Spain v France LIVE: Euro 2024 result and final score as Lamine Yamal wondergoal knocks out Kylian Mbappe

Spain’s Lamine Yamal scored a wondergoal to become the youngest scorer in men’s European Championship history to help knock out tournament favourites France and reach the final of Euro 2024.

The 16-year-old fired a stunning strike into the top cover from outside the penalty area to equalise after Randal Kolo Muani’s early opener in the semi-final in Munich. And Dani Olmo then struck moments later to give Spain the lead, as his goal-bound shot deflected in off France defender Jules Kounde.

Spain looked to contain France in a tight second half  that saw few chances, but captain Kylian Mbappe blazed over the bar when finally getting a sight of goal and manager Didier Deschamps’ attacking changes did not help to force a late equaliser as La Roja held on.

Spain are through to their first men’s final since last winning the Euros in 2012 and will face either England or the Netherlands in Berlin on Sunday. Gareth Southgate’s side play the Dutch tomorrow night looking to reach consecutive Euro finals after defeat to Italy three years ago.

Follow all the latest updates from Spain v France below:

Euro 2024: Spain v France

• FULL TIME! Spain defeat France to reach Euro 2024 final in Berlin

• REPORT: Lamine Yamal signals Spain’s next golden era to leave France with one regret

• Injury fears for Alvaro Morata as photographer falls on Spain captain’s knee

• Lamine Yamal becomes youngest-ever men’s Euros goalscorer with world-class strike

• 21’ GOAL! Yamal curls an incredible long-range effort past Simon (SPA 1-1 FRA)

• Spain to face either England or Netherlands in Euro 2024 final on Sunday

Spain 2 - 1 France

Lamine Yamal signals Spain’s next golden era to leave France with one regret

22:16 , Miguel Delaney - in Munich

If this is to be Spain’s first men’s trophy since the glory era of 2008-12, there couldn’t be a better signal of a new era than the youngest player in the history of the European Championships scoring the goal to set them on their way to the final. Kylian Mbappe, having finally taken his mask off, will not be showing his face in Berlin on Sunday. The final will instead see a star who may well be his successor, in Lamine Yamal. He had already illuminated Euro 2024 and now he has elevated it, scoring a sensational strike that transformed Spain’s 2-1 comeback against France. It was both genius in the manner of the strike and in how he delivered something like that when his team really needed it.

This was a launchpad moment. It may also have been a moment of realisation for France, whose minimalist football reached its limits. Having told people all tournament to change the channel if they don’t like what they’re seeing, Didier Deschamps may have to do the same on Sunday. It’s hard not to think France have so wasted a generation, to the point they looked a dull side with the talent looking nowhere near the level it should.

Lamine Yamal signals Spain’s next golden era to leave France with one regret

Spain v France was pure excitement... Didier Deschamps would choose boredom every time

22:40 , Richard Jolly - in Munich

“If you’re getting bored, watch another game.” It was Didier Deschamps’s challenge to his critics. It promised to be the prelude to another exercise in Deschampsball, shutting a game down with a bank of defensive midfielders and a formidable rearguard. And yet what followed was so exciting that the France manager may have sought to divert his attention to something drearier.

Because there was a downside to entertainment. For France, anyway. Perhaps the pragmatist in Deschamps feared as much. Les Bleus had plotted a unique path to the last four, when none of their players scored in open play but neither did they concede in it. Then waits ended; at either end, it transpired.

The French drought had lasted 488 minutes, until they scored a goal of such seeming simplicity to make it seem stranger still that it had lasted so long; Kylian Mbappe, possibly the world’s best player, chipped a cross to the far post and Randal Kolo Muani, an €80m striker, headed in.

After Spain v France excitement, Didier Deschamps would choose boredom each time

Why ‘luck of the draw’ is a lazy phrase to throw at Gareth Southgate’s England

23:15 , Chris Wilson

Around the England camp, the players know not to even indulge the idea that Euro 2024 has handed them a “forgiving draw”. Gareth Southgatehas already bristled at the idea in press conferences, so it’s easy to imagine the attitude with the squad.

Players being players, though, one or two can’t help talking about how they would rather not have faced Spain or France yet. That isn’t to disrespect Netherlands, but Ronald Koeman’s team clearly aren’t comparable to the great Dutch sides of the past, nor the other semi-finalists.

Gary Neville made the attitude clear - as well as how players actually speak - when comparing the draws his teams faced against those of Southgate’s era.

Why ‘luck of the draw’ is a lazy phrase to throw at Southgate’s England

France’s ‘tournament ball’ or Spain’s ideology – how do you actually win the Euros?

23:00 , Chris Wilson

Lamine Yamal has been one of the few stars always worth watching at Euro 2024, which means he attracts a lot of defenders, so Luis De La Fuente is intent on making the 16-year-old see better team solutions. In training, the Spainmanager has taken Yamal aside and told him “if you have three players on you, there’s an area where we have superiority – we must get the ball there, not by dribbling, but with fast passing”.

This is Spain, after all. De La Fuente has accelerated the team’s evolution from dogmatic possession, primarily through the use of Yamal and Nico Williams, but the approach is still based on the core ideology. The identity is too ingrained. Such advice still produced maybe the most beautiful play at Euro 2024, which was a wondrous one-touch passing move against Germany to turn defence into attack. It has been lacking from a lot of teams.

A problem with De La Fuente’s advice for the semi-final is that, in the French half, there are very unlikely to be any areas of numerical superiority. That is because Didier Deschamps constantly has one piece of advice of his own. That is to ensure there is always a packed defensive structure around the French goal. If the Spanish mindset is to give the ball, Deschamps’s is to give nothing away.

France’s ‘tournament ball’ or Spain’s ideology – how do you actually win the Euros?

Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024

22:53 , Chris Wilson

One year ago Lamine Yamal was playing in the quarter-finals of the U17 European Championships in front of only a few hundred supporters. Skipping past defenders for fun, he registered an assist and scored once in Spain’s 3-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.

At just 15 years old, he was one of the youngest players competing in the U17 competition at the time. Yet he already stood out among his peers, finishing as the joint top-scorer of the tournament – despite Spain crashing out to France in the semi-final.

