Spain v France

[cernjSHU]

This is the matchup that most of the world wants to see. France is clearly the favorite. They are clicking on all cylinders. Meanwhile, Spain has succeeded despite not having the best out of Lamine Yamal and not having Nico Williams playing.

This will be a great matchup. Will France give up possession and seek to score on the counterattack? If they play like this, this is where Spain can win by dominating possession and limiting France to a few chances to score. I think France should pressure Spain and make them uncomfortable and challenge for possession. But most likely, France will sit back and that is when Spain can pick apart France. Look for a huge game out of Dani Olmo and this is the game where Lamine Yamal has to turn it up.

 

[STLPirate12]

Not sure I agree on what style would best suit France. Spain loves to hold the ball, but it hasn't led to lighting up the scoreboard other than against Saudi Arabia. If they haven't been able to pick apart weaker defensive sides than France, I don't see why they should be that concerned, especially given that Spain will have to be much more wary of France's counter attack than that of anyone else they've played. I actually think France would be playing into Spain's hands by being too aggressive, opening up space in behind that hasn't been easy to come by.

On the other hand, France will likely enjoy having an opponent that gets up the field and gives their own speedsters room to get out on the break.

 

[lokiSHU]

Spain really needs Nico Williams to perform. They just cannot rely only on Lamine in the attack. Spain also misses Fermin Lopez; hopefully Olmo delivers. Belgium showed Spain are vulnerable; France is much better than Belgium. I am a huge Barcelona fan so also follow Spain a lot. However, I think this will be 3-1 France.

 

[NittanyPirate]

I am really looking forward to these semifinal matchups. And I don’t have to stay up until 10:00 pm just to see kickoff!

 

[Fishjam]

@cernjSHU how much are you going to pay for tickets on Sunday?

 

[STLPirate12]

Sloppy game overall. Early pen forced France to chase the game, which plays into Spain's hands though Spain actually sat on the lead more than I expected. France needing to chase opened a lot of opportunities that Spain could have attacked if they desired.

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

Glad there's a team i can actually root for in the final.

 

[cernjSHU]

Sloppy game overall. Early pen forced France to chase the game, which plays into Spain's hands though Spain actually sat on the lead more than I expected. France needing to chase opened a lot of opportunities that Spain could have attacked if they desired.

Didn’t think the game was sloppy. Spain just dominated the midfield. Left France’s attacking players mostly isolated. France ceded too much possession to Spain especially in the first half and I said yesterday that would be a mistake for France. France had to press Spain. They didn’t. Rodri and Olmo were amazing in the midfield.

this game could have been 3-0 but Lamine was offside by an elbow. The defense of Spain was great again. Cucurella and Cubarsi and LaPorte. Viva España!

 

[STLPirate12]

Didn’t think the game was sloppy. Spain just dominated the midfield. Left France’s attacking players mostly isolated. France ceded too much possession to Spain especially in the first half and I said yesterday that would be a mistake for France. France had to press Spain. They didn’t. Rodri and Olmo were amazing in the midfield.

this game could have been 3-0 but Lamine was offside by an elbow. The defense of Spain was great again. Cucurella and Cubarsi and LaPorte. Viva España!

Spain didn't start getting chances until France started pressing them, that's why I disagree with you on that. You watch Spain enough to know that they want teams to press them. The more France tried to push up the field, the more the scoring chances favored Spain. Of course, they had to after the first goal because Spain would've otherwise been perfectly content to knock the ball around in their own 1/3 for the rest of the game and take the 1-0. France needed the first goal. Spain are so tough to come back on and France would much rather get out and run than try to break down an organized defense.