Spain 2-1 France

Euro 2024/Semi-Finals

MOTM: Lamine Yamal

Other standout performances include: Rodri, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella

Notable Stats:

• Since 1980 only Deco (Euro 2004) has had more non-penalty shots without scoring at a UEFA Euro Championships than Kylian Mbappe’s 23 shots at Euro 2024.

• Spain have reached their first major tournament final since 2012.

• Spain have become the first team to win six matches at a single Euro tournament.

• Lamine Yamal has become the youngest player in history to score at either the World Cup or Euros at 16 years and 362 days old. Second is Pele at 17 years and 239 days old.

Match Stats:

• xG: 0.95 - 1.5

• xThreat: 1.14 - 1.64

• Possession: 57.8% - 42.2%

• Field Tilt: 53.6% - 46.4%

• Penalty Box Shots: 2 - 8

• Deep Completions: 9 - 8

• PPDA: 10.3 - 9.9

• High Turnovers: 2 - 2

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 21 - 11

Spain Reach the Final

It’s been obvious for quite some time that Spain are the most balanced side in the competition. They’ve got a variety of tools in the team, on the bench and players capable of making adjustments within the game. Players that can control the tempo in Rodri. Players that can provide moments of magic in Yamal, Pedri, Olmo and Williams.

They’ve looked great. But we all know within a tournament that can all disappear in one knockout match and it’s not always the best performing team that wins the competition. Against France and Germany, Spain found a way to win.

Yamal coming inside and dropping deep to become a spare player in midfield helped Spain to beat the press by France in the first half. Williams did this as well with his narrow positioning which made it difficult for France to completely man mark Spain’s midfield. Morata would drop between the lines when needed.

Spain were excellent in the opposition half at pulling around the French midfielders to open up space. Ruiz in particular. The two wingers of Spain able to come inside and open up the flank for their full backs. Always able to create a free man with their constant rotations on the left where as the right, given the lack of defensive work by Mbappe, left Hernandez with a tough task against Yamal and Navas.

France found their break through after this pass out wide to Mbappe which left Jesus caught out by his movement in-behind then back to collect the ball.

Mbappe then put this cross to the back post, into the space between Laporte and Cucurella for Muani (9’) to attack and head into the goal. The first goal France has scored directly from open play in the tournament.

What stands out about this Spanish team is how brave they are on the ball, regardless of the pressure or the opposition they will play these passes and their players will have the courage to turn on the ball.

Spain remained relaxed about the goal, continuing with their game plan as shown by the passes below. Buildup with short combinations on the left side and isolate Yamal on the right.

That paid off with Yamal creating an excellent chance for Ruiz when he crossed into the box. A warning to France. Then Yamal (21’) went for goal himself by turning Rabiot inside out, cutting onto his left foot and scoring into the top corner.

Here is a very similar goal Yamal scored for Spain in the U17s Euros against France. He was 15 years old in this tournament.

Spain didn’t sit off once they equalized, instead continuing to push for the winner and eventually they found it down the right side again. This time a cross from Navas into the box that Saliba heads back into the path of Dani Olmo.

With a brilliant couple touches, Dani Olmo (25’) takes the ball past Tchouameni and finishes into the bottom corner. Deflected off Kounde but the shot was going in regardless. He’s now the tournaments leading scorer.

Just to reiterate the deliberate approach by Spain in attack, the majority of their play went down their left side. This is measure by the touches in the third. Spain kept Yamal isolated and it paid off by creating their two goals down the right flank.

Here is the passing maps from the first 60 minutes of the match which displays the short combinations Spain used on the left side. Morata dropping deep as Olmo runs beyond him. Yamal free for the Rodri switch. Navas pushed deep to defend against Mbappe.

Dembele and Mbappe the two outlets for France on either flank, which makes you wonder why they didn’t opt for Griezmann as a false nine given the positions Kolo Muani would take up.

France made a number of changes in the second half as they chased the game. Going far more aggressive in their man-to-man approach in midfield. Spain used clever movement from their wingers and full backs to get around this. Rodri not having Kante to shake off provided him a lot more freedom to get on the ball and control the tempo of the match.

That was the story of the second half, Spain trying to wrestle control of the match through Rodri and France pushing hard for an equalizer. Number of clearances in the Spain box had you wondering if France might just find the back of the net. But by the time we reached the final ten minutes Spain managed the game incredibly well and saw it out to the final whistle.

Spain will take on Netherlands/England in the final of Euro 2024 on this Sunday, 14th July 20:00 GMT.

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