Fast forward a year, he’s now the youngest player competing at Euro 2024, with his boyish smile revealing braces, his joyful approach to the game providing a captivating subplot to Tuesday’s European Championship semi-final against France following a dramatic extra-time victory over hosts Germany.

Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024

Lamine Yamal hits back at Adrien Rabiot comments as Euro 2024 wondergoal proves point

22:49 , Chris Wilson

Lamine Yamal hit back at pre-match comments from France’s Adrien Rabiot as the 16-year-old made history with his stunning goal to help Spain reach the final of Euro 2024.

Yamal became the youngest scorer in men’s European Championship history as his strike lit up the Euro 2024 semi-final against France, withSpain coming from behind to win 2-1.

The teenager arrived at the Euros after a breakthrough season with Barcelona and continued his impressive performances throughout the tournament, but his goal against France was his biggest moment yet .

Afterwards, Yamal approached a TV camera and yelled “Speak now! Speak now!” in comments that appeared to be in reference to France midfielder Rabiot.

Lamine Yamal hits back at Adrien Rabiot comments as Euro 2024 wondergoal proves point

Injury fears for Alvaro Morata as photographer falls on Spain captain’s knee

22:47 , Chris Wilson

Alvaro Morata appeared to twist his knee on Wednesday as a photographer slid into the Spain captain, who was celebrating his team’s Euro 2024 semi-final win.

Spain came from behind to beat France 2-1 in Munich, where Lamine Yamal became the youngest-ever goalscorer at a men’s Euros.

Yamal, 16, scored a wondergoal for Spain to cancel out Randal Kolo Muani’s opener, before Dani Olmo struck to put La Roja ahead. And there was no way back for France, as Spain set up a final with Netherlands or England.

Injury fears for Alvaro Morata as photographer falls on Spain captain’s knee

Lamine Yamal becomes youngest-ever men’s Euros goalscorer with world-class strike against France

22:33 , Chris Wilson

Lamine Yamal became the youngest-ever player to score at a men’s European Championship on Tuesday, when he netted a wonder goal for Spain.

Lamal, 16, fired a long-range shot into the top corner from outside France’s penalty area, equalising for his nation after Randal Kolo Muani’s early opener in the Euro 2024 semi-final.

With his goal, the winger broke a 20-year record; at Euro 2004, then-18-year-old Johan Vonlanthen scored for Switzerland against France, four days after Wayne Rooney set a record by scoring against the Swiss.

Lamine Yamal becomes youngest-ever men’s Euros goalscorer with strike against France

Spain players react

22:27 , Chris Wilson

Dani Olmo and Nacho were also speaking in front of the cameras.

Goalscorer Olmo said that “it’s incredible how hard this team is working. We deserve it.”

On his goal, he said that “a goal is a goal, it doesn’t matter if it was Koundé’s or mine, it belongs to the team, we all scored.”

“We planned the game well, they scored the first goal against us in one play, but we continued playing our game and Lamine scored that spectacular goal and in the second half we controlled the game.”

Nacho called it “amazing” adding that it was “incredible to reach the final of the European Championship”.

“If someone had told me that a few months ago, I wouldn’t have believed it . This would be the icing on the cake of a spectacular career.

“We have a final that is going to be incredible and full of emotion for the whole country. The team has a lot of character, we have shown that. The mix of veterans and youngsters makes us stronger. We grow in the face of adversity and when the game was more complicated we knew how to push forward.”

Yamal speaks to TV cameras

22:22 , Chris Wilson

Speaking after the match, Lamine Yamal said that he was “very happy to qualify and now the most important thing remains: to take the title”.

“We were in a difficult moment because nobody expected his goal. I took it, I didn’t think and I tried to put it in where it went in and that was it. Very happy.

“My goal was to make it to my birthday here in Germany and now to enjoy it with the team,” he added. He turns 17 on the day before the final.

Next match

22:20 , Chris Wilson

So, Spain will contest the final of Euro 2024 against either England or the Netherlands this Sunday.

That match kicks off at 8pm BST on Sunday, 14 July at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

22:10 , Chris Wilson

Spain v France player ratings: Dani Olmo overshadowed but outstanding in Euro 2024 semi-final

22:00 , Chris Wilson

Spain reached the final of Euro 2024 with a 2-1 victory over France on Wednesday, setting up a meeting with Netherlands or England.

France, who were pursuing a second Euros final out of the last three, took an early lead when Randal Kolo Muani nodded home a header from close range.

But Spain equalised through 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, who netted a wondergoal to become the youngest-ever goalscorer at a men’s Euros.

Dani Olmo then put Spain ahead with a powerful, deflected strike from close range, and Les Bleus were unable to fight back.

But how did each player perform? Here are The Independent’s player ratings:

Spain v France player ratings: Dani Olmo overshadowed but outstanding

FULL-TIME! Spain 2-1 France - SPAIN ARE THROUGH TO THE FINAL!

21:56 , Chris Wilson

FULL-TIME! And Spain are through to the final of Euro 2024!

Dejection from the French players but they were second best since their goal.

For Spain it’s another chance to win the Euros after famous campaigns in 2008 and 2012. They have another star for 2024 in Lamine Yamal.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:54 , Chris Wilson

96 mins

Torres does well on the left wing to hold the ball up and win a foul, and that’ll surely be that...

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:53 , Chris Wilson

95 mins

Barcola swings in a hopeful ball but Greizmann gets a head to it – but it flies over. That might be it for France...

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:52 , Chris Wilson

94 mins

France are struggling to even get the ball here in the closing stages. There are ‘oles’ going around as Simon collects it.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:51 , Chris Wilson

93 mins

Great play from Merino to take it on the turn and slip it to Cucurella, but Spain end up playing it backwards. Rodri does brilliantly to win possession back before Yamal wins a throw.

He then comes off, along with Williams, for Ferran Torres and Martin Zubimendi.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:49 , Chris Wilson

90 mins

Another cynical challenge as Yamal drags back Hernandez, and the youngster is the latest to be booked.

We’ll have five minutes of added time, as Griezmann’s lofted ball in is headed behind by Upamecano. Merino stays down, as you might expect.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:48 , Chris Wilson

89 mins

Better from Spain as Merino shifts it wide to Cucurella, whose cross is deflected out. Williams delivers, but France clear...

