CALIFICACIÓN DE JUGADORES: ¿Qué estrella española fue una amenaza desde el primer minuto? ¿Quién no estuvo a la altura de las circunstancias para Francia? ¿Y quién tiene a Pep Guardiola y al Manchester City echando mano de la chequera? | HO

España ha dado un gran paso hacia la conquista de su cuarto trofeo récord de la Eurocopa tras derrotar a Francia por 2-1 en el Allianz Arena el martes por la noche.

El equipo de Luis de la Fuente tuvo un comienzo agitado en el choque de semifinales después de ir perdiendo gracias al primer gol de Randal Kolo Muani en los primeros 10 minutos.

Pero sólo se necesitaron 11 minutos más para que La Roja estuviera al mismo nivel que el equipo, gracias a un gol magistral del joven de 16 años Lamine Yamal .

Cuatro minutos más tarde, Dani Olmo adelantó a su equipo y Francia tuvo que perseguir el marcador contra un equipo con un récord de victorias del 100 por ciento en la competición hasta el momento, y a pesar de una segunda mitad más fuerte, plagada de casi ocasiones, no pudo remontar el déficit.

En este artículo, Aadam Patel, de Mail Sport, analiza quiénes sobresalieron y quiénes flaquearon en Múnich.

Lamine Yamal animó a España a preparar una final de la Eurocopa posiblemente histórica

Kylian Mbappé no pudo llevar a su país a la victoria después de adelantarse en el marcador en la eliminatoria

Dani Olmo duplicó la ventaja de España apenas cuatro minutos después del golazo de Yamal para asegurar la victoria

ESPAÑA (4-2-3-1)

Unai Simón 6

Kolo Muani no tuvo ninguna oportunidad de marcar y Francia no lo puso a prueba durante el resto de la primera mitad, pero hizo bien su trabajo y puede esperar jugar una final del Campeonato Europeo.

Jesús Navas 6

In for the suspended Dani Carvajal and worked tirelessly against Kylian Mbappe. The 38-year-old was booked early on and had to be cautious after that. Replaced before the hour mark but this was a gutsy showing from Spain’s oldest-ever player at the Euros.

Nacho 7

In the side due to Robin Le Normand’s suspension and used all his experience alongside Aymeric Laporte to see Spain through. A colossal display.

Aymeric Laporte 7

Kolo Muani peeled away from him for the goal and he was disappointed with that but apart from that, a quality performance. More touches than any other player in the first-half and solid, as ever. Has got history with France due to his heritage so this would have felt sweet.

Marc Cucurella 7

Booed all evening by the Germans inside the ground after the events of last week but he constantly offered an option. Has had a brilliant tournament and did not stop running.

Marc Cucurella put in the hard yards in Munich against Les Bleus after a fine tournament so far

Rodri (centre left) put in a commanding performance in the midfield for Spain on Tuesday

Along with Nico Williams (centre), Yamal represents the next generation of Spanish superstars

Rodri 8

He is that good that quality performances like this have just become the norm. A joy to watc again and interestingly was tasked with getting across to Mbappe whenever he cut in, to nullify the threat.

Fabian Ruiz 7

Had a great chance early on to take the lead but headed over. Though was superb in midfield alongside Rodri. Another one who has had an exceptional tournament.

Lamine Yamal 9

A threat from minute one and then delivered one of the great football moments with a goal of the highest class bending the ball in from outside box into the top corner and becoming the youngest goalscorer ever in Euros history.

Played his part in the second goal too but had a much quieter second half. Booked late on for pulling the shirt of Theo Hernandez, with all the experience of a wily old campaigner. What were you doing when you were 16?

Dani Olmo 8

Player of the Match against Germany and carried on his form with the second goal for Spain, His movement was superb and he had a terrific game, regularly offering an option in the final third and looked so comfortable in possession. No wonder Pep Guardiola is interested in him.

Williams was an uncontainable presence for Spain who repeatedly caused France problems

Alvaro Morata put on another impassioned performance for Spain with the captain’s armband

Nico Williams 7

Like Yamal, offered such a threat down the wing. Such a dynamic footballer and will be key to Spain’s hopes of going all the way.

Alvaro Morata 7

Didn’t get a chance but led from the front. He got the assist for Yamal’s stunner and will head to Berlin, looking to become just the third Spanish captain to lift the Henri Delaunay Cup.

Substitutes

Daniel Vivian 6

Came on for Jesus Navas in the 58th minute and though he is a centre-half by trade, he did what was asked of him at right-back. Perhaps lucky to get away with one when Mbappe cut inside him but blazed over.

