Euro 2024 Updates: France Advances to Semifinals Without Mbappé
### France Sneak into Semis Without Mbappé
HAMBURG, Germany -- This one is for Melbourne 2023, Doha 2022, Bucharest 2021, and even Seville 1982. It's for all the past penalty shootout heartbreaks that French football, both men's and women's, has endured over the years.
On Friday in Hamburg, Didier Deschamps and his team exorcised those demons. Without their captain and talisman Kylian Mbappé, who was substituted at half-time of extra time after a close-range header struck his recently broken nose, France remained composed and confident. They went a perfect 5-for-5 in the penalty shootout, outclassing Portugal and putting past nightmares to rest.
Unlike in Qatar, where Deschamps admitted to not training the team for spot kicks and considering it a lottery, this time was different. France had prepared meticulously for this moment, practicing penalties before the Belgium game in the round of 16 and again before facing Portugal.
The players were mentally ready. Eighteen months after falling victim to Emiliano Martínez's mind games, it was now Mike Maignan's turn to unsettle the opposition. The Paris-born goalkeeper made the Portuguese wait as he slowly got into position.
Bradley Barcola, only 21 years old with just 18 months of professional football behind him and no previous penalty shootout experience, took his penalty brilliantly. Ousmane Dembélé, whose entrance after 67 minutes significantly impacted the game, set France on the right path by scoring the first penalty of the night. The rest is history.
For the fourth time in the past five major tournaments, Les Bleus are in the semifinals. This remarkable achievement solidifies Deschamps' status as arguably the greatest national team coach ever, considering he won the World Cup in 2018 and reached two more finals (Euro 2016 and World Cup 2022). He is a winner like no other, demonstrating his strategic prowess by trusting in his incredible defense led by Maignan and William Saliba. France has conceded only one goal all tournament, a penalty by Robert Lewandowski.
The celebrations among the players were wild, while Deschamps shared a hug and some words with Roberto Martínez. Six years after defeating Martínez's Belgium team in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, the French head coach has knocked him out of another major tournament. Forty years after an epic 3-2 win in extra time in the Euro 1984 semifinals, France has once again broken Portugal's hearts.
Even without Kylian Mbappé, France outperformed Portugal on penalties to reach the semifinals of Euro 2024. FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
### Sights and Sounds Around Euro 2024
#### Olmo Inspires Spain Off the Bench
STUTTGART -- Dani Olmo might have been disappointed not to start Spain's quarterfinal win over Germany, but there is no doubt he will be in the side for the semifinal.
Olmo, 26, is well-known in Germany, where he plays for RB Leipzig, but sometimes feels underappreciated in his homeland. That should change after he scored the opening goal and set up Mikel Merino's 119th-minute winner, as Spain knocked the hosts out 2-1 after extra time.
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Olmo's introduction was prompted by an injury to Pedri just 10 minutes into the game following a robust tackle from Toni Kroos. Despite this setback, Spain's young team showed they could step up to the challenge.
Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had called them "kids" and "a youth team lacking in experience" before the match. However, Lamine Yamal, who turns 17 the day before the final, vowed that Spain would respond on the pitch.
While Spain did not play their best, embracing a more direct style of football, they deservedly took the lead in the 51st minute when Yamal set up Olmo. The teenager now has a joint tournament-high three assists.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente made several substitutions, including taking off Yamal, Nico Williams, and Álvaro Morata, which allowed Germany to press forward. De la Fuente's decisions will be scrutinized, but Spain's response in extra time, led by Olmo, was impressive.
Olmo, playing on the left wing, tore apart Joshua Kimmich and delivered a perfect cross that Merino headed home. The ensuing celebration was wild, with Spain's bench emptying onto the pitch several times before the final whistle.
Despite not being a vintage display, Spain showed they could dig in when needed. With only two players having 50 or more caps compared to Germany's seven, Spain took another step towards their first European Championship trophy since 2012, ending a run of nine straight defeats against host nations at major tournaments.
#### Final Tickets in Demand
One of the best aspects of Euro 2024 has been the full stadiums in each of the 10 host cities. Before the tournament began, UEFA had received over 20 million ticket applications.
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Wherever you go, fans are holding signs asking for spare tickets, and the demand has only increased as the tournament progressed. This high demand led one supporter to take a proactive approach to securing a seat for the final in Berlin on July 14.
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