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:47 , Chris Wilson

88 mins

Upamecano’s pass to Kounde goes straight out of play, and both teams are struggling a bit here. Rodri dispossesses Camavinga, and Spain are knocking the ball again, and Camavinga is booked for a late challenge on Cucurella.

All a bit disjointed now as the Spanish players are committing fouls and staying down to disrupt the flow of the game.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:44 , Chris Wilson

86 mins

Laporte is still down, having hit his face in the collision with Giroud. He’ll be okay to carry on.

Simon hits a speculative ball long, and it runs out for a Spain throw. Deschamps looks edgy on the sideline.

Mbappe collects the ball from Barcola’s pass the left, and he’s one-on-one with Nacho. He stands him up and makes space for the shot, but he blasts it over the bar!

Pitch invader grabs Kylian Mbappe during Spain v France quarter-final at Euro 2024

21:41 , Chris Wilson

A pitch invader was escorted off the field after grabbing Kylian Mbappeby the shirt on Wednesday, during France’s Euro 2024 clash with Spain.

Mbappe looked far from impressed as the fan arrived at his side to take a selfie, with France trailing 2-1 in the quarter-final at the time of the incident.

A security guard soon rushed across the pitch in Berlin to escort the pitch invader away from Mbappe, who was playing without wearing a mask for the first time at the tournament.

Pitch invader grabs Kylian Mbappe during Spain v France quarter-final

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:41 , Chris Wilson

83 mins

Giroud brings down Laporte as Griezmann chased a long ball, and the Spanish defender stays down.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:39 , Chris Wilson

81 mins

Spain had the counter opportunity from that France corner, but they didn’t look that interested.

Lamine Yamal still looks interested though – he cuts inside Hernandez and looks to bend an effort in from distance, but it’s too high.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:38 , Chris Wilson

78 mins

Dembele comes off for Giroud as France hunt that elusive equaliser.

Saliba brings down Yamal near halfway, and Spain look to keep the ball, but Saliba intercepts and they thread it to Barcola. He beats Nacho again down the left, but the former Madrid captain gets back well to deflect his cross out.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:35 , Chris Wilson

76 mins

CLOSE! Griezmann’s cross in is put back into the box by Dembele. There’s some pinball in the box as Spain try to clear, and eventually a white shirt rolls it to Hernandez on the edge of the box. He tries the first-time side-of-the-foot shot, but it flies over!

Luis de la Fuente makes changes, bringing on Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal for Morata and Olmo.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:32 , Chris Wilson

73 mins

Dembele’s early cross results in another corner. He delivers the out-swinging ball, but Spain clear, and it finds its way to Olmo in the middle.

It’s swept wide to Yamal but it’s all very pedestrian at the moment from Spain. You’d think they were 3-1 up in the 90th from the way they’re playing. ‘Taking the sting out of the game’.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:30 , Chris Wilson

72 mins

Nice idea from Kounde as he clips a cross in first-time after receiving the cutback from Dembele, but no French shirt was there.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:29 , Chris Wilson

70 mins

Dembele does well to track back and prevent the cross in from Cucurella. France clear, but it’s straight to Laporte.

Barcola beats Nacho – who’s moved to right-back now - down the left, but his cross is hooked away. Morata then does well to hold the ball up and win another free-kick.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:27 , Chris Wilson

68 mins

Dembele thinks he’s won a free-kick after a challenge from Cucurella, but the referee isn’t convinced. Spain counter and Rodri leads it, striding forward before they have to recycle the ball back to Simon.

Hernandez eventually wins it off Yamal, before Spain win the foul.

Spain’s play has been a lot less expansive in this half so far.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:23 , Chris Wilson

65 mins

Camavinga clips it towards Mbappe, who brings it down well and slips it wide to Hernandez, but the full-back runs it out of play.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:21 , Chris Wilson

63 mins

France win a corner after some better attacking play, as Hernandez overlaps and his cross is put behind.

They make three changes before it’s taken: Rabiot, Kante and Kolo Muani come off for Antoine Greizmann, Eduardo Camavinga and Bradley Barcola.

The corner is headed wide.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:19 , Chris Wilson

60 mins

Play is stopped for a pitch invader, but we resume with Spain in possession, as Morata wins a free-kick near halfway. Spain are looking less zippy and energetic than they did in the first half.

France counter and it’s slipped through to Dembele, and his cross is almost across the goal, but Simon gets a hand to it to deflect it away from Mbappe.

Seconds later, Tchouameni is booked after a late challenge on Morata.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:15 , Chris Wilson

57 mins

Spain are being forced into a change here, as Jesus Navas comes off for Dani Vivian of Athletic Bilbao.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:15 , Chris Wilson

55 mins

A great one-two from Kante and Tchouameni ends with the latter threading a great ball to Kounde, but his cross is cleared.

Moments later, the long ball is punted forward hopefully to Williams, but he loses the foot-race to Kounde.

Mbappe collects the ball in the box and he cuts back outside, but his low shot is straight at Simon.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:12 , Chris Wilson

53 mins

Kounde dispossesses Williams again, this time near the Spain box, and then he delivers a low cross that’s put behind. Tchouameni heads goalwards from the corner, but it’s into the ground and straight at Simon. Spain counter after some great work by Laporte, but Rabiot ends up winning the free-kick near the France area.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:10 , Chris Wilson

52 mins

Kounde gets the best of Williams this time, and France counter, led by Kante. They’re forced to recycle possession, and it ends with Dembele’s cross going straight to Simon.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:08 , Chris Wilson

49 mins

Another test for the French defence as Olmo brings it down well before shipping it to Yamal, but the youngster’s cross is headed away by Kounde.

Spain come again and Ruiz threads it to Cucurella, and his cross to the near post is cleared by Upamecano.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

21:05 , Chris Wilson

46 mins

Good ‘keeping from Maignan as he rushes out of his box to win the ball from Williams. Spain had played it out of danger in their half brilliantly to get to that point.

Moments later, Dembele’s cross deflects off Cucurella into the gloves of Simon.

KICK-OFF! Spain 2-1 France

21:03 , Chris Wilson

Spain get the second period underway. Let’s hope it’s half as entertaining as the first.

Why is Marc Cucurella being booed as Spain face France at Euro 2024?

