Dan Childs’ selections for the first Euro 2024 semi-final include a win for the World Cup finalists with their talisman opening the scoring.
Spain and France had to pass stiff tests in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals and they will be preparing themselves for another titanic tussle when they go head to head in Munich.
La Roja have won all of their five matches at the finals, although they had to work extremely hard for Friday’s 2-1 extra-time success over hosts Germany.
France’s progress has been nowhere near as smooth due to a lack of penetration in the final third.
Les Bleus have scored only three goals and are yet to find the net from open play, but they have kept four clean sheets and showcased all their steel to beat Portugal on penalties in the last eight.
Best bets
France to win
21/10
Kylian Mbappe first scorer
19/4
Jesus Navas to be carded
17/4
Spanish threat could be countered
France have been a hard watch at Euro 2024 but they are a tough side to beat and can grind out victory over Spain at the Allianz Arena.
Critics of France head coach Didier Deschamps would argue that his teams are unnecessarily cautious given the wealth of talent at his disposal.
But Deschamps has led Les Bleus to World Cup and Nations League success previously and has every chance of completing the full set by steering them to European Championship glory by the end of this week.
France were content to play on the counter in Friday’s quarter-final with Portugal and amassed a modest 40 per cent share of possession. But they always looked dangerous on the break and ended up winning the shot count 20-15.
They may look to carry out similar tactics against Spain and could be more successful due to a lack of defensive cohesion in the opposition defence.
Spain will be forced into three changes and two of them will be at the back with Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand ruled out through suspension.
Offensively they have looked bright with wide forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams providing plenty of thrust and unpredictability.
But France have defended superbly of late and they can keep a fifth clean sheet in six, paving the way for progression to Sunday’s final.
Kylian can show his class
Kylian Mbappe has been nowhere near his best this summer but he still has a chance to make his mark on the tournament and looks an overpriced 19/4 shot to break the deadlock against Spain.
Even a below-par Mbappe has had his moments, providing the ‘assist’ for Max Wober’s own goal which edged aside Austria and converting a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Poland.
He remains a huge threat and can take advantage of Spain’s patched-up rearguard.
Navas set for the naughty step
Veteran right-back Jesus Navas has made just one start for Spain at Euro 2024 but he seems likely to slot in for Carvajal against France and has the unenviable task of trying to contain Mbappe.
Navas was a winger for the majority of his career and gives Spain a decent outlet when afforded the opportunity to push forward.
However, he faces a huge test of defensive acumen up against Mbappe and is a likely candidate to end up in referee Slavko Vincic’s notebook.
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