The last two thrilling tournament games between France and Spain have clearly seemed like a fight for football’s fundamental essence. And when they square off in the Euro 2024 semifinals on Tuesday night in Munich, it won’t be any different.
With the exception of Germany, La Roja is the only team in the tournament that is nearly as vibrant, upbeat, and entertaining as the various fan marches over the past few weeks have demonstrated. They arrived at the Allianz Arena with force, and then stormed through with laughter, music, joie de vivre, and the kind of “follow the band, there’s going to be a party somewhere” spirit.
If you were an alien visiting Germany from a distant galaxy, you would be asking the people there, “Tell me about this NFL you speak of… or basketball, or rugby, or tennis, or chess, or anything except this excruciating soccer-thing I’ve been watching!” France has been playing uninspired, joyless, stingy, and risk-averse stuff.
I can almost forgive you if you’re French, if you once had a bad sunburn while on vacation in Spain, or if you just happen to be hoping to win some cash from the office sweepstakes. Les Bleus could pull this off in their signature fashion with a fortunate shot that deflects in off a floodlight. Otherwise, one must be a true supporter of Spain if they like seeing sports performed with vigor, courage, risk-taking, ambition, or, god forbid, a grin of enjoyment on the faces of the fighters. The current Nations League champions from Luis de la Fuente would surpass Germany as the tournament’s all-time winners if they were to win it.
Please allow me to clarify the sharp words I’ve used.
There’s a difference between how these two teams have performed in getting to the semifinals, even though France may start this tie as slight favorites due in part to their incredibly competitive mindset and tournament results over the past 26 years and in part to Spain’s severe injuries from losing three starters in the previous round.
With eleven goals, Spain is tied for the most points in Euro 2024, whereas France has only scored three goals in their five games and hasn’t found the back of the net outside of penalties or own goals. France has won two of the last three ties while La Roja has won all five of their games so far. France has made 89 and 21 efforts at goal, whereas Spain has made 102, with 35 of them going on target.
It begs the question: Are competitions just focused on winning? No excitement, thrills, adventure, zest, or feeling of defeating the opponent to win over new fans for the sport?”
My point is that, should Spain manage to overcome the terrible absences of Pedri, Robin Le Normand, and Dani Carvajal and defeat France on Friday night in Stuttgart, even though they were missing several key players due to fatigue and cramps, the result will serve as a testament to the notion that major tournament victories can be achieved by playing with style, attacking intensity, and a dedication to providing entertainment.
For some of the coaches and players who have been here in Germany but have left without truly “going for it,” it will say, “You made a mistake.” The next time, you should come out swinging and play to win rather than toeing the line.
Football trends are not only easier to start and maintain than practicality and boring limbo, but they are also more nourished by inspiration and fun than by both.
The depressing explanation for France’s dismal performance is that, after a demanding and protracted season, Didier Deschamps’ players are obviously lacking in both physical and mental stamina. Although he is a very amazing coach who is endowed with players that are like angels, realism takes over when they are completely worn out.
Deschamps, who has had an incredible career as a player and coach, responded to a question on France’s semifinal opponents by saying: “Spain are the greatest team in the tournament without a doubt after they defeated Portugal on Friday in the quarterfinals on penalties. I’ve seen a few of their games; they deserve your congratulations since they’re generating quality work.”
Impressive remarks, to be sure, but be careful: they were almost verbatim quotes from a French coach’s remarks made during the 2012 European Championship between these two teams.
Laurent Blanc, Deschamps’ 1998 World Cup winning colleague, was leading France at the time. Blanc remarked of the defending European and World Champions before their quarterfinal match: “Anyone who likes football must like the way Spain play.” During the last four years, Spain has produced something really remarkable. Watching them perform is a delight and a blessing.”
He chose thistles for his squad, even though he threw away those flower bouquets. Blanc chose defensive, stifling tactics, dropped attacking, flair players like Samir Nasri, Jeremy Menez, and Hatem Ben Arfa, and used a “double right-back” system to try and neutralize La Roja’s left-sided attack. Blanc didn’t attack properly until Xabi Alonso had scored twice, giving Spain the upper hand in the match and moving on to what would be a tournament victory.
Then, as today, Spain’s flair, fun, bravery, and attacking vigor triumphed against the more statist, “win however you can” style of football. If you don’t mind the debate, a fight for the spirit of the game.
As an aside, I also brought out how intense the last tournament match between France and Spain was. The match took place in San Siro in Milan, where Les Bleus emerged victorious due to a goal by Kylian Mbappé that should have been disallowed for offside but wasn’t, prompting the International Football Association Board to amend the rules.
Football was really rocked by the previous meeting between Spain and France, and it may be again on Tuesday. If Spain wins using their typical strategies, tournament football may be seen in its best light. Munich may provide motivation and idealistic inspiration.
Good luck to Deschamps’ squad in making the most of their overworked and fatigued players and enduring Mbappé’s obviously painful nose ailment and generally sluggish performances. I’m not criticizing them; instead, I’m drawing attention to what a letdown this summer has been for a team that, to be honest, ought to be dazzling and amusing us if it hadn’t lost its spark.
In order for football to flourish, it needs the impish joy of Lamine Yamal, the imperious, elegant, forward-striding style of Fabián Ruiz, and the explosive thrills of Nico Williams to have his night and delight not only the hundreds of millions of spectators who will be in this magnificent arena, but also the millions of people who still want tournament football to be magical, unforgettable, and magnificent.
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