20:59 , Chris Wilson

Spain defender Marc Cucurella was booed throughout the first half of his side’s Euro 2024 semi-final against France.

The Chelsea left-back was jeered every time he touched the ball in Munich, as his side fought from behind to lead a thriller.

Cucurella has started all six of Spain’s matches at Euro 2024 on the left side of defence, playing a key role in his team’s progress.

But the 25-year-old was involved in a moment of controversy in the quarter-finals against hosts Germany.

Spain knocked out the hosts in dramatic fashion, progressing thanks to a 2-1 victory in extra time as Mikel Merino scored a 119th-minute winner.

But with the score 1-1 in extra time, the hosts thought they had a penalty when Jamal Musiala’s goal-bound shot struck Cucurella’s arm in the box.

Referee Anthony Taylor did not award a penalty, but Germany were furious with the decision as they were knocked out.

Why is Marc Cucurella being booed as Spain face France at Euro 2024?

20:55 , Chris Wilson

Lamine Yamal becomes youngest-ever Euros goalscorer with world-class strike against France

20:52 , Chris Wilson

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player ever to score at a European Championship on Tuesday, when he netted a wonder goal for Spain.

Lamal, 16, fired a long-range shot into the top corner from outside France’s penalty area, equalising for his nation after Randal Kolo Muani’s early opener in the Euro 2024 semi-final.

With his goal, the winger broke a 20-year record; at Euro 2004, then-18-year-old Johan Vonlanthen scored for Switzerland against France, four days after Wayne Rooney set a record by scoring against the Swiss.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:48 , Chris Wilson

47 mins

Kolo Muani brings down Nacho and the former Madrid man is writhing around on the floor, but he doesn’t get the booking he was looking for.

The referee blows the whistle for half-time, bringing an intriguing half to an end in Munich.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:47 , Chris Wilson

45 mins

There’ll be two minutes of added time, as Dembele brings down Cucurella and then Olmo is brought down. It’s petering out as half-time approaches.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:45 , Chris Wilson

44 mins

Yet anther dangerous free-kick for France, this time down the left. Dembele delivers again, but Spain are equal to it once more. France come again, but Rabiot’s chip into the box is poor.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:42 , Chris Wilson

42 mins

France are happy to keep possession as the half ends, not trying to force the issue. Kounde tries to clip a ball towards Hernandez, but Nacho clears again, and Spain have the ball.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:41 , Chris Wilson

40 mins

Demebele drives at Cucurella once again and he leaves his leg hanging, so France have another dangerous free-kick.

He swings it towards Upamecano at the back post, but Navas does well to head it behind under pressure.

The corner eventually comes to Olmo, who then finds Ruiz before they clip it forward to Williams. He finds Yamal on the other wing, but the cross is behind for a corner again.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:39 , Chris Wilson

38 mins

Lovely play from Mbappe as he recovers from the challenge before spraying a ball wide to Dembele, who wins a corner.

He swings the cross in, but it’s headed away, as is Kounde’s follow-up cross.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:37 , Chris Wilson

36 mins

Brief scuffles as Hernandez commits a late challenge on Yamal, but no booking yet.

Spain continue to keep possession well, but their ability to go from quite pedestrian to quick and incise is very impressive.

Yamal and Olmo are the latest to illustrate this, the former rolling a pass to the onrushing Olmo on the edge of the box – but his shot is deflected for a corner.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:35 , Chris Wilson

34 mins

The game has calmed down a little now. Dembele swings a ball wide to Hernandez, but he can’t keep it in.

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:32 , Chris Wilson

31 mins

Mbappe is on the run again but Nacho stands him up, waits for the help from Rodri and dispossesses the Frenchman.

Nico Williams wants to get in on the action now – he beats his man in midfield before surging into the box, drawing the attention of three France defenders. He tries to slip it backwards to Morata, but there are too many bodies in the box.

Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024

20:30 , Jamie Braidwood

One year ago Lamine Yamal was playing in the quarter-finals of the U17 European Championships in front of only a few hundred supporters. Skipping past defenders for fun, he registered an assist and scored once in Spain’s 3-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.

At just 15 years old, he was one of the youngest players competing in the U17 competition at the time. Yet he already stood out among his peers, finishing as the joint top-scorer of the tournament – despite Spain crashing out to France in the semi-final.

Fast forward a year, he’s now the youngest player competing at Euro 2024, with his boyish smile revealing braces, his joyful approach to the game providing a captivating subplot to Tuesday’s European Championship semi-final against France following a dramatic extra-time victory over hosts Germany. His crisp pass to assist Dani Olmo for the opener was his third of the tournament, equalling the Spanish record for total assists in a single European Championship with Cesc Fabregas and David Silva. To say it has been a whirlwind 12 months for the Barcelona winger would be an understatement.

Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024

Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

20:29 , Chris Wilson

28 mins

A brilliant game so far, this. France attack as they look for an equaliser, and the cross is cleared before Morata fouls Kounde near the Spain box.

Dembele delivers towards the back post, but Rabiot can’t keep it in.

GOAL! Spain 2-1 France

20:27 , Chris Wilson

25 mins

GOAL! And Spain are ahead!

Another brilliant goal, though this one for different reasons.

Spain have piled on the pressure since their equaliser and it finally counts – there’s some pinball in the box and it falls in the direction of Dani Olmo, who flicks a great touch past the defender and rifles a shot towards goal. It beats Maignan and bounces off Kounde and into the net!

Euro 2024: Spain 1-1 France

20:23 , Jamie Braidwood

21 mins

GOAL! Astonishing.

Spain are back it in courtesy of Lamine Yamal from nowhere!

It looks so deceptively simple too. He collects the ball around 25 yards out and looks to make the pass, but sees there are no options on. He shimmies to make space for the shot, and curls a superb effort that hits the inside of the post and goes in!

Euro 2024: Spain 0-1 France

20:20 , Chris Wilson

18 mins

Cucurella seems to be being booed, and apparently it’s as a result of a handball that wasn’t given against him in the game against Germany! There are cheers as his pass forward is eventually intercepted by Kante.

Hernandez slips it through to Mbappe and he cuts past two challenges as he makes his way into the box. He hits a low shot goalwards, but it’s blocked and the Spanish defence eventually deal with it.

