Euro 2024 Semifinals Await As Spain And France Triumph In Quarterfinals

Following Friday’s thrilling matches, two teams are now just 90 minutes away from a Euro 2024 final. Spain advanced to the semifinals first, as Germany became the first European Championship hosts to be eliminated at the quarter-final stage. France later defeated Portugal in a penalty shootout, setting up a semifinal clash with Spain in Munich. Here, we explore the key statistics from these pivotal games.

**Spain 2-1 Germany (AET): Merino’s Last-Gasp Heroics**

Mikel Merino was the hero for Spain, scoring his first international goal in the 119th minute, making it the third-latest winning goal in European Championship history. Spain has shown a knack for scoring late goals, highlighting their resilience in major tournaments. Merino’s goal shattered German hopes and secured Spain's place in the semifinals.

Dani Olmo also played a crucial role. Coming on early for the injured Pedri, Olmo scored and continued to influence the game significantly. He became the first Spanish player to score two goals as a substitute in a single European Championship and only the third in major tournaments after Fernando Morientes and Alvaro Morata. Additionally, Olmo recorded the joint-most shots along with fellow substitute Mikel Oyarzabal.

Under Luis de la Fuente, Spain remains unbeaten in this tournament, becoming only the third nation to win five consecutive matches in a single Euro edition, following France in 1984 and Italy in 2020, both of whom won their respective tournaments. In contrast, Germany's struggles in the latter stages of the Euros continued; they have now lost three of their last four knockout stage matches.

**Portugal 0-0 France (AET, 3-5 pens): Felix’s Miss, Ronaldo’s Heartbreak**

In another quarter-final match, France edged past Portugal in a penalty shootout, marking their sixth semi-final appearance at the Euros. Joao Felix’s missed penalty allowed Theo Hernandez to secure France’s progression. Didier Deschamps's team now ranks just behind Germany for most semi-final appearances in European Championship history.

This goalless encounter lacked clear scoring opportunities and continued the trend of tight contests between these teams. Remarkably, it was only the second game in European Championship history to record no shots inside the box during the first half, replicating their 1984 semi-final clash.

Portugal’s offensive struggles persisted, extending their goalless streak to three games—a run reminiscent of their form during 1996-97. Despite these issues, France also faced difficulties scoring non-penalty goals, setting an unfortunate record with 86 attempts without success in this Euro edition—an issue Deschamps must urgently address.

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his tournament with disappointment. Aspiring to close his international career with another title, Ronaldo failed to score from his 23 tournament shots. However, Ousmane Dembele provided some hope for France by creating six chances after being introduced late into the game—matching Cesc Fabregas’s record for a substitute at the Euros.

As Spain and France prepare for their semifinal clash, they bring contrasting fortunes and statistical records to what promises to be an exciting encounter.