A UEFA EURO clash for the ages: Spain vs France

The UEFA EURO semi-final clash between Spain and France will take place on Tuesday, 9 July 2024, at the Allianz Arena at 9pm. All the action will be shown live on Showmax Premier League.

The UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final between Spain and France has lost a touch of its midfield magic but gained a hefty dose of intrigue. Spain, still riding the high of a dramatic extra-time victory over Germany, will face a hungry French side desperate to find their scoring touch.

Spain were the most dominant force in the group stage, boasting a whopping 68% average possession.

This dominance translated to a tournament-high 22 shots per game, fuelled in large part by the young midfield maestro Pedri.

However, his EURO dream was cut short by a tackle from Germany's Toni Kroos, leaving a significant hole in the Spanish midfield.

Despite the loss of Pedri, Spain's possession-based style remains their core strategy. The onus will fall on players like Dani Olmo, who impressed after replacing Pedri against Germany, to step up and control the tempo.

Up front, Spain will still rely on the in-form Álvaro Morata. He'll be Spain's primary weapon against a French defence that has shown vulnerabilities.

France, on the other hand, come into the tie with a win but lacking their usual swagger. They've scraped by in several matches, relying on a tense penalty shootout win over Portugal in the quarter-finals.

Didier Deschamps' men haven't been at their free-flowing best, but their resilience and fighting spirit are undeniable.

The biggest threat for France remains the unstoppable Kylian Mbappé. He boasts a phenomenal 5.2 dribbles completed per game, the most in the tournament.

His pace and clinical finishing will be a nightmare for the Spanish backline, especially if they struggle to control the midfield battle without Pedri.

However, Les Bleus haven't been watertight defensively. They've conceded in every game so far, and Spain's patient possession game could expose these gaps if they can exploit the absence of Pedri in the centre of the park.

Key players in the spotlight: Spain vs France, 9 July 2024

Spain

Dani Olmo

Stepping into the void left by Pedri, Olmo's creativity and passing will be crucial in maintaining Spain's dominance.

Álvaro Morata

With Pedri out, Morata's experience and goalscoring form become even more vital for Spain to counter France's attacking threat.

Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal

When football produces daring, exciting players, the eternal question is: how quickly can rivals "work them out" and thus diminish their impact? Didier Deschamps' analysts must have spent a good amount of time figuring out how they can – or whether they can – produce positional, marking and philosophical solutions to cope with Spain's dynamic duo of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.

France

Kylian Mbappé

The French talisman needs no introduction. His speed and finishing will be France's biggest weapon against Spain.

William Saliba

The defender's leadership and composure will be crucial in shoring up France's shaky defence, especially with the absence of Pedri potentially disrupting Spain's attacking flow.

Head-to-head record

The rivalry between Spain and France is historic and fiercely contested. In their last five meetings, both sides have won twice, with one draw. This suggests a close encounter is still very much on the cards.

Prediction

This match has transformed from a midfield maestro clash to a battle of resilience. Spain will look to control the tempo without Pedri, but France's hunger for goals and Mbappé's individual brilliance cannot be ignored.

Expect a tactical battle with a touch of desperation. Can Spain adapt without their midfield maestro, or will France capitalise on the disruption and find their scoring touch?

Buckle up for a night of tactical chess and attacking fireworks as Spain and France battle it out for a place in the EURO 2024 final!

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