Euro 2024: Spain 0-1 France

20:16 , Chris Wilson

16 mins

Rabiot stays down after the challenge, but he looks like he’ll be okay to carry on.

Mbappe has the free-kick in a dangerous area – 27 metres out – but he hits it straight into the wall.

Euro 2024: Spain 0-1 France

20:15 , Chris Wilson

14 mins

First yellow of the evening as Jesus Navas slides in late on Rabiot. France were counter-attacking there, with Mbappe almost clean through if Rabiot had got the pass away.

Navas is having a bit of a torrid time out there, and now he has to deal with potentially 75 minutes up against Mbappe already on a booking.

Euro 2024: Spain 0-1 France

20:13 , Chris Wilson

12 mins

Spain are certainly trying to be inventive around the box as they look for an equaliser. Yamal and Williams playing plenty of one-two’s and flicks, but nothing paying off so far.

Ruiz squares a pass across the box to Morata, but he can’t get the shot away.

GOAL! Spain 0-1 France (Randal Kolo Muani 9’)

20:10 , Chris Wilson

9 mins

GOAL! The French are ahead!

Dembele sweeps a pass wide to Mbappe. He takes a couple of paces into the box and curls a cross to the back post, and Randal Kolo Muani is there to nod it past Unai Simon into the corner!

Euro 2024: Spain 0-0 France

20:07 , Chris Wilson

5 mins

CLOSE! Spain should be ahead.

Williams swings in a cross that makes it way to Yamal on the other side. He takes a touch and delivers a cross of his own to the back post – Fabian Ruiz is there to meet it, and he’s unmarked, but he heads over!

Euro 2024: Spain 0-0 France

20:05 , Chris Wilson

4 mins

Yamal brings down Hernandez as France looked to attack, but it’s too far to put it into the box. Williams looks to counter, but Kante is there to slide in and intercept.

Spain have it back quickly, knocking around confidently between defence and midfield.

Euro 2024: Spain 0-0 France

20:04 , Chris Wilson

2 mins

Early signs of pressure from Yamal and Ruiz as the former tries to find some space on the edge of the box before Ruiz does manage to, and he clips a cross that outruns his teammates.

Spain 0-0 France: Kylian Mbappe to play without mask

20:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Mbappe has removed his face mask for the Euro 2024 semi-final!

KICK-OFF! Spain 0-0 France

20:01 , Chris Wilson

KICK-OFF! France get the first semi-final of Euro 2024 underway.

This is the 37th meeting between the two – who’ll come out on top?

Euro 2024: Spain v France

20:00 , Chris Wilson

The anthems are done in a febrile atmosphere in Munich. Plenty of whistling from both sides.

Mbappe and Morata exchange the pennants and the coin toss is conducted by Slavko Vincic.

We’re moments away in Bavaria!

Euro 2024: Spain v France

19:54 , Chris Wilson

Just five minutes until kick-off now.

The teams are in the tunnel now, and the national anthems are moments away.

19:51 , Chris Wilson

Euro 2024: Spain vs France

19:45 , Chris Wilson

As we approach kick-off, here’s a reminder of how both sides reached the final four.

France

France 1-0 Austria – Unsure how Austria would go, France played it safe as Ralf Rangnick’s men proved they were here to compete. Max Wober’s unfortunate own goal secured three crucial points for Didier Deschamps men.

France 0-0 Netherlands – In what could possibly end up being a preview of the Euro 2024 final, a Kylian Mbappe-less France played out a stalemate with the Dutch.

France 1-1 Poland – Needing to avoid defeat to guarantee qualification for the knockout rounds Mbappe opened the scoring from the penalty spot but a Robert Lewandowski penalty brought Poland an equaliser. It’s the only goal France have conceded thus far.

Last-16

France 1-0 Belgium – After finished behind Austria in Group D, France now had to face Belgium. This time it was a Jan Vertonghen own goal which sent them through.

Quarter-final

France 0-0 Portugal (5-3 on penalties) – Billed as Mbappe vs Ronaldo this knockout round tie didn’t live up to the hype. A goalless draw after 120 minutes took the match to a shootout where the French scored a perfect five and advanced.

Spain

Spain 3-0 Croatia – Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal all scored in a straightforward win.

Spain 1-0 Italy – A Riccardo Calafiori own goal settled the tie, though the scoreline was flattering for Italy.

Spain 1-0 Albania – Ferran Torres’ 13th minute strike ensured Spain kept their 100% win rate in tact.

Last-16

Spain 4-1 Georgia – Despite a Robin Le Normand own goal sending Spain behind they equalised through Rodri before goals from Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo helped them to a comfortable win.

Quarter-final

Spain 2-1 Germany – Substitute Olmo opened the scoring in the 51st minute before a very late equaliser from Florian Wirtz. Fellow Spanish sub Mikel Merino then decided the match late in extra-time.

Head-to-head

19:40 , Chris Wilson

These two sides have faced each other 36 times on the international stage, with fixtures dating as afar back as 1922. Their most recent fixture was the 2021 Nations League final, which France won 2-1 thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema.

And tonight will be the sixth meeting between the two at a major tournament – France won three of the first four (2-0 in Euro 1984 final, 2-1 in Euro 2000 quarter-final, 3-1 in 2006 World Cup last 16), while Spain won the most recent game 2-0 win in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.

The other game was a 1-1 draw during the Euro 1996 group stage.

Having met in the Euro 2024 semi-final, the group stage at Euro 96, the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup, the quarter-finals of Euro 2000 (and 2012) and the final of Euro 1984, Spain v France will become just the third fixture to be played at each stage of World Cup and Euros, along with Italy v Spain and England v Germany.

France’s ‘tournament ball’ or Spain’s ideology – how do you actually win the Euros?

19:35 , Chris Wilson

Lamine Yamal has been one of the few stars always worth watching at Euro 2024, which means he attracts a lot of defenders, so Luis De La Fuente is intent on making the 16-year-old see better team solutions. In training, the Spainmanager has taken Yamal aside and told him “if you have three players on you, there’s an area where we have superiority – we must get the ball there, not by dribbling, but with fast passing”.

