Good evening! Thank you for joining
Sports Mole for the first Euro 2024 semi-final between two European heavyweights in the form of
Spain and
France.
Luis de la Fuente's men have arguably been the best team of the tournament thus far and secured a statement victory over Germany in the quarter-finals to progress to the last four.
Meanwhile, Didier Deschamps's men have yet to reach the heights expected at Euro 2024, but they have battled their way to the semi-finals and came out on top against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal via a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals.
With just 30 minutes to go until kickoff, time for a look at the team news...
SPAIN XI: Simon; Jesus Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella; Olmo, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams
Subs: Raya, Vivian, Merino, Joselu, Torres, Grimaldo, Remiro, Baena, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Lopez, Perez
FRANCE XI: 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
Spain have made three enforced changes to their starting lineup, with Nacho Fernandez, Jesus Navas and
Dani Olmo all handed starts at the expense of Robin Le Normand, Dani Carvajal and Pedri.
While Le Normand and Carvajal are both serving suspensions, Pedri is ruled out through injury after suffering a medial collateral ligament knee sprain in the early stages of Friday's quarter-final.
Spain remarkably have both the oldest and youngest outfield players to ever feature in a semi-final of a European Championship or World Cup in their starting lineup.
At the ripe old age of 38 years and 231 days, Sevilla's Jesus Navas is handed a start at right-back, while Barcelona's Lamine Yamal - just 16 years and 362 days old - retains his spot on the right side of attack.
France boss Deschamps makes two changes to his starting lineup, with Adrien Rabiot and Ousmane Dembele returning at the expense of Eduardo Camavinga and Antoine Griezmann.
Rabiot served a one-match suspension in the quarter-finals, but he makes a swift return to France's first XI, joining N'Golo Kante and Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
Dembele, meanwhile, is rewarded for his impressive display off the substitutes' bench against Portugal with a start in attack alongside Randal Kolo Muani and captain Kylian Mbappe.
Griezmann, who has struggled in front of goal at Euro 2024, is therefore dropped to the bench.
All single yellow cards have now been wiped for the semi-final stage, meaning Spanish and French players will only be suspended for the Euro 2024 final if they receive a red card in tonight's game, or if they are sanctioned by UEFA for any antics.
Spain could etch their name into continental folklore tonight...
La Roja are the only nation who have won all five matches at Euro 2024 and they could become the first team in European Championship history to win six games in a row at the same tournament if they beat France tonight.
Seeking to win an unprecedented fourth European Championship title, Spain are looking to reach their fifth Euros final tonight; only Germany (six) have reached the showpiece event on more occasions.
As for France - two-time winners of the European Championship - they will endeavour to reach the final for the fourth time in their history, but only the second after Euro 2000 in the Netherlands not to be played on home soil.
Since the start of 2023, Spain have the best win percentage of any European nation as they have won 15 of their last 19 matches (79%) under the tutelage of Luis de la Fuente.
La Roja have won seven games in a row and last won more consecutively between June 2009 and June 2010 (12).
You can understand why De la Fuente has labelled his side as "the best in the world" ahead of tonight's kickoff!
France, meanwhile, have only lost two of their last 19 international matches since the start of 2023 - both of which came in friendlies against Germany.
Les Bleus have been criticised by some for their 'boring football' at Euro 2024, but Deschamps came out fighting at his pre-match press conference, stating that "If you're getting bored, watch another game. You don't have to watch - it's fine."
Deschamps added: "It's very difficult for everyone, with fewer goals. It hasn't been the same as in the past, but we share the desire to make French men and women happy through the results we have been getting, especially in a period that has been hard for our country."
While Spain have scored a joint tournament-high 11 goals at Euro 2024 - level with Germany - France have only found the net three times across their five matches and, remarkably, have yet to score from open play.
Deschamps and co have been thankful for two own goals, while the only Les Bleus player to celebrate scoring a goal is Kylian Mbappe, who converted from the penalty spot in a 1-1 group-stage draw with Poland.
Spain vs. France will become just the third fixture in history to be played at each stage of the European Championship and World Cup, along with Italy vs. Spain and England vs. Germany.
France won three of their first four meetings with Spain at major tournaments (2-0 in Euro 1984 final, 2-1 in Euro 2000 quarter-final and 3-1 in last 16 of 2006 World Cup), while La Roja came out on top in the most recent encounter between the two nations - a 2-0 quarter-final win at Euro 2012. The other game was a group-stage draw at Euro 1996.
Both sides look ready and raring to go as the national anthems blare out at the Allianz Arena... kick off just moments away!
KICKOFF: And we're off! France get us started.
Hopefully a memorable contest will be in store!
Bright start from Spain... Fabian Ruiz moves into the left channel and curls a cross towards the back post, but
Lamine Yamal slips and the ball bounces out of play.
