Spain vs France Semi Final, EURO 2024 Highlights: Yamal’s stunner, Olmo’s strike cancel out Muani’s opener as ESP defeat FRA 2-1 to reach final

Last chance and Griezmann gets a header in the Spain box and he has headed it over the bar!! It's all but over for the 2018 World Champions here.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Just over 3 mins left and Hernandez is stopped by Rodri and Saliba takes it off Yamal who is now subbed off. Ferran will take his place. Zubimendi is also on

ESP 2-1 FRA

We have 5 mins of added time and Yamal gets a yellow card for bringinmg down Hernandez. French free kick and that's met by Upamecano and he heads it well wide.

France build again and Upamecano has played a pass which is too fast for Kounde and that's gone out. Spain won't mind this at all. Ball still with them though after Spain give it away. Rodri takes it abck and they are again passing it around and running down the clock. And Camavinga fouls Cucurella!!

ESP 2-1 FRA

Simon with a big kick and the ball is back with France. Mbappe gets the ball, he twists and turns around Vivian and he has shot that one into orbit!! that was the chance France needed!!

ESP 2-1 FRA

A break in play now as a Spanish player is down. It's Laporte and he's receiving treatment. Spain won't mind this break at all while France will be itching to go.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Yamal gets a rare attack for Spain!! Aims for the far corner and that has swirled wide!! Almost the game-ender if that had gone in!!

ESP 2-1 FRA

Barcola with another run through the left wing and Nacho with a block for a corner. Griezmann with the corner and Spain defend and can break now.

ESP 2-1 FRA

France ahve now brought in Giroud for Dembele. Can he make the difference? France will hope so as all their attacking chances are being snuffed out by the resilient Spanish defence.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Hernandez witth the ball in an empty area with the goal gaping and he just just skied it over the bar!! Wake up call for Spain!! 2 more subs for Spain now. Olmo and Morata off and Oyarzabal and Merino on.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Well into the last 20 mins now and France are trying with all their might to create chances but they havce been snuffed out by an alert Spanish defence. Corner for them now. Dembele takes and Spain clear. 

ESP 2-1 FRA

Cucurela tries a cross and he has been closed down but the ball falls for a Spanish shirt. Barcola takes the ball from them and he bursts through, evading Vivian and almost passes the ball to Mbappe in the box but Spain clear.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Spain are knocking the ball around, content to just keep possession. France need to ramp up the aggression now. Not too much time left and Morata is fouled and Spain with a free kick.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Spain trying to calm things down, keeping possession on the edge of the French box but with no forward movement. And they play one pass too many and France can take it away as Hernandez rolls the ball out of play with a heavy touch.

ESP 2-1 FRA

France beginning to knock on the Spanish door as Mbappe tries a cross but that's out for a corner. 3 changes for France before they take it. Rabiot, Kante and Kolo Muani off and Griezmann, Camavinga and Barcola are on. Almost a free header for Upamecano but that's headed down and over the bar.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Oh dear god!! It was almost in from France as a cross by Dembele almost goes inside the goal off Mbappe but Simon with a great save!!

ESP 2-1 FRA

Jesus Navas is being subbed off now and Vivian has taken his place. Spain all out of RBs now. Nacho goes to RB and he will be out of position trying to tackle Mbappe.

ESP 2-1 FRA

The game is being bogged down in midfield now with both teams guilty of conceding possession. France are trying to poke and probe but Spain stand firm. Mappe with the ball and he strikes it into the hands of the keeper.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Corner and this time it's a good one as Tchouameni gets a free header but it's straight at the keeper. Better from the French players.

ESP 2-1 FRA

It's been over half an hour since France have had a shot on goal. And they are being peged back by Spain. Cross by Mbappe and it's gone to Dembele whose attempted cross is right into the hands of the keeper. Poor from the PSG forward.

ESP 2-1 FRA

France are sloppy in possession and Spain get the ball back from a throw in. Navas with a long cross and it falls just behind Nico who plays it back to the Spanish midfield as Spain try to build again. Cucurela witha cross and that's cleared.

ESP 2-1 FRA

We are back for the second half and France wins a throw in from Nava's mistake. Spain get the ball back and Nico is almost through but the goalkeeper is there to save France.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Kolo Muani's opener, set by Kylian Mbappe gave France an early advantage but Spain have come back into the game on the back of a stunner from Lamine Yamal and an own goal from Jules Kounde. 

ESP 2-1 FRA

The fourth official indicates two minutes of added time in what has been a thriiling first half with quite a few stoppages since that second Spain goal. 