This is Spain, after all. De La Fuente has accelerated the team’s evolution from dogmatic possession, primarily through the use of Yamal and Nico Williams, but the approach is still based on the core ideology. The identity is too ingrained. Such advice still produced maybe the most beautiful play at Euro 2024, which was a wondrous one-touch passing move against Germany to turn defence into attack. It has been lacking from a lot of teams.

A problem with De La Fuente’s advice for the semi-final is that, in the French half, there are very unlikely to be any areas of numerical superiority. That is because Didier Deschamps constantly has one piece of advice of his own. That is to ensure there is always a packed defensive structure around the French goal. If the Spanish mindset is to give the ball, Deschamps’s is to give nothing away.

France’s ‘tournament ball’ or Spain’s ideology – how do you actually win the Euros?

France’s biggest problem is not really a problem thanks to Didier Deschamps trick

19:30 , Chris Wilson

Two of the three players to score for France in Euro 2024 are out of Euro 2024. One no longer plays international football at all. And one single goal from a French player? Well, that was a penalty.

It puts France two games away from an extraordinary achievement: from winning the European Championships without any of their team mustering a goal in open play. It sounds like a feat that the Greece side in 2004 - limited in ability, clean-sheet specialists and set-piece experts - could have pulled off. Not France, who scored four and three in the last two World Cup finals respectively; who have Kylian Mbappe, potentially the best player in the world for the next few years and, in time, the best in the World Cup’s history; who have a galaxy of attacking talent. But maybe it would be the definitive Didier Deschamps triumph, doing so in his own very particular way.

Thus far, his blueprint includes a cocktail of own-goals and a spot kick, stalemate, extra-time and a penalty shootout. Or if not the France manager’s gameplan, a by-product of his safety-first approach. “When you don’t get goals, it is better to not have goals scored against you,” he reflected. “I am a head coach that is defensive so my team plays in defence.” That was tongue in cheek, referencing his reputation.

France’s biggest problem is not really a problem thanks to Deschamps trick

Goals, assists and perfect passing - Nico Williams is the consistent star Spain have been searching for

19:25 , Chris Wilson

For many reasons, a majority of them valid, Lamine Yamal seemed to become the face of this Spain side heading into Euro 2024. For one it’s his youth, of course - a star at just 16. There’s also the potential for so many storylines, with his birthday the day before the final itself.

Then there’s the fact he plays for Barcelona - all this before we even approach the subject of his quality, which is clearly off the charts.

But while he gives Spain traits they’ve been desperate for over the last few years and tournaments - guile around the box, balance in the forward line and, above all else, speed - he isn’t the only player to do so. He isn’t even the only starting forward who offers much of the same traits, if in mirror image.

Goals and perfect passing - Nico Williams is the star Spain have been searching for

Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024

19:20 , Chris Wilson

Exactly one year ago Lamine Yamal was playing in the quarter-finals of the U17 European Championships in front of only a few hundred supporters. Skipping past defenders for fun, he registered an assist and scored once in Spain’s 3-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.

At just 15 years old, he was one of the youngest players competing in the U17 competition at the time. Yet he already stood out among his peers, finishing as the joint top-scorer of the tournament – despite Spain crashing out to France in the semi-final.

Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024

Dani Olmo is Spain’s antidote to France’s anti-football at Euro 2024

19:15 , Chris Wilson

It’s perhaps a triumph of tactics, or simply a triumph of circumstance: France have got to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 without scoring a goal in open play through any of their own 26 members of the squad.

Didier Deschamps’ side have been totally unconcerned by having possession for large stretches of matches. They haven’t really created too many chances either – certainly not in the way that the calibre of players at their disposal would suggest that they might do.

They rank 11th in the tournament for average possession per game. They’ve created the same number of big chances at the Euros as Austria or Turkey. They’ve only scored three in total across five matches and two of them were own goals.

Dani Olmo is Spain’s antidote to France’s anti-football at Euro 2024

Spain v France referee: Who is Euro 2024 official Slavko Vincic?

19:10 , Chris Wilson

A reminder of the refereeing team for tonight’s semi-final.

Slavko Vincic will referee the first semi-final of Euro 2024 between Spain and France in Munich on Tuesday night.

The experienced Slovenian official, 44, became a Fifa-listed referee in 2010 and recently refereed the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

Vinčič’s first tournament was Euro 2012, where he attended as an assistant, and he first took charge at a major international tournament during Euro 2020, when he refereed two group-stage games and the quarter-final between Italy and Belgium.

Spain v France referee: Who is Euro 2024 official Slavko Vincic?

Spain v France TV channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 fixture online tonight

19:05 , Chris Wilson

Just under an hour until kick-off now, so here’s a reminder of how you can watch tonight’s game.

Spain v France will kick off at 8pm at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

The match will be shown live on BBC One, and coverage has just started. It can also be streamed live via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport app.

You can find a full list of which channel is showing each match here.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

Spain v France TV channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 fixture online

France team news

19:02 , Chris Wilson

Didier Deschamps has made two changes to the side that scraped through on penalties against Portugal.

In midfield, Adrien Rabiot returns from suspension and takes the place of Eduardo Camavinga. Antoine Griezmann also drops out, losing his place to Ousmane Dembele.

Spain team news

18:58 , Chris Wilson

Spain’s only changes come due to injury and suspension, with Luis de la Fuente forced into three changes from the starting eleven against Germany.

At right-back, Jesus Navas comes in for the suspended Dani Carvajal, while Nacho replaces Robin Le Normand in central defence. Dani Olmo comes into midfield for Pedri.

France line-up

18:53 , Chris Wilson

France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez; Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe

SUBS: Samba, Areola, Pavard, Konate, Mendy, Clauss, Camavinga, Zaire-Emery, Fofana, Coman, Thuram, Griezmann, Giroud, Barcola.

Team news & line-up announcements

18:43 , Chris Wilson

Official team news from France should be arriving at any moment now.

Les Blues have no suspensions or injuries to worry about, although the performances of players such as Eduardo Camavinga last time out could give Deschamps some selection headaches.

Spain break Germany hearts but dramatic Euro 2024 win may come at great cost

18:35 , Chris Wilson

There’s no second summer fairytale for Germany, as it’s instead Spainwho have the happy ending. For now. Mikel Merino ensured they rose above it all, with a brilliant header in the 119th minute. The big question as to whether they go and actually win Euro 2024 is what the cost of this 2-1 victory over the hosts will be. Toni Kroos didn’t get his grand farewell, either, as he instead contributed to a match that often turned ugly.