CHANCE! Yamal and Ruiz are involved again for Spain, with the former this time setting up the latter from right to left. However, Ruiz can only head his effort at the far post over the crossbar.
CHANCE! Yamal and Ruiz are involved again for Spain, with the former this time setting up the latter from right to left. However, Ruiz can only head his effort at the far post over the crossbar.
Kylian Mbappe - without his mask tonight after breaking his nose at the start of the tournament - had the ball poked away from his feet on the edge of the penalty area by Jesus Navas.
GOAL! SPAIN 0-1 FRANCE (KOLO MUANI)
GOAL! France finally score their first goal of Euro 2024 from open play!
Mbappe picks the ball up on the left flank and clips an inviting delivery towards the far post where Randal Kolo Muani is to nod the ball home, towering above Aymeric Laporte to head France into an early lead.
Spain have responded well to going a goal behind as they pile bodies forward and look threatening on both wings with Yamal and Nico Williams.
YELLOW CARD! Navas is booked for a late sliding challenge on Rabiot around 35 yards away from Spain's goal... resulting free kick for France comes to nothing, though.
France are beginning to find their rhythm... this is the best they have played at Euro 2024, although they have yet to test the gloves of Unai Simon.
GOAL! SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE (YAMAL)
GOAL! Wow... that was special!
Spain restore parity in sensational fashion, with wonderkid Yamal whipping a delightful left-footed strike from the outside of the penalty area into the top corner, beating Mike Maignan all ends up.
GOAL! SPAIN 2-1 FRANCE (OLMO)
GOAL! Within the blink of an eye, Spain have turned this thrilling contest around!
Dani Olmo drives into France's penalty box and knocks the ball past Aurelien Tchouameni before smacking a right-footed shot towards the bottom corner.
The Spaniard's strik beats Maignan before a lunging Jules Kounde helps the ball over the line.
Yamal's equaliser means he has created history!
This will be a tough record for anyone to break!
UEFA state, at the moment, that Spain's second goal is in fact an own goal scored by France defender Jules Kounde, but that will surely change as Olmo's strike looked on target.
If it is Olmo's goal, he's now the joint top scorer at Euro 2024 with three goals.
Theo Hernandez leaves his mark on Yamal with a late challenge right on the touchline. Referee Slavko Vincic gives the foul but opts to keeps his cards in his pocket for this one
Thirty-seven brilliant minutes played in Munich so far; France have impressed despite letting a one-goal lead slip, but Spain's two goals scored just four minutes and nine seconds apart is what is separating the two teams at present.
CHANCE! France win a corner and play it short; Theo Hernandez's cross is initially kept in by William Saliba, but it fails to reach a teammate.
Spain then burst forward on the counter-attack, and after being picked out by Williams, Yamal's shot is deflected behind for a corner by Hernandez.
Maignan leaps well to catch the resulting corner from Williams; the France goalkeeper then tries to get his team up the pitch with an early throw, but the options were not there in front of him for a quick breakaway.
As expected, UEFA have now awarded the second Spain goal to Dani Olmo, meaning the RB Leipzig attacker is officially joint top scorer at Euro 2024 with three goals.
Two minutes of added time.
HALF TIME: SPAIN 2-1 FRANCE
An magnificent first 45 of football comes to an close.
Spain are just 45 minutes away from reaching the Euro 2024 final!
As soon as France put themselves in front in the eighth minute with Kolo Muani's header, many would have expected Deschamps's defensively stable outfit to grind out a 1-0 win.
However, Spain had other ideas and stunned Les Bleus with two quickfire strikes; the first an absolute stunner from Yamal before Olmo turned the contest on it head with a sweet strike of his own.
Dani Olmo has now contributed with three goals and two assists at Euro 2024, becoming the first Spanish player to be involved in five or more goals at a major tournament since David Silva at Euro 2012 (two goals, three assists).
The players are on their way out for the second half... seems like no half-time changes will be made.
KICKOFF: Spain get us underway for the second half!
Hopefully more of the same!
CHANCE! Maignan does well to come off his line and rush out of his box to win the ball from Williams on Spain's left flank.
Williams initially did well to cover the ground and make the challenge, but was ultimately unable to get their ahead of Maignan.
Ousmane Dembele does brilliantly to control a cross and stands up Spain left-back Marc Cucurella, but the PSG winger could only curl his delivery from the right into the gloves of Unai Simon... frustrating from France's perspective.
CHANCE! Mbappe cuts inside from the left and fizzes a low shot towards the near post, but Unai Simon comfortably gets behind it.
Spain are forced to make their first substitution of the night, as right-back Navas seems to have picked up a knock and is replaced by Athletic Bilbao centre-back Dani Vivian, meaning Nacho is set to move over to the right side of the back four.
