boring football.

If you’re getting bored, you know what? Watch another game, that’s fine. You don’t have to watch, it’s fine. It’s a European Championship, it’s very difficult for everyone.

Up until now, it has not been the same as in the past, but we do have the capability to share emotions, to make lots of French men and women happy though the results that we’ve been pulling out of the bag, especially in a period that has been quite difficult for our country.

But I’m sorry if the Swedish are getting bored of our football. It doesn’t really bother me that much.

Didier Deschamps salutes the France fans in Munich. Credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images 7:08PM

A singular talent Kylian Mbappe kills some time on his phone ahead of Spain v France. Credit: Inaki Esnaola/Getty Images 6:57PM

Another record for Lamine Yamal 16 – Lamine Yamal 🇪🇸 (16 years, 362 days) could become tonight the youngest player to make an appearance in World Cup or Euro semi-final, surpassing record by Pelé 🇧🇷 in World Cup 1958 (17 years, 244 days), also against France 🇫🇷. Destiny. pic.twitter.com/SEYFMoOPOI

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 9, 2024 6:52PM

Fancy a flutter? Here are our best betting tips for tonight’s game.

6:50PM

France team news: Griezmann dropped Antoine Griezmann has paid the price for France’s poor attacking performances; he’s been replaced by Ousmane Dembele. That’s one of two changes from the quarter-final win over Portugal. Adrien Rabiot, who missed that game through suspension, comes back into the team in place of Eduardo Camavinga.

France (4-3-3) Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, T Hernandez; Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe.

Subs: Samba, Pavard, Mendy, Camavinga, Giroud, Thuram, Zaire Emery, Fofana, Coman, Clauss, Areola, Konate, Barcola, Griezmann.

6:46PM

Spain team news: Olmo, Navas and Nacho start Spain make three changes, all enforced. Dani Olmo replaces the injured Pedri in midfield, while Jesus Navas, 38, and Nacho come in for the suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand.

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 9, 2024 6:41PM

1984 and all that France lead Spain 3-1 in knockout clashes at a major tournament. Some good games in there, and a couple of memorable performances from Zinedine Zidane.

Euro 84 final France 2-0 SpainEuro 2000 quarter-final France 2-1 SpainWorld Cup 2006 last 16 Spain 1-3 FranceEuro 2012 quarter-final Spain 2-0 France 6:03PM

Good evening Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live, minute-by-minute coverage of the first Euro 2024 semi-final between Spain and France in Munich. It’s a super heavyweight contest between European Championship royalty. Spain have won it three times, a record they share with Germany, and France twice. On Sunday night, one of them will have the chance to change the metric.

Spain have charmed almost everyone with tiki-taka 2.0, based around the exhilarating wingplay of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal. France have eschewed idealism and embraced pragmatism: they’re in the semi-final despite not scoring a single goal in open play. In fact, the best thing that has happened to the French team in this tournament took place at homne: the election defeat of the far-right National Rally, which was publicly celebrated by a number of players.

Spain haven’t been to a final since winning Euro 2012, though they came within a penalty competition of reaching the final three years ago. The team has evolved so much since then that only three of their starting XI against Italy that night are expected to begin tonight’s game: Unai Simon, Aymeric Laporte and Dani Olmo. Rodri and Alvaro Morata came on as subs, with Morata equalising and then missing in the penalty shootout.

While Spain have fearlessness on their side, France have know-how. A win tonight would put them into their fourth major final in five attempts, going back to Euro 2016.

Spain will be without Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal, who are both suspended after the bruising quarter-final against Germany. France reportedly have a full squad to choose from, though that doesn’t mean everyone is 100 per cent. Kylian Mbappe was willingly substituted against Portugal and has struggled since breaking his nose. How close Mbappe gets to his A-game may decide who will meet the Netherlands or England in the final.

Kick off is at 8pm

Kylian Mbappe walks round the Munich pitch ahead of France’s semi-final Credit: Alex Pantling /Uefa License this content