Spain predicted lineup vs France - Euro 2024
- Spain overcame hosts Germany to advance into semi-finals
- Pedri has been ruled out for rest of Euro 2024
- La Roja have two defenders suspended for semi-final vs France
Euro 2024 hasn't exactly been a celebration for purists, but Spain have stood out as an anomaly amid the incoherence shown by some of the tournament's other heavy hitters.
Boasting club-like fluidity and seemingly innate cohesion, La Roja have been the standout outfit this summer and will certainly be cheered on by the neutral for the remainder of the competition.
Luis de la Fuente's side are just two games away from their fourth European Championship crown after downing the hosts in extra-time on Friday evening. While Germany could match Spain's quality and cohesion, semi-final opponents France will provide an alternate test.
Here's the starting XI De la Fuente could pick for Tuesday's semi-final clash at Euro 2024.
Spain predicted lineup vs France (4-3-3)
GK: Unai Simon - Simon will be competing in his second Euros semi-final having also been between the posts at Euro 2020. The Athletic Club stopper will be hoping for a different result on this occasion.
RB: Jesus Navas - Dani Carvajal's suspension means De la Fuente will have to turn to the veteran on Tuesday night and he's bound to see plenty of Kylian Mbappe in Munich. Pedro Porro may well be watching on with a smile back in north London.
CB: Nacho Fernandez - Robin Le Normand picked up his second yellow card of the tournament against Germany and will miss out. Nacho, who started on Matchday 1, will come back in to replace him.
CB: Aymeric Laporte - Laporte has been a mainstay since proving his fitness and has a big role to play on Tuesday night - potentially as a playmaker from deeper positions with France unlikely to do much pressing.
LB: Marc Cucurella - The Chelsea full-back has been one of the surprises of the summer, shining down Spain's left. He deserves to keep his place over Alejandro Grimaldo.
CM: Rodri - After out-duelling Toni Kroos last time out, Rodri faces up against a bitty and functional French midfield on Tuesday night. Spain may well spend much of the game camped outside France's box and Rodri will offer a threat in and around it.
CM: Dani Olmo - Olmo came on to replace the injured Pedri on Friday and the RB Leipzig attacker is set to start in the Barcelona man's absence on Tuesday. After scoring off the bench against Georgia, the versatile Olmo opened the scoring against Germany.
CM: Fabian Ruiz - Mikel Merino was the hero in the quarter-finals and has certainly made a claim for a start, but De la Fuente won't be sacrificing the excellent Fabian.
RW: Lamine Yamal - Spain will be turning to the 16-year-old in Munich against this stubborn France defence that's yet to concede an open-play goal. Yamal endured a more muted outing against Germany on Friday, but he's quickly established himself as a leading man in this excellent team.
ST: Alvaro Morata - The manager could use Olmo as a false nine if he wants to bring Merino into his midfield, but it seems unlikely for Morata to be dropped. He's scored just once at the tournament but fulfils his function up top.
LW: Nico Williams - Williams has a tough test against Jules Kounde, a potential future club teammate, on Tuesday night. Given Kounde's strength in one-on-one situations, this will be a huge indicator of the youngster's credentials.
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