ESP 2-1 FRA 

France win a corner on the left. A chance to whip a good delivery in for an equalizer. Ousmane Dembele is standing over the ball, his cross is rather straightforward and dealt with ease. 

ESP 2-1 FRA 

A French corner turns quickly to a Spanish counter attack. Nico Williams sprints his way through the left, 3 vs 3, and the French are loaded on the left side, so he cuts in and lays one for Lamine Yamal, who has a similar shot on a goal but it's blocked. 

ESP 2-1 FRA

Yamal cuts inside from the right once again, and quickly picks out Ruiz on the edge of the penalty area. He flicks it up onto his left foot before volleying towards goal, but it deflects behind for a corner to Spain. Williams will take, but it's headed away by Kolo Muani.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Oh, this is typical backyard football, isn't it? The young kid, who is dribbling and scoring must be given a gentle reminder of the physicality of the game. Not that serious a foul, just a nudge to bring him down. The referee does his best to disperse an angry mob of Spanish shirts protecting their 16-year-old. Hernandez is wise to quickly track back to his defensive position. Just a reminder it was.

ESP 2-1 FRA

Oh to be young, fearless, and Spain. Nico Williams is playing in only his second major tournament for his country, his first big semi-final for Spain, and look at the courage of the 21-year-old to turn and take on a sea of French shirts at the edge of the box before turning in a backheel. Spain almost carve out a shot off the move but France block them well with numbers inside the box. 

ESP 2-1 FRA

Mbappe speeds his way through the left but runs into two Spanish shirts, who do well to steal the possession back. No foul awarded by the referee. 

ESP 2-1 FRA 

France now have a free-kick in a dangerous position, and it's Dembele who is going to take it. He delivers toward the back post, but it's overhit and Rabiot is unable to keep it in. Spain are awarded a goal-kick.

ESP 2-1 FRA 

What a dramatic turn of events in Munich!

Dani Olmo paces his way into the French box as the Spaniards push for a second goal, and they get it. A shot from the right, deflected in by Jules Kounde. It counts as an own goal, but Spain will take it. All. Day. All. Night. 

ESP 2-1 FRA

OH MY WORD!

Lamine Yamal, the boy wonder with a wonderful strike from outside the box. A neat feint before locking in a curler on the far post and BANG! Maignon can't do a thing about that. Adrien Rabiot, you asked for it. The youngest player to feature in a Euros semifinal, the youngest to score in one. WOW!

ESP 1-1 FRA

France break through on counter, again. Kylian Mbappe gets the ball in the inside left channel and wriggles and wriths his way by cutting inside and into the Spanish box, has a go on goal and it's blocked just in time. 

Les Bleus looking more like the team that's been dreaded by the opposition in recent times. 

ESP 0-1 FRA

France looking more threatening they have all through the tournament. Another opportunity opens through the central channel in Spain's half and Jesus Navas takes a calculated risk by taking out Adrien Rabiot with a sliding challenge. Spain were one pass away from trailing 2-0 and they've been saved by the only remnant of their 2010 World Cup winning team. The danger isn't clear yet though. A free kick for France from a promising position. Mbappe steps up to take it and then drives it into the wall. Poor free kick.

ESP 0-1 FRA

Spain are looking to bounce back immediately as a pass is fired into the feet of Williams on the edge of the penalty area. He attempts to flick it into the path of a team-mate, but Saliba - as he has been all through this summer for France - is there to clear away from danger.

ESP 0-1 FRA 

France lead! KOLO MUANI WITH THE GOAL!

A corner on the right opens up space for Mbappe to stay in the open on the left and the French fetch him the ball in time to capitalize on the advantage. The captain finds a curling in cross from outside the box and Muani directs it into the Spanish goal. France's first goal from open play at these Euros. Who saw this coming? Spain trail early inside the first half.

ESP 0-1 FRA 

France break to the other side of the field for the first time this evening. Spain have committed numbers forward and the French are quick at making a counter as soon as they get the ball back. A through pass from Kolo Muani opens up Kylian Mbappe on his way to the goal but Navas clears the danger just in time. 

ESP 0-0 FRA

ANOTHER CHANCE!!

Lamine Yamal whips in a delicious looking cross from the right, curling in, and Fabian Ruiz has made the run in - left unchecked by the French. He leaps in time to head the ball, but can't keep it down and on target. 

Spain, positive in the early minutes and pushing the numbers forward.

ESP 0-0 FRA

Fabian Ruiz has been nothing short of fabulous for Spain, and he almost creates the first real chance at goal for Spain in the opening minutes.

