Spain and England overturn deficits to make it to final: UEFA Euro 2024 Semi-Final Roundup
The UEFA Euro 2024 continues to be a gift that keeps on giving, as both of the semi-finals provided incredible drama. The games were similar in nature, as the teams who conceded first ended up turning the tables by making a comeback.
Despite conceding early against France, the young Spanish team managed to play with their usual flair and score two goals in no time, getting a 2-1 win. England, however, left it very late as while they did equalize almost instantaneously after the Netherlands’ early strike, the winner came in the 91st minute.
Semi-Final 1: Spain 2-1 France
Considering they had won every single game in this tournament while France had barely gotten past with the help of own goals and penalties, it was always expected that Spain would beat the 2018 FIFA World Cup winners to qualify for the final.
But that being said, their young brigade deserves special mention for how they came back from a 0-1 deficit against what is a very robust defensive unit of Les Bleus. Spain won this match 2-1, where Lamine Yamal scored a wonder goal while the winning goal was scored by Dani Olmo after Randal Kono Muani scored France’s first goal from open play in Euro 2024.
The match had a quick start as it took France only 9 minutes to take the lead. Kylian Mbappe found himself in space down the left flank and launched a cross for Kono Muani, who jumped highest and slotted his header past a helpless Unai Simon.
But that was all that Didier Deschamps’ team did in this match, as the next phase of the game was all about La Roja. The equalizer came in the 21st minute, and it was a strike which could very well win the goal of the tournament, and might as well be a legitimate contender for the Puskas Award.
Yamal, still only 16 years of age, launched a delightful left-footed strike from 25 metres away from goal, which travelled through a sea of bodies in white, beat an outstretched Mike Maignan, struck the outside of the post and went into the back of the net.
Having restored parity in the match, it took Luis de la Fuente’s men only four minutes to gain advantage as Olmo scored Spain’s second goal in the 25th minute. Jesus Navas, who interestingly happens to be older than Yamal’s father, delivered a cross for the RB Leipzig man whose receive was skilful enough to bamboozle Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.
He then struck a powerful shot which hit Jules Kounde before finding its way into the net. Although initially credited as a Kounde own goal, it was later given to Olmo, after being adjudged that the ball was heading towards the goal anyway.
Spain could have scored a third goal in the first half itself, had Fabian Ruiz and Yamal’s shots were not deflected. Only two minutes into the second half, Nico Williams found himself one-on-one with the keeper but Maignan came up with a fine save to keep France in the hunt. But unfortunately for them, the attackers looked totally off-colour, including captain Mbappe. The new Real Madrid recruit had a pop in the 56th minute, but it was directed straight at Simon.
The biggest chance for France came in the 75th minute when Ruiz lost possession in a dangerous area, giving an opportunity to Theo Hernandez. But Deschamps’ team was unfortunate again as the right opportunity fell to the wrong person, with the left-footed Hernandez being forced to strike a right-footed shot, which he failed to do so with any power.
Mbappe had a last chance in the 86th minute when he darted down the left flank and in a typical fashion, tried to find the bottom left corner with his right-footed strike. However, his shot was not on target.
Semi-Final 2: Netherlands 1-2 England
Ollie Watkins’ late strike sealed the win for England
England has received criticism for their somewhat meek style of play, especially considering the quality attackers they have at their disposal. But their manager Gareth Southgate deserves praise for taking the Three Lions to the final of the European Championship for the second consecutive time, and this time around, they have had to do it the hard way by making a comeback in all of their three knockout matches.
England defeated the Netherlands by a 2-1 margin, where Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins scored for them, while Xavi Simons was the Netherlands’ lone goal-scorer.
Just like the Round of 16 tie against Slovakia or the quarter-final against Switzerland, England conceded first in this match as Simons gave the Dutch an early lead, in just the 7th minute of the match. Snatching the ball from Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, he struck a superb shot from a long way out which beat Jordan Pickford and found the top corner.
That goal served as a wake-up call for England, who did not look back ever since. In the 15th minute, Bukayo Saka’s shot was blocked and it fell to Kane, who tried to volley it into the net. His attempt was wide but while taking the shot, he was tackled by Denzel Dumfries, resulting in a penalty.
Given his experience and incredible track record from the spot, the English captain was never going to miss. Though Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen jumped in the right side, Kane’s shot nestled into the side-netting, bringing England back into the game.
From that point onwards till England’s second goal, the game was a cagey affair, although it has to be said that most of the major chances were created by Southgate’s boys.
Phil Foden dribbled past quite a few players and then got his shot past Verbruggen which nearly gave England the lead in the 23rd minute, but Dumfries redeemed himself by making a goal-line clearance.
The woodwork was also rattled on a few occasions in this match. From the corner in the 30th minute, Dumfries’ powerful header hit the bar, while just two minutes later, Foden’s excellent left-footed shot struck the post.
The second half was not as frantic as the first, although it did have noteworthy moments. A Virgil Van Dijk effort from a free-kick was brilliantly saved by Pickford in the 68th minute while England thought they had taken the lead when Kyle Walker’s pass was smashed home by Saka, only to be chalked off as the Manchester City right-back had strolled into an offside position in the 79th minute.
Around the same time, Southgate played a masterstroke by bringing on Cole Palmer and Watkins, with the latter scoring the winner and taking his team to the final and the former providing the assist.
Palmer played the ball into the box for Watkins, who had an experienced defender in Inter Milan’s Stefan de Vrij to deal with. But the Aston Villa striker somehow managed to squeeze just enough room to strike a shot, and it was perfectly hit as it travelled past the outstretched arms of Verbruggen before the England fans went into a frenzy.