Spain vs France Preview
This week the Euro 2024 semifinals take place, and we have two fantastic games to enjoy. Spain vs France is the first fixture on Tuesday, July 9th at 8:00 pm. The match takes place in Munich, the second biggest stadium at the Euros.
Spain enters this fixture after a buoyant performance against the host nation Germany. They looked on top for large periods and snatched a late winner before going to penalties. France looked out of sorts once again against Portugal, but they did enough to get the job done. Who will be the first team confirmed for the Euro 2024 final?
Spain vs France Predictions
Prediction: Spain 2-0 France
Our Euro 2024 prediction is for Spain to make it to the final of this year’s competition. France has been woeful at the tournament, failing to score a single goal from open play. You must look back as far as June 5th against Luxembourg for the last French goal that did not come from the penalty spot or courtesy of the opposition. We predict Spain to score early in the game and then seal the victory with a second after halftime.
We expect Spain to start on the front foot, breaching the French back line before the half-hour mark. To give France credit, they have been resilient at the back, not conceding any goals to Belgium or Portugal. However, this is a proper test, and without a deadly attack, we can only see this game going one way.
All tournament long, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal have impressed us. However, Dani Olmo and Mikel Merino did the business against the hosts. Against the French, these pacey wingers will create chances. However, look to Rodri, Olmo, and Ruiz in the midfield to beat Mike Maignan.
For France, we are unsure where a goal will come from. Against Portugal, Randal Kolo Muani started after his effort deflected off Jan Vertonghen to keep the French dream alive against Belgium. However, Kolo Muani looked toothless up top with Mbappé. Ousmane Dembélé thrived when he replaced Antoine Griezmann. If anyone is going to score from open play, look to either forwards Mbappé or Dembélé.
The Spanish team has been the most impressive unit at the Euros. They have played attractive-looking football and scored the most goals since the group stage. In the knockout stages, they have registered six goals and conceded four, which is more impressive than Frances’ one goal against Belgium. The French have scored from the penalty spot against Poland but have failed to find a way through any team. The own goals against Belgium and Austria highlight the problems the French have up top.
The only chance the French side has is the injuries and suspensions Spain picked up against Germany. Pedri was on the receiving end of a horrible tackle and will not return for the rest of the tournament. Dani Carvajal lost his cool and picked up a red card for a cynical foul in the 126th minute. Robin Le Normand was hooked early against Germany, probably to give the replacement centre-back Nacho some minutes before stepping up against the French.
France has a fully fit side, but that is not their fundamental problem. Kylian Mbappé has struggled since breaking his nose in the first game against Austria. The French have lacked a focal point up front. Even since returning, the mask is affecting their star man. Will Didier Deschamps make a bold decision and bench his best player?
Check out the Netherlands vs England prediction if you want to boost your odds for this fixture. You can combine both Euro 2024 semifinal matches into one bet for even greater returns.
Spain vs France Betting Tips
Our online sports betting site has a marginal favourite in this clash. At this stage of the competition, betting on either team will return more than the value of your stake. However, you must ensure your wager includes extra time and penalties. A full-time result requires one team to lead at the end of the 90 minutes.
Betting on Spain feels the most likely option as they have odds worth 9/5 at Novibet. That means a €10 bet on the favourite will return €28 at the final whistle. The same value bet will yield €32.50 for France as they have odds of 9/4 to win. A draw is also an option in regular time, and we have priced it at 19/10.
You can secure better odds if you choose the method of victory. Either side to win by a penalty shootout is 7/1, and betting on Spain to win in extra time is 10/1. That is certainly appealing odds after they dispatched the hosts before penalty kicks. If you back the Spanish to repeat this feat, you can secure odds worth ten times your stake.
If you have been placing bets on the Euros, you would have seen the wide range of markets available. One of the most profitable in the knockout stage has been the goals over/under. For the Spain vs France match, that target is 1.5 goals. We predict Spain will score two goals in regular time, but it could be worth backing the under. France has a solid defence and toothless attack which could result in one or fewer goals in 90 minutes.