Mikel Merino 5

The hero against Germany. Replaced Dani Olmo with 14 minutes to go.

Mikel Oyarzabal 5

On for Alvaro Morata in the 76th minute

Luis de la Fuente proved his mettle against the World Cup winners as his side maintained their 100 per cent win record at Euro 2024

MANAGER

Luis de la Fuente 8

What an incredible job he’s done. Spain were nowhere near the favorites before the tournament but they will head to Berlin as the best team of the tournament and the only team with a 100 per cent record.

FRANCE (4-3-3)

Mike Maignan 6

Had no chance for either of the two Spanish goals and had to be constantly alert off his line with the pace of Yamal and Williams.

Jules Kounde 6

France’s player of the tournament but will be kicking himself for not stopping Dani Olmo’s strike going into the net. Involved in an enthralling battle with Williams down Spain’s left flank, which the Spanish winger just edged.

Dayot Upamecano 6

Part of a French back four that played every minute in the tournament but was shocked by Spain’s first-half blitz. Had a big chance to equalise but didn’t connect well with his header.

Jules Kounde has been one of France’s standouts in Germany but will be fuming at his role in Olmo’s goal

William Saliba was part of a rock-solid France defence before Spain ran riot in the first-half

William Saliba 6

Usually solid but his header in the build-up to Spain’s second was not great. The French defence had only conceded one goal in the tournament before the game and though they could hardly be blamed for Yamal’s strike, they will be kicking themselves for Olmo’s goal that ultimately made the difference.

Theo Hernandez 6

Like Kounde, has had a solid tournament though he had no choice but to show respect against the relentless Yamal, who was a joy to watch and must be a pain to defend against with his ability to effortlessly cut in and go on the outside. Wasted a glorious chance when the ball fell to him in the box in the second half but he blazed over.

N’Golo Kante 6

Unbeaten in 20 games at major tournaments until this. Worked hard but with France chasing the game, he was replaced for Antoine Griezmann in the 62nd minute.

Aurelien Tchouameni 6

The only one of the three starting midfielders kept on as France searched for an equaliser. Battled well. Booked for a foul on Alvaro Morata.

Adrien Rabiot 6

Returned from suspension and put in an average display before he was replaced on the hour mark for Eduardo Camavinga. Rabiot said pre-match that Yamal needed to do more. Well, that one heavily backfired.

Adrien Rabiot quizás no era consciente de la amenaza que representaba Yamal, pero el jugador ahora lo sabe.

N’Golo Kanté tuvo una fase de grupos más llamativa y no pudo dictar el juego durante la semifinal.

Ousmane Dembélé 6

Reemplazó a Antoine Griezmann en el once inicial y ofreció una amenaza, pero no logró entregar la chispa que se necesitaba en el último tercio y fue reemplazado por Olivier Giroud hacia el final.

Randal Kolo Muani 7

Hizo una gran actuación para poner a Francia en ventaja, desmarcándose de su marcador y cabeceando con fuerza. Pero se cansó a medida que avanzaba el partido y fue reemplazado por Bradley Barcola en el minuto 62.

Kylian Mbappé 7

Se quitó la máscara y dio una asistencia brillante para el gol inicial de Kolo Muani, que permitió a Francia marcar su primer gol en jugada de campo en la Eurocopa. En la segunda mitad, se colocó en una posición más central, pero su disparo se fue alto cuando recortó hacia el interior de Vivian y solo tuvo que batir al portero.

Sustitutos

Eduardo Camavinga 6

Un cameo fuerte pero que al final no fue suficiente.

Antoine Griezmann fue suplente antes del choque y después de su sustitución no pudo marcar la diferencia

Randal Kolo Muani abrió el marcador para Francia después de solo nueve minutos, pero Les Bleus no pudieron mantener su ventaja.

Antoine Griezmann 5

Didier Deschamps lo dejó fuera después de un pobre torneo hasta el momento, pero entró a jugar a media hora del final cuando Francia buscaba el empate. Un torneo decepcionante

Bradley Barcola 6

Cuando entró, causó un gran impacto por la banda izquierda con su ritmo y su enfoque directo. Tal vez debería haber sido titular.

Olivier Giroud 5

El máximo goleador de Francia entró en el campo gracias a Deschamps, pero la oportunidad nunca le llegó.

GERENTE

Didier Deschamps 6

Llevó a Francia al Mundial, pero esto al final quedará en la historia como una decepción y un torneo pobre.