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Spain national football team
European Championship | Semi-Finals
Jul 9, 2024 at 8pm UK
Allianz Arena
France national football team

Spain
2 - 1
France

Yamal (21'), Olmo (25')
Navas (14'), Yamal (90+1')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Kolo (9')
Tchouameni (60'), Camavinga (89')

Euro 2024: France attacker fires warning shot to Spain before titanic semi-final

© Reuters
France striker Randal Kolo Muani insists that he and his teammates are not afraid of free-scoring Spain ahead of their tantalising Euro 2024 semi-final on Tuesday.

France striker Randal Kolo Muani has warned Euro 2024 semi-final opponents Spain that Les Bleus are not "scared" of anyone ahead of Tuesday's mouthwatering encounter.

Didier Deschamps's men have progressed to the final four of this summer's tournament despite not scoring a single goal from open play, where their only two strikes so far have been own goals.

As well as a Kylian Mbappe penalty against Poland, France defeated Austria in their opening match courtesy of a Maximilian Wober own goal, before Jan Vertonghen inadvertently condemned Belgium to a last-16 exit to Les Bleus.

The former Tottenham Hotspur defender saw a strike from Kolo Muani take a wicked deflection off of him and nestle into the net, seeing the Paris Saint-Germain attacker promoted to the starting lineup over Marcus Thuram for the quarter-final win over Portugal.

Kolo Muani failed to justify his inclusion as he was taken off in the 86th minute - and therefore did not take a penalty in the shootout - but his teammates were perfect from the 12-yard mark while Joao Felix fluffed his lines for Portugal.

France coach Didier Deschamps before the match on July 5, 2024© Reuters

Kolo Muani talks up "close-knit" France before Euro 2024 semi-final

Spain also failed to prevail in normal time in their quarter-final encounter with Germany, but they got the job done 2-1 in extra time, prior to which they also hit Georgia for four in the last 16.

Nevertheless, speaking to UEFA ahead of Tuesday's first Euros semi-final, Kolo Muani insisted that the 2018 World Cup winners will not be intimidated by Luis de la Fuente's men, now considered the favourites by many to hoist the trophy aloft.

"They are a very good team; it is going to be a very good match. We'll be ready; the whole team will be ready. We're not scared of anyone," the ex-Nantes man said.

"We are very confident and solid. We know that they have qualities but we are a very close-knit group. That will see us through. It feels good to reach the semi-finals and we're very proud of the match we played.

"We were strong defensively and even though we weren't able to score that goal, we kept going until the end and we did brilliantly in the penalty shoot-out. Character has always been our strength; we're all strong and very confident. We stick together and that's very important for us. That is what will take us deep into this tournament."

France's Theo Hernandez celebrates after winning the penalty shoot-out on July 5, 2024© Reuters

Kolo Muani reveals "key" to France's Euro 2024 success

Reflecting on his match-winning cameo against Belgium, Kolo Muani admitted that his "freshness" played its part but stressed the qualities of the whole team, adding: "It is thanks to everyone, not just me coming on to play.

"It is the mindset of the group, we played a great match. I just tried to bring some freshness and the group helped me to score the goal. We won together.

"We all defend together, fight together and give everything for each other, which is the way it's been since the beginning of the tournament. That's the key to our success."

France have reportedly been handed one injury boost and one setback ahead of Tuesday's semi-final, where Spain must cope without the injured Pedri and the suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand.

Either England or the Netherlands - who square off in Dortmund on Wednesday night - will face the winner of Tuesday's semi-final in the final on July 14 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

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Ben Knapton
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France manager Didier Deschamps reacts in June 2024
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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