If you are looking to bet on France, there aren’t many options to consider. If they were to win this match, it would most likely be via penalties, given they scored all five against Portugal in the previous round. We can’t see them scoring from open play, but strange things have happened during the Euros. You can look at the various live betting markets during the game if France looks lively.
As we approach the tail end of the tournament, the odds for betting on the Euro 2024 winner have drastically changed. Unsurprisingly, Spain now leads the way with odds worth 9/5 to win the competition. England has plummeted down the pecking order from joint first to third after another mediocre performance. France has odds worth 5/2, but this seems optimistic. Whichever team wins in this part of the semifinal is the most likely to win Euro 2024.
Spain vs France Ket Stats and Head-To-Head
Spain vs France has taken place many times over the past 24 years. The most recent match was in 2021 in the UEFA Nations League. France came out on top with a 1-2 victory on the day. Before that meeting, the sides met in two friendly games in 2017 and 2014. Spain took a convincing 0-2 win in 2017 and France narrowly beat the Spanish in 2014.
Spain started the UEFA Nations League final strongly in the first half but failed to work Unai Simón. The game changed in the 64th minute when Busquets found Oyarzabal with a delightful through ball down the centre. Oyarzabal stumbled past the defender and made no mistake smashing the ball into the bottom right corner of Hugo Lloris’ goal. Benzema responded immediately with a touch of class. He picked up the ball on the left corner of the box before launching a curling ball into the top corner. Simón got a touch, but could not keep it out.
Mbappé scored a controversial goal with ten minutes to play after being played one-on-one with the goalkeeper. They gave the goal as the Spanish defender deflected the crucial pass. It seemed harsh, and Spain was fired up but failed to find an equaliser. It finished 2-1, and Spain will want revenge.
Since that game, Spain and France have changed drastically. Iconic players like Busquets, Varane, Pogba, Lloris, and Benzema no longer play at the highest level. Instead, the advantage is with Spain given how bright they have looked in this competition. Both defensive lines have been solid, but Rodri is the difference in the midfield. N’Golo Kante is still fantastic on and off the ball, but there is a lack of threat at the top end of the pitch. Whether it’s Kolo Muani, Thuram, or Giroud next to Mbappé, Spain will be confident of a clean sheet.
Betting on the Euros has been exciting this year, but also unpredictable. The most obvious result is for Spain in regular time, but could France finally find top gear in this crucial match? If you think the unlikely is going to happen, you can sign up at Novibet to claim an exciting bonus. Any new player can enjoy an exclusive welcome bonus to use at any given time.
Spain Team News and Predicted Lineup
Head coach Luis De La Fuente will be without three key players against France. Pedri picked up a nasty injury and will not return to Euro 2024. Dani Carvajal received a poor second yellow against Germany and Robin Le Normand has accumulated too many yellow cards. De La Fuente will most likely call on Nacho Fernández and Jesús Navas, which could offer France all the opportunity they need to sneak into the final.
- Predicted Lineup: U. Simón, M. Cucurella, A. Laporte, N. Fernández, J. Navas, F. Ruiz, Rodri, D. Olmo, N. Williams. A. Morata, and L. Yamal.
France Team News and Predicted Lineup
France manager Didier Deschamps might not have injury trouble but could still make changes. Griezmann is an important player in the Deschamps system but was a passenger in the game against Portugal. Kolo Muani also blew his chance to start up top and throwing on goalscoring veteran Olivier Giroud seems like one step too far. The French backline and defensive three will remain the same. We expect Dembélé to get the nod with Kolo Muani making way.
- Predicted Lineup: M. Maignan, T. Hernández, W. Saliba, D. Upamecano, J. Koundé, E. Camavinga, A. Tchouaméni, N. Kanté, A. Griezmann, K. Mbappé, and O. Dembélé.
