The 2024 Euros has been an exhilarating competition so far, with 24 teams partaking in the hope of taking home the crown for their country. Well, we are now down to 4 teams who will go head-to-head for a spot in the finals, set to take place on Sunday, 14th July.
England, the Netherlands, Spain, and France are the four frontliners that have made it to the semi-finals, which will take place over the next 2 days. France will face Spain on Tuesday, while England competes against the Netherlands the following Wednesday.
But the question on everyone’s mind is, who will make up the final 2?
Recapping Their Time at the Euros
England
England didn’t have the easiest journey, but nonetheless, they rose to the challenge and claimed victory, topping Group C. Praises must be sung to forwards such as Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Phil Foden, who performed exceptionally across all 3 games. Bukayo Saka’s stunning equalizing goal before triumphing on penalties took the Three Lions to the semi-finals.
England’s performance:
- 0-1 vs Serbia
- 1-1 vs Denmark
- 0-0 vs Slovenia
- 2-1 vs Slovakia
France
France’s journey hasn’t been smooth sailing after losing their group stage match for the first time since the 2012 Euros. However, they remain unbeaten with star player Kylian Mbappé scoring a penalty in their final Group D game before defeating Belgium in the round of 16.
France’s Performance:
- 0-1 vs Austria
- 0-0 vs the Netherlands
- 1-1 vs Poland
- 1-0 vs Belgium
- 0(3)-0(5) vs Portugal
The Netherlands
The Netherlands got off to a mixed start, following a victorious comeback against Poland, but then ended with a goalless draw with France. Things weren’t looking up for the team after being defeated by Austria in a dramatic 3-2 loss. But they didn’t give up, rising to the challenge and making an iconic comeback, beating Romania 3-0. They then went on to defeat Turkey, confirming their place in the Euro semi-final for the first time in 20 years.
Netherlands’ performance:
- 1-2 vs Poland
- 0-0 vs France
- 2-3 vs Austria
- 0-3 vs Romania
- 2-1 vs Turkey
Spain
Over the course of this year’s Euros, La Roja has been widely commended for their excellent performance. They won all 5 games, scoring a total of 11 goals and conceding only twice. Winger Lamine Yamal specifically stood out, making history as the youngest player to make an appearance at the Euros after competing in the game against Croatia. Things are looking up for La Roja, and if they take home the crown in Germany, they will be the first team to take home four Euro titles.
Spain’s performance:
- 3-0 vs Croatia
- 1-0 vs Italy
- 1-0 vs Albania
- 4-1 vs Georgia
- 2-1 vs Germany
Where Will the Semi-Finals Take Place?
As previously mentioned, over the next 2 days, the final four teams will go head-to-head in hopes of securing a spot in the Euros 2024 final.
France vs. Spain will be held today at 8 pm in Munich, while England vs. the Netherlands will be held the following Wednesday at 8 pm in Dortmund. Both matches will be live-streamed on BBC One and BBC Sport, so make sure to tune in to see who will be the final two!
Who Will Win?
The question on everyone’s mind is, who will take home the crown of the 2024 Euros? All bets are on the table, as it could be anyone.
It’s fair to say that Spain is looking the most hopeful, considering they won all 5 of their games and cleared their way to the semi-finals with ease. But that’s not to say that the other 3 teams can’t still claim victory.
England has shown resilience during their time at the Euros, securing them a place in the finals. Despite their indifferent performance, they remain serious competitors. If they want to win, they must have a top-notch defensive strategy in place because the Netherlands won’t be backing down easily. Winning the Euros would be a significant achievement for England, as it would be their first major trophy since the 1996 World Cup.
France is known to be a strong team, making it into the finals of the 2022 World Cup but ultimately losing to Argentina. In this Euro, they have been celebrated for their excellent defensive mechanism but criticized for their inability to create scoring opportunities. They have a tough game ahead of them, but if anyone can rise to the challenge, it’s them.
Conclusion
Well, that’s a recap of everything you need to know about the Euro semi-finals! It’s set to be a thrilling semi-final, so let’s wait and see who makes up the final 2 and who will take home the Euro 2024 crown.
