Euro 2024: Onwards and upwards!

Spain and France boasting a combined five Euros titles collide in Wednesdays Euro 2024 semifinal in Munich with ambitions of extending their storied histories Spain eyes a recordbreaking fourth Euros crown while France aims to join Spain and Germany as threetime champions Once overshadowed by Germany and Italy France and Spain have emerged as dominant forces in recent decades dominating major tournaments since Frances 1998 World Cup triumph Since then only four out of 13 World Cup or Euros finals have occurred without either nation Spain has clinched two Euros titles and a World Cup while France boasts two World Cup victories and a Euro 2000 triumph Below are the decisive confrontations that will shape the journey to the Berlin final on July 14Frances muted attack versus Spains weakened defense France top scorers with 16 goals at the 2022 World Cup have reached the Euro 2024 semifinals without scoring from open play Star player Kylian Mbappe hampered by a mask following a nose injury in the opener against Austria has netted only one penalty goal Frances other two goals came from own goals Coach Didier Deschamps defended Mbappe praising his determination to make history despite not being fully fit At Euro 2016 Antoine Griezmann was pivotal with six goals double that of any other player but has struggled to threaten defenses in Germany Yet against a depleted Spanish defense missing Dani Carvajal and Robin le Normand due to suspensions France may find their breakthrough opportunity Except for a match against Albania the duo has started every game with Spain conceding just once when they were on the field The veteran Jesus Navas 38 is expected to step in for Carvajal and face Mbappes speedAlso ReadSpain a winning horse De la Fuente after semis entryPragmatism versus positivityDeschamps versus de la Fuente Tuesdays coaching duel not only pits contrasting philosophies but also starkly different approaches Didier Deschamps one of the few to win the World Cup as both player and manager has guided France to three of the last four major tournament finals Despite possessing abundant attacking talent Deschamps prioritizes defensive stability through a disciplined structure France scoring only three goals has never trailed at Euro 2024 In contrast Luis de la Fuente encourages Spain to play expansive football accepting the risks of occasional mistakes After their 30 victory over Croatia de la Fuente highlighted Spains versatility with eight different players finding the netKante versus Rodri in midfield Rodri Spains unsung hero rivals NGolo Kantes pivotal role for France The Manchester City midfielder provides control and composure enabling forwards Yamine Lamal and Nico Williams to push forward Rodri has proven his worth with crucial goals such as his equalizer against Georgia in the round of 16 Kantes relentless energy and defensive prowess have been integral to Frances success over the past decade disrupting opposition attacks and earning manofthematch honors in their first two games Despite a twoyear hiatus from international football the 33yearold reaffirms his indispensability for FranceWith agency inputs