The first semi-final of Euro 2024 will be Spain-France . De La Fuente's team won 2-1 in extra time over Germany in a sort of early final between the two teams who had shown the best football up until now, the Blues defeated Portugal on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the 120' of play.
France-Portugal
Very staid first half. Closed spaces and no real scoring opportunities. Portugal shows off with a flash from Leao, France with two shots from outside from Theo Hernandez and Camavinga.
In the second half the match opens, with two great opportunities each: a double miracle by Maignan on Cancelo first and Vitinha picked up by Leao then , France responds with Kolo Muani and Camavinga who miss the goal from a very favorable position (the first also thanks to a desperate intervention by Ruben Dias). Immediately afterwards it was Dembelé's turn (his entry in the 67th minute woke up the Blues), who almost reached the top corner with a great shot from the edge of the box.
In extra time good chances for Ronaldo, Mbappé, Thuram, Leao and Joao Felix. In the 120th minute, a colossal opportunity for Nuno Mendes who shoots into Maignan's mouth. But the match doesn't break the deadlock, it goes to penalties where France prevails. Joao Felix's eleven-meter error was decisive, hitting the post . Everyone scores for the Blues, with Theo Hernandez scoring the penalty that takes them through to the next round
Spain-Germany
Game at a very high pace at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart. The Red Furies immediately start leading the game, but as time passes Germany becomes more enterprising. At the end of the first half there were two chances for Dany Olmo and Lamine Yamal, one for the Germans with Havertz .
At the beginning of the second half, after a high attempt by Morata, the game broke the deadlock. Thanks to Yamal (who will turn 17 on 13 July, on the eve of the European Championship final), who breaks away on the right and serves Olmo in the centre, who passes Neuer with a right-footed shot in the 51st minute .
The Germans felt the pinch and were in confusion for a few minutes, but starting from the 70th minute they besieged the Red Furies, creating several scoring opportunities. After a post from Fullkrug and a couple of excellent chances for Havertz, Wirtz found the equalizer in the 89th minute, with a right-footed counter-ball from inside the area from Kimmich's tower . And in the final, the veteran Muller narrowly missed the knockout blow against the Iberians who were in great difficulty.
A crackling match even in extra time, with several scoring opportunities especially for the Germans, who came very close to taking the lead with Wirtz and Fullkrug and claimed the penalty for an obvious handball by Cucurella in the area. But in the 119th minute it was a freezing shower for the Stuttgart Arena: a perfect cross from Dany Olmo (man of the match) and a winning header from Merino: it was 2-1 that gave Spain the semi-final . The Germans' final assault was useless, but everything still happens: Torres comes close to making it 3-1 on the counterattack, Fullkrug comes close to scoring an equalizer and Carvajal is sent off.
(Unioneonline/L)