High-scoring Spain face France in Euro semis

Spain are chasing a record fourth European Championship title (File photo)

Spain and France will meet in the semi-finals of the 2024 European Championship in Munich, Germany today. 

The match pits one of the highest-scoring teams at the tournament against one of the lowest as France’s star forward Kylian Mbappé has struggled to get to grips with his mask. 

The winner will play England or the Netherlands in the final on Sunday in Berlin. Their semifinal is on Wednesday.

Spain and France’s quarter-finals both went to extra time. Substitute Mikel Merino’s game-winning goal in the last minute of extra time handed Spain a 2-1 victory over host nation Germany while France needed penalties to see off Portugal after the match ended goalless.

No France player has scored from open play at Euro 2024. The French have only scored through two own goals and a penalty from Mbappé. Spain has netted 11 times.

Mbappé, who will be facing several of his new Real Madrid teammates, will again be wearing a protective mask after sustaining a broken nose in France’s group opener against Austria.

Spain, which is chasing a record fourth European Championship title, has been perfect in Germany. It was the only team to win all its group stage matches while France could only muster draws against Poland and the Netherlands after a narrow win over Austria.

Spain and France have only conceded three goals between them. The only time France goal-keeper Mike Maignan had to pick the ball out of his net was Poland’s retaken penalty in the group stage while Spain conceded against Georgia and Germany.

The teams have met 36 times with Spain winning 16 to France’s 13 — including five of the past eight.

This is Spain’s sixth European Championship semi-final. It has only once failed to advance to the trophy match, losing on penalties to eventual champion Italy at Euro 2020.

France have reached the semi-finals on five previous occasions, winning three.

France have reached the final in three of last four major tournaments, losing 1-0 after extra time to Portugal at the Euro 2016 and to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 World Cup but beating Croatia to claim its second world title in 2018. (Agencies)