Spain take on France in the first Euro 2024 semi-final showdown on Tuesday night.
La Roja became the first team to book their spot in the final four of the competition on Friday evening, outlasting hosts Germany in an extra-time thriller in Stuttgart.
Luis de la Fuente’s side led for much of the second half through substitute Dani Olmo’s goal, with Mikel Merino then preventing a penalty shootout with a last-gasp 119th-minute header after Florian Wirtz had equalised dramatically in the final stages of normal time.
It was an incredible win for Spain, the only side to achieve victory in every match at this tournament so far, as they further embellished their new-found status as European Championship favourites, but it came at a potentially huge cost.
Meanwhile, Les Bleus came through a penalty shootout to send Portugal home later the same day, after an arduous goalless draw through 120 minutes.
That will do little to ease the French worries around Didier Deschamps and his negative style of play during the Euros, which is yet to yield a goal of their own in open play. However, they are now one game away from a third major final in four tournaments.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Spain vs France is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Tuesday July 9, 2024.
The match will take place at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Where to watch Spain vs France
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live and free-to-air on BBC One, with coverage beginning at 7pm.
Live stream: Fans can also catch the contest live online for free via the BBC Sport and BBC iPlayer apps and websites.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Spain vs France team news
Group B winners Spain named an unchanged team against Germany after coming from behind to beat plucky Georgia 4-1 in the last 16, with Nacho Fernandez and Ayoze Perez both fit to return to the bench after knocks.
But De La Fuente will have no such luxury for the semi-final, with Pedri an enormous doubt after limping off after just minutes in Stuttgart following a heavy challenge from Toni Kroos.
Olmo replaced the Barcelona star and will be expected to do so again after his crucial goal and assist against the Germans, though Spain are also without two starting defenders in Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand due to suspension.
Bookings are not wiped until after the quarter-final stage at these Euros, with Le Normand picking up his second of the tournament before being replaced by Nacho at half-time against Germany.
Nacho will expect to deputise again on Tuesday, while 38-year-old Jesus Navas could get the nod at right-back after Carvajal - suspended anyway after his first yellow card of the night - was sent off late against Germany. Alejandro Grimaldo is another possible full-back option.
Captain Alvaro Morata will also be a huge miss after collecting his second caution of the Euros as Spain celebrated Merino’s late winner on Friday. Joselu could be a candidate to start up front instead, or Spain could choose to put Olmo in attack alongside Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal and bring quarter-final hero Merino into midfield.
France handed Randal Kolo Muani and Eduardo Camavinga a starting berth against Portugal but neither can claim to have truly taken the opportunity, which came in the absence of Adrien Rabiot.
Deschamps favourite Rabiot is back from suspension on Tuesday so should start and, unlike Spain, they should be at full strength.
Kylian Mbappe was substituted during extra-time having taken a blow to his broken nose but he is not expected to miss the semi-final.
Spain vs France prediction
Spain have looked the most superior team at the Euros but were increasingly ragged and tired as their quarter-final wore on. De la Fuente’s squad is not the deepest and suspensions could take their toll in this game.
France, on the other hand, are generally defending very well with their attack being completely lacklustre and Deschamps has little idea about how to spark it into life.
If Les Bleus can sit deep, frustrate Spain and attack on the counter then their gameplan could just pay off to upset a popular young Spanish team which lacks their opponents’ experience in these games.
France to win on penalties.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
France won their last meeting in the 2021 Nations League final and they knocked Spain out at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2000. They also beat La Roja in the Euro 1984 final, whereas Spain’s only major tournament victory over France came at Euro 2012.
Spain wins: 16
France wins: 13
Draws: 7
Spain vs France match odds
Spain to qualify: 20/23
France to qualify: 9/10