That meant that it didn’t quite become the game of the tournament in the manner anticipated but it was thoroughly absorbing, right until the death. And that was very, very late. It is easy to see why games like this can prevent teams from becoming champions, because of the gruelling physical and psychological cost. Spain now have Alvaro Morata and the red-carded Dani Carvajal suspended for the semi-final, with Pedri looking like he might be out injured – maybe for the summer. He was the victim of an abrasive challenge from Kroos in the opening minute that very much set a tone.

Through that, Spain displayed another quality in a European Championships when they have already shown so many. They were the picture of perseverance. That wasn’t just because of what a gallant German team put them through but what they put themselves through.

Spain break Germany hearts but dramatic Euro 2024 win may come at great cost

Spain line-up

18:29 , Chris Wilson

SPAIN XI: Simon; Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.

SUBS: Raya, Vivian, Merino, Joselu, Torres, Oyarzabal, Grimaldo, Remiro, Baena, Zubimendi, Fermin, Perez.

Gifted Portugal dragged down by Ronaldo the anchor in underwhelming Euro 2024 exit

18:20 , Chris Wilson

Six and out. Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth and last European Championships came to an end as Portugal paid for an impotence that stemmed from affording their captain privileged status. They went out on penalties, Joao Felix rolling his spot kick against the foot of the post as everyone else scored, but after a second successive stalemate, after 364 minutes without scoring.

If it is an equally damning statistic that no France player has scored for them in open play this tournament, five did in a shootout. Diogo Costa had saved a trio of Slovenian spot kicks in the last 16 but Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde and Bradley Barcola all found the net, allowing Theo Hernandez to set up a superpower semi-final against Spain.

The ends can justify the means and for Didier Deschamps, dullness has brought a fourth semi-final in the last five major tournaments. In the process, France conquered a demon or two. Eliminated from Euro 2020 on penalties, losing the 2022 World Cup final in a shootout, France avoided an unwanted hat-trick. They also gained a modicum of revenge for their Euro 2016 final defeat to Portugal.

Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings: Cody Gakpo, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and more battle to be top scorer

18:10 , Chris Wilson

Some of those taking to the pitch tonight may have the golden boot in mind too.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the leading scorer in competition history with five goals at Euro 2020 taking his overall aggregate to 14 and sealing the Golden Boot in the process, as his assist saw him edge the comparatively unheralded Patrik Schick of the Czech Republic, who also netted on five occasions during the tournament. However, he flopped entirely in this summer’s edition, failing to score a single goal and missing a penalty en route to a quarter-final exit.

Footballing greats such as Antonie Griezmann, Fernando Torres, Alan Shearer and Gerd Muller are among those who have won the prestigious prize throughout the history of the Euros and the likes of Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Jamal Musiala and Romelu Lukaku are hoping to join them this time around.

It hasn’t been an extremely high-scoring campaign so far in individual terms, but that just means there are still some in the running who haven’t had a prolific tournament - one big game in front of goal could change everything.

Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings: Kane, Gakpo and more in contention

Euro 2024 yellow card and suspension rules for semi-finals and final

18:00 , Chris Wilson

Speaking of suspended players...

England were left sweating on suspensions in the knockouts after a flurry of yellow cards in the first half of their last-16 tie against Slovakia at Euro 2024.

Defender Marc Guehi played no part in the quarter-final after picking up two bookings in two games, while Kobbie Mainoo and Jude Bellingham then joined him in the book in that match.

But yellow cards picked up in the group stage, last-16 and quarter-finals are wiped before the semi-finals - meaning the Three Lions, the Oranje, plus France and Spain’s squads, all get a blank slate at this point - other than those like Dani Carvajal who were sent-off or booked for the second time in their last appearance.

Euro 2024 yellow card and suspension rules for semi-finals and final

Early team news & predicted line-ups

17:50 , Chris Wilson

Spain will be without three key players for their match against Germany. Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand are suspended having collected yellow cards (and a red in Carvajal’s case) during the quarter-final while Pedri sustained an injury after a heavy tackle from Toni Kroos that is expected to rule him out.

France have no suspensions or injuries which could give them a significant advantage for the match if Didier Deschamps can finally unlock their potential ruthlessness in front of goal.

Predicted line-ups

Spain XI: Simon, Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella, Ruiz, Rodri, Olmo, Williams, Morata, Yamal

France XI: Maignan, Hernandez, Saliba, Upamecano, Kounde, Rabiot, Tchouameni, Kante, Griezmann, Mbappe, Dembele

When are the Euro 2024 semi-finals? Dates, kick-off times and fixture schedule

17:40 , Chris Wilson

Ahead of both semi-finals, here’s a reminder of the schedule and how you can watch them.

Euro 2024 nears its finale after the last eight teams were whittled down to four ahead of the semi-finals.

Germany, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey all fell at the quarter-final stage, as Spain set up a mouth-watering clash with France and England squeezed through to face Netherlands.

The semi-finals will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday night, before Sunday’s final in Berlin.

Below is the full fixture schedule for the Euro 2024 knockout stages, and TV arrangements:

Euro 2024 semi-final fixtures, dates and kick-off times

Euro 2024 - live: England news and analysis with Gareth Southgate’s side preparing for semi-finals

17:30 , Chris Wilson

If you’re after some news ahead of England’s clash against the Netherlands tomorrow, look no further than our dedicated blog.

We’re bringing you all the team news, squad updates and preparation ahead of tomorrow night’s game.

Euro 2024 - live: England reaction, news and analysis after penalty heroics

Why is Kylian Mbappe wearing a mask for France against Portugal at Euro 2024?

17:20 , Chris Wilson

France captain Kylian Mbappe will wear a mask throughout the rest of Euro 2024 after breaking his nose during the team’s opening victory against Austria.

The superstar forward was left covered in blood after suffering the brutal injury when his face collided into the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso, later leaving the stadium in an ambulance.

Subsequent tests confirmed Mbappe did not require immediate surgeryand he returned to training two days later while sporting a protective covering in the colours of the French flag, alleviating concerns that he would be ruled out of the tournament.

