Spain vs France prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-07-08 19:00.
[p]Spain took arguably the biggest scalp of Euro 2024 on Friday, taking down hosts Germany to book their place in the semi-finals. It was a dramatic contest that ebbed and flowed with the sides unable to be separated within 90 minutes (1-1) before Mikel Merino headed home a 119th-minute winner, sparking jubilant Spanish scenes and extending an impressive seven-game winning run.[/p]
[p]While Luis de la Fuente’s side have been free-flowing in front of goal during that streak, their resolute defensive displays should attract the bulk of praise. La Roja have conceded just once to an opposition player at these finals, while they’ve not conceded more than once in any of those seven aforementioned wins. Spain can therefore head into this blockbuster semi-final meeting with France fully confident, especially as they’ve restricted Les Bleus to a goal or less in seven of their last eight H2H clashes. [/p]
[p]That confidence may well grow given France’s unremarkable form in front of goal so far at the tournament. They edged past Portugal in a cagey, goalless affair where Theo Hernández ultimately struck the winning penalty in the shootout after Portugal’s JoĂŁo FĂ©lix had missed. Remarkably, France have now reached the competition’s last four despite none of their players scoring a single goal from open play! [/p]
[p]Manager Didier Deschamps admitted his side needed to improve in front of goal after the win, yet even so, his reputation as a serial winner continues to grow. He was appointed in 2012 and could reach a fourth major final out of a possible six should his side win again here, keeping alive his own target of becoming only the second person after Germany’s Berti Vogts to win a European Championship as both a player and a manager.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Mikel Oyarzabal scored four goals in two games for Spain before the start of Euro 2024, but he has yet to open his account in the tournament so far. He did, however, net the opener when these two last met in October 2021 (L 2-1). Kylian Mbappé also scored in that game and he’ll be disappointed with just one goal in the competition so far, but having had the second-most attempts in the competition (20), there’s every chance that could change here. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Both teams got on the scoresheet in just two of the last eight H2Hs. [/p]