France defeated 2:1
LIVE from 9 p.m.: Spain must face France
Alea iacta est, the decision has been made - Spain are the first finalists of Euro 2024 thanks to a 2:1 win over France! Unlike their last meeting on German soil in the 2006 World Cup round of 16 (1:3), this time the "Furia Roja" prevailed - who can now hope to win their 4th European Championship title after 1964, 2008 and 2012 ...
"¡No Pasarán!" - The French sports daily "L'Equipe" used its usual martial language in the run-up to the match to tell Spain's semi-final opponents that there would be "no way through" for them. That they would no longer "only" have to deal with German, Georgian or Croatian defenders, but with those of "Les Bleus". A team that has only conceded one goal in the tournament so far (a record!) and has gone most games without conceding (4).
Dembélé for Griezmann in "Les Bleus" starting eleven
"If you're bored, watch something else!" - As Didier Deschamps had so far shrugged off any criticism of his team's style of play, it came as no surprise that the team boss had "Les Bleus" line up in what he considered to be a tried-and-tested and optimal 4-3-3. And compared to the quarter-final clash with Portugal, he only brought on Ousmane Dembélé for Antoine Griezmann as right winger and Adrien Rabiot for Eduardo Camavinga in midfield.
Deschamps' opposite number Luis de la Fuente made three changes to his starting eleven compared to the thriller against Germany: For the yellow card suspended defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, veteran star Jesús Navas (38 years old!) and Nacho moved into the team lining up in a 4-2-3-1 - plus Dani Olmo for the injured Pedri.
Mbappé in action without a face mask
As expected as these personnel changes and the characteristics of the game may have been in the first few minutes with Spain going forward, it was unexpected to see Kylian Mbappé without a face mask for the first time since the Austria game in France's European Championship opener and it was also unexpected to see Spain's "Germany scare" Marc Cucurella consistently booed by German (and French?) fans every time he touched the ball.
As expected, the first good chance of the game in minute 5 belonged to the "Furia Roja", although Fabián Ruiz headed just over the crossbar after a cross from Lamine Yamal. The fact that Randal Kolo Muani scored four minutes later with a header after Mbappé's assist to make it 1:0 for the runners-up (9') was again not to be expected - after "Les Bleus" had never scored a goal from play in 86 attempts at this European Championship tournament up to that point.
Game turned around 15 minutes after 0:1
A successful attempt to tame the stubborn "Furia Roja"? Not at all! Because after a brief period of collective Spanish breathing space, the game was turned around 15 minutes later: first it was wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who suddenly danced along the edge of the penalty area on the right and shot into the left-hand corner from around 18 meters (21st), making him the youngest European Championship goalscorer of all time.
Before the cheers of their fans had really died down, it was already 2:1 for Spain a little later: Dani Olmo elegantly took a cross in the penalty area that was suboptimally cleared by William Saliba, then let Aurélien Tchouaméni off like a hydrant with a hook and then shot sharply towards the far corner - Jules Koundé's attempt to save was too late and the ball hit the French goal (25').
The defensive line now acted more conscientiously
The spectators had been treated to a truly exciting and high-class game in the first 25 minutes - and the duel between the three-time and two-time European champions continued to inspire. However, after the turbulent phase between the 9th and 25th minute, the defensive lines now acted more conscientiously - there were no more top-class scoring opportunities until the break.
Dayot Upamecano and Co. as well as Cucurella and Co. always knew how to help themselves with a foot, a leg, a head or any other legal part of the body when their opponents shot or crossed.
France goalie Maignan reacted with lightning speed
The second half of the match, which was refereed by Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, began without any changes in terms of personnel or tactics, but with an upset on the Spanish side: Fabián Ruiz caught the advancing French side off guard with a long pass to Nico Williams, who had run through on the half-left - but Les Bleus goalkeeper Mike Maignan was alert and managed to get to the ball in extremis just before the Spanish attacker (46').
Apart from this early chance for the "Furia Roja", France, who had been so sluggish for so long in the tournament, now showed that they can do things differently. The efforts of team boss Deschamps' men were clearly evident and their attacking drive on the Munich semi-final pitch was not comparable to that of previous matches.
"French renaissance" did not succeed
However, the "French renaissance" did not come to fruition against the Spanish, who were extremely confident on the ball and defended prudently and, with the 2:1 lead behind them, continued to make pinpricks forward but no longer took any absolute risks. Not least because Dembelé failed to beat goalkeeper Unai Simón from the tightest of angles (60'), Upemacano headed just wide of the goal after an ideal cross from Dembelé (63') and, shortly afterwards, Théo Hernandez wasted the chance in the penalty area after Mbappé had picked out a long ball with great feeling, outpaced a Spaniard and then passed to him with his heel (65').
Théo Hernandez (76th - shot wide from the edge of the box) and Mbappé (86th - shot over from 15 meters after a hook inside the box) missed the final chances - without even hitting Spain's box. There was nothing left for the "Gallic rooster" to do about the defeat and the "Furia Roja" progressed to the final.
The result:
Spain - France 2:1 (2:1)
Munich, Allianz Arena, 70,000 spectators, referee Slavko Vinčić (SVN)
Goals: 0:1 (9') Kolo Muani, 1:1 (21') Lamine Yamal, 2:1 (25'/own goal) Koundé
Yellow cards: Navas, Yamal or Tchouameni, Camavinga
Spain: Simon - Navas (58. Vivian), Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella - Rodri, Ruiz - Yamal (93. F. Torres), Olmo (76. Merino), N. Williams (94. Zubimendi) - Morata (76. Oyarzabal)
France: Maignan - Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, T. Hernandez - Kante (62. Griezmann), Tchouameni, Rabiot (62. Camavinga) - Dembele (79. Giroud), Kolo Muani (63. Barcola), Mbappe
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