CHANCE! Mbappe races down the right, easily beating Rodri for pace, before smacking a cross into the six-yard box, but Simon blocks the cross with a strong left hand.
France have shown a greater threat down the flanks in the second half.
YELLOW CARD! Tchouameni is booked for a late lunging tackle on Morata in the middle of the pitch, preventing a Spanish counter-attack.
With half an hour remaining, Deschamps has opted to roll the dice...
A triple change sees Eduardo Camavinga, Antoine Griezmann and Bradley Barcola all brought on for Tchouameni, Rabiot and Kolo Muani
Antoine Griezmann (36) has now become France's most-capped player at major tournaments, surpassing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (35).
Only three outfield players - Cristiano Ronaldo (52), Bastian Schweinsteiger (38) and Miroslav Klose (37) - have made more appearances at the Euros and World Cup combined than Griezmann.
France win another corner, but Dayot Upamecano heads wide at the back post... a lot of France's best chances have come through headers and this is another one that goes begging.
France win another corner, but Dayot Upamecano heads wide at the back post... a lot of France's best chances have come through headers and this is another one that goes begging.
Spain are yet to register a single shot on goal in the second half, while France have had three chances.
Spain have lost the spark they had in the first 45 and seem to be holding on here, as France enjoy an extended spell of possession and pose a threat in the final third.
It's all about game management for La Roja at the moment.
CHANCE! Spain fail to clear their lines and a deflected cross from Dembele falls nicely to Theo Hernandez, in space on the edge of the box, but the French left-back blazes a right-foot shot over the crossbar.
Spain decide to make two changes ahead of the final 10 minutes of normal time, with Olmo and Morata brought off as Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal enter the pitch.
Rodri now wearing the captain's armband for La Roja.
A post from UEFA of Yamal's goal against France for Spain's Under-17s in 2023... almost a carbon copy of his brilliant strike tonight!
Another change for France as their all-time record goalscorer Olivier Giroud is brought on for Dembele.
Can the 37-year-old striker net a late leveller for Les Bleus?
CHANCE! Yamal, like the rest of his Spain teammates, has rarely threatened in the second half, but he almost put the game to bed with another speculative strike.
After cutting inside from the right on his favoured left foot, the teenager's unleashed a shot that flew just over the crossbar; it had plenty of power and curl, but not quite enough dip to fly into the top corner.
France's front three have scored a combined 149 goals at international level - Olivier Giroud (57), Kylian Mbappe (48) and Antoine Griezmann (44) - but they are still searching for that all-important equaliser.
Spain holding on here and managing the game well.
Spain defender Aymeric Laporte is down and receiving treatment after running into the shoulder of Giroud.
A nasty knock to the face for Laporte, whose face is covered in blood... ouch!
CHANCE! Just moments after Laporte was cleared to continue, Mbappe was presented with a brilliant chance to restore parity fro France.
Real Madrid's summer signing is played through down the left by Barcola, and his eyes must have lit up as he cut inside and set himself for the shot.
However, Mbappe uncharacteristically fired his effort from 20 yards well over the crossbar, failing to test Simon between the sticks.
YELLOW CARD! France are clearly getting frustrated now and Camavinga is deservedly booked for a late tackle on Marc Cucurella.
Five minutes of added time... can Spain hold on or can France find a late equaliser?
YELLOW CARD! Yamal takes one for the team and receives a yellow card for pulling back Hernandez to prevent a French counter-attack.
Spain are looking to kill the pace of the game now... Merino picks out Williams on the left and the winger looks to keep the ball in the corner.
Spain make a late double substitution, with Yamal and Williams receiving a standing ovation from the jubilant Spanish supporters as they make way for Ferran Torres and Martin Zubimendi.
Time is running out for France...
A cross goes in to Spain's penalty box towards Griezmann, who heads it onto the roof of the net; the Frenchman is asking for a corner, but he does not get one.
That may well have been France's final chance.
FULL TIME: SPAIN 2-1 FRANCE
It is all over!
The best attacking side of the tournament have knocked out the best defensive side of the tournament.
Spain have eliminated France to reach the Euro 2024 final!
Spain's 16-year-old starlet Yamal stole the show, with his wondergoal coupled with Olmo's first-half strike enough to send France packing.
Deschamp, Mbappe and the rest of France's squad will play no further part at Euro 2024, while Spain will go to Berlin on Sunday for the final.
We could dissect that fascinating contest for much longer, but that is all we have time for here. Thank you for sticking with us for what turned out to be a memorable night for Spain.
You can find our brilliant match report of Spain's victory over France here.
Now the small matter of Netherlands vs. England on Wednesday! Until next time... goodnight!
