EURO 2024 - Semi Finals: The Recap

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After two thrilling semi finals, the two competitors for the big showdown on Sunday 14th July were decided, with Spain and England qualifying after coming out on top in their tightly contested semi finals.

There were brilliant strikes, late goals and spirited performances all around, which will be analysed in this piece, along with implications and predictions ahead of the final.

Spain 2-1 France - Yamal scores screamer as Spain come from behind to beat France

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Spain reasserted their claim of being the best team at this year’s European Championships by overcoming a much improved France side to qualify for the final.

Les Bleus actually took an early lead, as Randall Kolo Muani nodded Kylian Mbappe’s cross home, but Spain recovered well to take control of the game, as they did when they fell behind against Georgia in the Round of 16.

Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 yesterday, deservedly drew them level thanks to a sumptuous curling effort from the edge of his box that burst past Mike Maignan in the top scorer.

And just a few minutes later, it was Dani Olmo - a player to have really grown into this tournament after a slow start - who scored the second after a heavy deflection wrong footed the goalkeeper.

After a poor tournament leading up to the semi final, France actually played by far their best football against Spain, but they were ultimately overwhelmed by the better team who have had the best tournament of any team so far.

Rodri ties all the strings together at the base of midfield for Spain, and in Fabian Ruiz, he’s found himself a midfield partner who complements his game well and has had a fantastic individual tournament, putting himself in contention for Player of the Tournament.

Yamal and Nico Williams make for an exciting young wing partnership that will dominate Spanish football for many years to come, and they’re supported in attack by more experienced heads in Olmo and Alvaro Morata, both of whom have had good tournaments.

And their defence, led by the brilliant Aymeric Laporte (perhaps the Saudi Pro League’s best player) has been solid all tournament, and will be confident of keeping out a dysfunctional English attack in the final.

Spain are most certainly the favourites heading into the final, and will be hoping to emulate the glory days of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Fernando Torres, David Silva and Sergio Busquets by triumphing in a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2012.

Netherlands 1-2 England - Late Watkins goal as England deservedly beat the Netherlands

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Ollie Watkins scored a late winner off the bench as England beat the Netherlands to qualify for their second consecutive Euros final in their best performance of the tournament yet.

Watkins’s low drive into the bottom corner from the right hand side of the box from a slipped through ball from Cole Palmer came after a remarkable team performance, from England, in which they were much the better side after going 1-0 down inside the first ten minutes after a Xavi Simons goal.

They were fortunate, however, to be brought back level in the game, thanks to a controversial penalty decision awarded to them retrospectively by VAR after Harry Kane went down in the box after a high foot caught his outstretched leg.

Still, the penalty needed to be converted, which it was by Kane, who fired the ball into the bottom corner for his third goal of the tournament.

Along with Declan Rice and Phil Foden, Kane had his best game of the tournament yet, with the new 3-4-2-1 formation allowing Foden and Jude Bellingham to thrive centrally whilst giving Rice a defensive midfield partner in Kobbie Mainoo giving England a new found attacking threat.

They also have options that will help them from the bench. Palmer offers a direct and aggressive forward option whilst Watkins and Ivan Toney have both shown their different uses as options off the bench.

Watkins offers a threat running in behind and aerially, whilst Ivan Toney’s strength and hold up play - as well as his nearly flawless penalty record - makes him a useful option to bring on late in a game.

All tournament England have been strong defensively, with Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and John Stones all performing for England once again.

But their standout defender - and perhaps the standout defender of the tournament - has been Marc Guehi. The Crystal Palace defender has been flawless all tournament for England, meaning he may well keep his place in the England XI, even when Harry Maguire returns to fitness.

The one player not yet mentioned who is certain to start the final is Jude Bellingham. He has had a relatively poor tournament, but he does have the quality to produce a moment of pure magic and is one of Gareth Southgate’s go to men when it comes to taking a penalty and pushing for a late winner or equaliser.

For me, the only contentious personnel decision for the starting XI is who starts at left wing back. Trippier has had a tournament defensively, but he’s offered very little going forward as the left side outlet with no other option other than cutting inside onto his right foot.

Luke Shaw is fit again, but whether he’s fit enough to start the match, and whether England will want to keep Trippier on the pitch for his right footed set piece taking, remains to be seen.

If fit, I would start Shaw, due to his big game experience and his good performance coming off the bench against the Netherlands, as well as being more natural wide on the left hand side.

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Prediction for the final

This should make for a very entertaining game.

Numerous one vs one battles will ultimately decide this match. Bukayo Saka, who has performed well recently, will look to attack Marc Cucurella, who has struggled in one vs ones for his club, Chelsea, and may be viewed upon as the weak link despite his fantastic tournament so far.

At the other end of the pitch, Lamine Yamal will fancy his chances against whoever he is playing against, whether that be Luke Shaw or Kieran Trippier, with a good performance in the final putting him in contention for Player of the Tournament.

The key battle, however, will be who comes out on top of the two midfields. Rodri, Declan Rice, Fabian Ruiz, Kobbie Mainoo, Dani Olmo, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are amongst the best in the world in their respective positions.

Rodri and Fabian will need to look after Foden and Bellingham and stop them from receiving the ball in the half spaces, but what will be equally as important is the England midfielders limiting Rodri’s touches of the ball.

Also, Harry Kane will need to be on his A game for England to pose the best chance, and if he isn’t, Southgate needs to be proactive and bring on Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney, both of whom arguably offer more than Kane in every department other than goals.

I predict 2-0 to England, with their supporters firing them into a top spirited defensive performance.

An early goal will help their case a lot, and a Kane penalty inside the first five minutes will go a long way in setting England off on the right foot.

I also think Foden, who has improved a lot throughout the tournament, will score, and knowing Foden and the way in which he played for Manchester City in the past twelve months, it’ll be a goal worthy of winning goal of the tournament and bringing football home.

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Player of the Round - Semi Final: Lamine Yamal (Spain)

Team of the Round - Semi Final: England

Goal of the Round - Semi Final: Lamine Yamal (Spain) vs France

Game of the Round - Semi Final: Netherlands 1-2 England

Best XI of the Round - Semi Final:

GK: Mike Maignan (France)

RB: Jesus Navas (Spain)

CB: John Stones (England) CB: Aymeric Laporte (Spain) LB: Marc Cucurella (Spain)

CDM: Rodri (Spain)

CM: Kobbie Mainoo (England)

CM: Phil Foden (England)

RW: Lamine Yamal (Spain)

ST: Harry Kane (England)

LW: Dani Olmo (Spain)