Yamal cuts inside from the right and fires a pass out wide to Williams on the left. He drives down the wing before picking out Ruiz inside the penalty area. Ruiz turns before delivering into the box, but Morata can't get there at the back post.

ESP 0-0 FRA

9:00 PM local time in Munich and France - dressed in their all-white away kit, gets us underway, kicking from right to left. Spain of course, are dressed in their tradition red and blue colors. 

ESP 0-0 FRA

Just the scenes you expect at a big football evening. A packed house, loud and passionate voices to prove the same, and colors, absolute vivid colors on our screens. These are the two teams with the best kits for me at these Euros. Sorry Germany. Speaking of, have you gone through our special feature on football kits?

France start without Antoine Griezmann, the man who was everything to their attacking play at the World Cup less than two years ago. Tells you a thing or two about how fast favors run dry in international football. We should've seen this coming after Adrien Rabiot - boy, did he have one heck of a press conference this week - gave an honest, dejected dressing room point of view on Griezmann not clicking for France at these Euros.

"I don't know how to explain it, maybe he's not as well physically. We expect a lot more from Antoine because he is capable of doing much more. We can win without Antoine, we have a high-level team, but obviously it would be easier if he was at the top of his game." For now, they will have to do without him. 

He has been the architect of Spain's midfield and everything they create, runs through him. In 2024, Rodri is one of the best football has to offer. The visionary in the midfield was asked in an interview with The Guardian ahead of the semi-final: what makes him the centre piece of this team? 

"I try to give movement to the play, a dynamism, a rhythm. To connect to the players in front of you as soon as you can, to help the game mature, to interpret it, take it where you want it to be. That’s what most defines the role of the pivot: when to accelerate, when to brake, when to press higher, when to move deeper. Those thoughts are always going through your mind. When the ball comes to me and we need to apply a pause, I’m not going to accelerate the play." Does he play for Pep Guardiola or something?

If it's Yamal on the right, Nico Williams (21) has been the wind under Spain's left wing. His, and his brother's, has been a story of parental sacrifice & football's global triumph. 

REPLUG: The Williams crossed a desert barefoot to get to Spain from Ghana. Now, their sons are at the World Cup – playing for each country, by Rahul Pandey (CLICK HERE)

The image of a long maned Lionel Messi playing with a toddle Lamine Yamal is doing rounds on the social media. Was he destined for this success after all? A good time to revisit a lovely profile of the 16-year-old, who has lit these Euros on fire. (READ HERE)

France have scored three goals at these Euros, or shall we say have three goals at these Euros. Two own goals that went in their favor and a penalty. This, in five games. This, to make it to the semifinals. They have been known to be pragmatic but this has been different. This has been boring. 

It was asked of the French manager Didier Deschamps what he made of the comments being made against his team's performances on road to the semis. Pat came the response, "If we're boring you, you can watch something else, it doesn't matter. It's a very particular European Championship, with less goals than normal. We have the chance to make France happy, in a delicate situation for the country. If (others) are bored, I don't really care." (READ MORE)

Lamine Yamal has set the ongoing European Championships on fire with his antics on the flanks for Spain. Adrien Rabiot however, seems issued a challenge for the 16-year-old - there's a punchline in this somewhere - has to do more than he has so far. 

"It is always complicated to manage a semi-final in a tournament like that, but it will be up to us to put the pressure on him above all, not to let him feel comfortable and to show him that to play in a Euro final, he will have to do much more than what he has done so far."

Two old dreams of Kylian Mbappe have come true this year. He joined the club he always wished to, Real Madrid, ending a tortured stay at PSG; he met, hugged and played against his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. 

For him to win the European Championships - a trophy he admits yearning for - the natural contender for the crown Ronaldo and Messi have held for years, must unmask the best player in the world. Sandip G explains how he can do it in his weekly football column. (READ HERE)

Spain: Simon; Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata

Subs: Raya, Remiro, Vivian, Merino, Joselu, Ferran Torres, Grimaldo, Álex Baena, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Fermín López, Pérez

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

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

And then there were four. By the end of tonight, there'll be three.

France and Spain. Two powerhouse football nations. Unbeaten in the tournament so far and one step away from making it to the summit clash. But two teams who couldn't have had more different routes on their way to the semifinal.

While Spain's football has been a welcome sight, inducing a rush of blood as their youngsters dazzle under the big bright lights, France have been anything but. The word boring was thrown around to coach Didier Deschamps, who couldn't care less. If France find their way through tonight, perhaps the critics would drop the thought as well. But it would take some serious effort from them. Scoring their first goal from open play at these Euros would be a start.

Either ways, this should be fun. So warm up those sofa seats as we take you through the evening.