Euro-2024: Spain takes out the Blues and awaits its opponent in the final

The France of Kylian Mbappé was overthrown on Tuesday by the furia and the vista of Spain (2-1), attraction of Euro-2024 and expected favorite in the final, Sunday, against England or the Netherlands .

Didier Deschamps' team will not play a fourth final in five consecutive tournaments, the fault of a “Roja” with brilliant play and strong nerves.

< p>“We were late, we lacked juice, freshness (…) We had technical waste,” analyzed the coach at the microphone of beIN Sports.

Everything started well in Munich for the Blues, launched with a header from Randal Kolo Muani (12th, 0-1). But their opponent took back control with a marvel from Lamine Yamal (21st) then a strike from Dani Olmo (25th) blocked by Jules Koundé.

Exiting the continental tournament will leave regrets to the French, much more attractive in the semi-final than they had been during the five previous matches.

Their defense, closed in double turns until here, was shattered in the space of four minutes and this porosity put an end to their hopes of a final, and of a title, three years after the early elimination in the round of 16.

< p>At the kick-off, Deschamps had chosen to leave his favorite creator, Antoine Griezmann, on the bench, in persistent poor form since the start of the tournament.

The player of the Atlético Madrid was replaced numerically by Ousmane Dembélé, aligned on the right side of the attack with Kylian Mbappé on the left and Kolo Muani in the center.

The three attackers all participated in the opening score: ball shifted to the left by Dembélé, perfect cross from Mbappé and header from Kolo Muani.

The first goal scored by the Blues in the game , after “against his camp” and a penalty, was quickly buried under the close blows of Spain.

Yamal, the FC prodigy Barcelona, ​​fired a sharp left-footed shot out of reach of Mike Maignan, to pick up the score and become, at 16 years and 362 days, the youngest player to score in a European championship.

A few minutes later, Dani Olmo got back in the game with a right-footed cross shot, which Koundé pushed into his own net.

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– Two high-caliber victims –

Randal Kolo Muani in Munich on July 9, 2024 © AFP – JAVIER SORIANO

Spain brings down the French world vice-champions after winning the scalp of Germany, the host country, in the quarter-finals (2-1 ap), which shows its level and its ambitions.

“I want to win, win! It's a joy to celebrate my birthday here in Germany (he will be 17 on July 13, editor's note) and to be with the team” , savored Yamal.

The armada guided by Luis de la Fuente will know the identity of its opponent in the final, Sunday in Berlin, at the end of the another half played on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) in Dortmund between Harry Kane's England and Virgil van Dijk's Netherlands.

The selection of the “Three Lions” is is kept far away for the moment from the immense expectations placed on it in the kingdom of football, weaned from titles since the World Cup won in 1966 at home.

“One of our strengths over the last seven or eight years has been to have less fear, less inhibition. But I think going into this tournament the expectations were very high,” Gareth said Southgate.

Lamine Yamal in Munich on July 9, 2024 © AFP – MIGUEL MEDINA

His team had a lackluster first round before experiencing the thrill of elimination against Slovakia (2-1 ap) and Switzerland (1-1, 5-3 tab).

Even without playing well or creating many chances, she finds herself in the last four of a major competition for the first time in four tournaments, after the 2018 World Cup and Euro-2021.

To replay a final, three years after the one lost against Italy on penalties at Wembley, it will be necessary to get rid of the Dutch in confidence, carried by the orange wave of their many supporters.

On the field, there will be reunions and great battles, like the one between Kyle Walker and Cody Gakpo, or the one between Bukayo Saka and Nathan Aké. This promises.

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