Spain Faces Tough Semi-Final Against France Amid Key Player Absences
Spain's journey in Euro 2024 has been nothing short of dramatic. Overcoming Germany 2-1 in a thrilling quarter-final, Spain is now set to face France in the semi-final on Tuesday, July 9th. However, this victory came at a significant cost, with key players Pedri, Robin le Normand, and Dani Carvajal all set to miss the upcoming match.
Pedri's Injury: A Major Setback
Midfielder Pedri suffered a sprain of the internal ligament of his left knee after a clash with Germany's Toni Kroos. The Spanish Federation confirmed that Pedri's injury is a grade 2 internal lateral sprain, sidelining him for at least a month. Despite this, Pedri will remain with the team to support his teammates throughout the tournament.
Defensive Dilemmas for Spain
Spain's defense is also in a precarious situation. Robin le Normand is suspended, leaving coach Luis de la Fuente with the tough decision of choosing between Nacho and Dani Vivian. Nacho, who has extensive experience with Real Madrid, is the natural replacement but is also recovering from a minor injury. Dani Vivian, on the other hand, has limited international experience, making this a challenging decision for the coach.
Adding to the defensive woes, right-back Dani Carvajal was sent off in the 120th minute of the quarter-final. His likely replacement is the veteran Jesus Navas, who has shown versatility and experience but may struggle against France's Kylian Mbappé.
Midfield and Forward Adjustments
In the midfield, Dani Olmo, who replaced Pedri during the Germany match and scored the first goal, is expected to start. Mikel Merino, another strong contender, scored the decisive goal in extra time, giving coach de la Fuente multiple options.
Striker Alvaro Morata was initially thought to be suspended but the sanction was later attributed to Fabian Ruiz. Ruiz, who limped off in the 102nd minute, has been cleared of serious injury and is expected to play.
Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals Recap
The quarter-finals of Euro 2024 have been full of excitement. Germany faced Spain in an early final, with Spain breaking a historical curse by eliminating the host nation. In another thrilling match, France will clash with Portugal, with both teams featuring star players like Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The other quarter-final matches include England vs. Switzerland and the Netherlands vs. Turkey, with all teams vying for a spot in the semi-finals and ultimately the final in Berlin.