Why is Kylian Mbappe wearing a mask for France against Portugal at Euro 2024?

Spain v France referee: Who is Euro 2024 official Slavko Vincic?

17:10 , Chris Wilson

Slavko Vincic will referee the first semi-final of Euro 2024 between Spain and France in Munich on Tuesday night.

The experienced Slovenian official, 44, became a Fifa-listed referee in 2010 and recently refereed the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

Vinčič’s first tournament was Euro 2012, where he attended as an assistant, and he first took charge at a major international tournament during Euro 2020, when he refereed two group-stage games and the quarter-final between Italy and Belgium.

Spain v France referee: Who is Euro 2024 official Slavko Vincic?

A 38-year-old Jesus Navas will mark Kylian Mbappe in a Euro 2024 semi-final – he might just win

17:00 , Chris Wilson

The generation gap on Spain’s right flank has just grown bigger. Lamine Yamal has spent the tournament passing his school exams and footballing tests, operating in front of a man twice his age, in Dani Carvajal. Yet the six-time Champions League winner was suspended for the Euro 2024semi-final even before he brought his quarter-final to a slightly premature end, rugby-tackling Jamal Musiala to collect his second yellow card deep into extra time.

And so the reserve right-back, who will presumably be parachuted in to face France, whose role will involve racing Kylian Mbappe, is a player who had won the Uefa Cup twice before Yamal was born. One Jesus turned water into wine. The temptation is to think that another may need a still greater miracle to outsprint Mbappe. Jesus Navas, after all, is closer in age to perennial early 90s Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain than he is to Yamal.

But, 21 seasons into his senior career, Navas has a certain timelessness.There are few 38-year-olds whose attributes begin with speed, but his arguably do. He has retained a slim physique that suggests he has zero per cent body fat. As times have changed, Navas hasn’t. He has moved from right wing to right-back yet remains essentially the same.

38-year-old Jesus Navas will mark Kylian Mbappe at Euro 2024 – he might just win

France’s biggest problem is not really a problem thanks to Didier Deschamps trick

16:45 , Mike Jones

Two of the three players to score for France in Euro 2024 are out of Euro 2024. One no longer plays international football at all. And one single goal from a French player? Well, that was a penalty.

It puts France two games away from an extraordinary achievement: from winning the European Championships without any of their team mustering a goal in open play. It sounds like a feat that the Greece side in 2004 - limited in ability, clean-sheet specialists and set-piece experts - could have pulled off.

Not France, who scored four and three in the last two World Cup finals respectively; who have Kylian Mbappe, potentially the best player in the world for the next few years and, in time, the best in the World Cup’s history; who have a galaxy of attacking talent. But maybe it would be the definitive Didier Deschamps triumph, doing so in his own very particular way.

France’s biggest problem is not really a problem thanks to Deschamps trick

Spain v France

16:37 , Mike Jones

France are looking to reach their fourth Euros final (1984, 2000 and 2016) but only the second not played on French soil (Euro 2000 in the Netherlands).

Spain, meanwhile, are looking to reach their fifth final, with only Germany playing in more (six). The Spaniards have progressed from four of five semi-finals, but lost on penalties to eventual winners Italy at this stage at Euro 2020.

France’s route to the semi-finals

16:30 , Mike Jones

Ahead of the tournament France were placed in Group D alongside Poland, Austria and the Netherlands in what many spectators named ‘the group of death’. It was undoubtably the most tricky group to qualify from even if Les Bleus made things harder for themselves:

Group Stages

France 1-0 Austria – Unsure how Austria would go, France played it safe as Ralf Rangnick’s men proved they were here to compete. Max Wober’s unfortunate own goal secured three crucial points for Didier Deschamps men.

France 0-0 Netherlands – In what could possibly end up being a preview of the Euro 2024 final, a Kylian Mbappe-less France played out a stalemate with the Dutch.

France 1-1 Poland – Needing to avoid defeat to guarantee qualification for the knockout rounds Mbappe opened the scoring from the penalty spot but a Robert Lewandowski penalty brought Poland an equaliser. It’s the only goal France have conceded thus far.

Last-16

France 1-0 Belgium – After finished behind Austria in Group D, France now had to face Belgium. This time it was a Jan Vertonghen own goal which sent them through.

Quarter-final

France 0-0 Portugal (5-3 on penalties) – Billed as Mbappe vs Ronaldo this knockout round tie didn’t live up to the hype. A goalless draw after 120 minutes took the match to a shootout where the French scored a perfect five and advanced.

Pragmatic France have sights set on trophy

16:22 , Mike Jones

Despite criticism of the way they’ve played so far, Didier Deschamps’s France are a solid team who have not really looked under much threat defensively.

In comparison to England, who have also had the ‘boring’ moniker thrown their way, France have kept four clean sheets in their five matches so far while the Three Lions have conceded four goals in the same time.

Les Bleus are also aiming for a fourth major tournament final in the last eight years, after reaching the Euro 2016 showpiece and headline match of both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

That’s an incredible record which shows how experienced this group is at reaching the latter ends of tournaments something their opponents tonight lack.

“We’re in the semi-finals and it’s something we shouldn’t take for granted, even if we may be used to it recently,” said Deschamps after the quarter-final versus Portugal. “Now we go to win it.”

France reached semi-finals as Portugal dragged down by Ronaldo

16:15 , Mike Jones

Six and out. Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth and last European Championships came to an end as Portugal paid for an impotence that stemmed from affording their captain privileged status. They went out on penalties, Joao Felix rolling his spot kick against the foot of the post as everyone else scored, but after a second successive stalemate, after 364 minutes without scoring.

If it is an equally damning statistic that no France player has scored for them in open play this tournament, five did in a shootout. Diogo Costa had saved a trio of Slovenian spot kicks in the last 16 but Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde and Bradley Barcola all found the net, allowing Theo Hernandez to set up a superpower semi-final against Spain.

Gifted Portugal dragged down by Ronaldo the anchor in underwhelming Euro 2024 exit

France prepare for semi-final versus Spain

16:07 , Mike Jones

Here’s a look at the French team going through their training sessions ahead of tonight’s crucial semi-final clash in Munich:

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website