Burkina Faso
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Spainvs.France

sportsmole.co.uk, 8 July 2024, 14:08
France manager Didier Deschamps has reportedly been handed one fitness boost and one untimely new injury concern ahead of Les Bleus' Euro 2024 semi-final showdown against Spain on Tuesday night.

The 2018 World Cup winners arrive at the Allianz Arena in Munich fighting for the right to meet England or Spain in the Berlin showpiece match on July 14, as they bid to earn their third Euros crown in the men's game.

Deschamps has many a predicament to solve for the showdown with La Roja, perhaps none more so than France's toothlessness in attack, which has seen Les Bleus fail to score a goal from open play through one of their own players.

So far, France have struck just three times at Euro 2024 - own goals from Jan Vertonghen and Maximilian Wober and a Kylian Mbappe penalty, but the masked latter has been a shadow of his usual self since suffering a broken nose in the opening match with Austria.

None of Mbappe's fellow attackers have been cutting the mustard either, going scoreless in 120 minutes against Portugal in the quarter-final before winning on penalties, and a change in attack for that encounter saw Randal Kolo Muani replace Marcus Thuram.

The latter was brought on for the extra-time period against Portugal only to hurt his hamstring, but according to Futbolfantasy, he was able to train as normal on Sunday and is looking likely to be available for the semi-final.

Ferland Mendy 'suffering from discomfort' before semi-final

Deschamps must therefore make a key decision over who partners Mbappe in the final third in Munich, but he may have to do without one of his full-backs in Ferland Mendy.

The Real Madrid defender has been plagued by fitness problems for a number of years and reportedly felt 'discomfort' during a training session with the other out-of-favour players.

The left-back's problem has been described as minor, and he was only absent from Sunday's session as a precautionary measure, but there is virtually no chance of him starting at the Allianz Arena.

AC Milan's Theo Hernandez has cemented his position as Deschamps's first-choice pick on that side and scored the winning penalty in the Portugal shootout, helping to avenge France's loss to the Selecao in the 2016 final.

While France should have most of their big-hitters available for the semi-final, Spain must cope without suspended key defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, who should be replaced by Jesus Navas and Nacho Fernandez respectively.

Meanwhile, Pedri's tournament is over due to the knee injury he suffered against Germany, but it is unclear whether Dani Olmo or quarter-final match-winner Mikel Merino will step in for him.

Show more

Top News

5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are one of several clubs to have been alerted to Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens' availability after he reportedly announced his exit plans to teammates. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly poised to sign Leroy Sane amid speculation that contract renewal talks with Bayern Munich have broken down. 5 May 2025 talksport.com UEFA have acted quickly after they unintentionally rubbed salt into the wounds of Tottenham Hotspur fans. 5 May 2025 talksport.com Coventry City's Tatsuhiro Sakamoto may have picked up the wrong sport as a child. 5 May 2025 talksport.com The Europa League winners should be stripped of automatic Champions League qualification, according to Arsene Wenger. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal veteran Jorginho has apparently reached an agreement to join Brazilian giants Flamengo when his contract runs its course at the end of the season. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are said to be prepared to push for Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen amid concerns that Ibrahima Konate could leave the club. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Six days on from a classic encounter in Spain, Inter Milan and Barcelona meet again on Tuesday, as they fight it out for a place in this season's Champions League final. 5 May 2025 talksport.com Harry Kane will spend one more season at Bayern Munich before he returns to the Premier League. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are said to have been involved in talks with Juventus regarding the transfer of striker Rasmus Hojlund. 5 May 2025 talksport.com Huddersfield have confirmed nine first-team players have joined Jonathan Hogg in leaving the club. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly concerned about the prospect of William Saliba becoming a target for Real Madrid within the next two years. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly suggested that they are prepared to pay €65m (£55.37m) to sign a Tottenham Hotspur star. 5 May 2025 talksport.com Chelsea have shared a moment to forget for Trent Alexander-Arnold after his Liverpool exit was officially confirmed. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly identified a Real Madrid star as a potential summer transfer target. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly open to cashing in on one of their attackers should an offer arrive from Chelsea this summer. 5 May 2025 talksport.com Jamie Carragher has warned Trent Alexander-Arnold that he has lost the 'unconditional support' of Liverpool fans. 5 May 2025 talksport.com Liverpool will attack the transfer market this summer in a bid to retain their Premier League title, talkSPORT understands. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly agreed to sign a long-term contract with Real Madrid. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal will be just 90 minutes away from a first-ever Champions League title when the final whistle blows in Wednesday's semi-final second leg at the Parc des Princes. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to join the race to sign Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo this summer. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze is "tailor-made" to play for Arsenal and should arguably be above Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams on the Gunners' transfer shortlist, journalist Charles Watts has claimed. 5 May 2025 talksport.com Former Barnsley manager Gerhard Struber has sensationally been sacked by Cologne with the side on the brink of Bundesliga promotion. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool reportedly tabled a series of contract offers in a bid to keep Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield 5 May 2025 talksport.com Trent Alexander-Arnold will be forced to move on from his iconic No.66 after completing his switch to Real Madrid. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly identified a La Liga defender as a potential target for the summer transfer window. 5 May 2025 talksport.com Harry Kane can be considered on par with Lionel Messi given his scoring success at Bayern Munich. 5 May 2025 talksport.com With the reality setting in over Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool departure, he'd be well advised to not check his phone for a while. 5 May 2025 talksport.com That's it, Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed that after 20 years at Liverpool, he's leaving the club. 5 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The worst kept secret is out; Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving Liverpool.