France were feeling optimistic on Monday as they practiced at the Allianz Arena in Munich ahead of their Euro 2024 semi-final clash against Spain on Tuesday.
Responding to rumors about Kylian Mbappé’s form, Spanish midfielder Rodri cautioned against these allegations. “Well, I don’t trust what people say. I know the kind of player that he’s like. I know he can make a difference easily. I mean, he doesn’t need to be in top form or not,” Rodri stated. “He can hurt any team at any time. If he’s on the pitch, he will be a threat and we will have to be very aware of what he does,” he added.
France’s performance has been lackluster, and captain Kylian Mbappé is grappling with frustration as he adapts to wearing a face mask that restricts his vision due to a nose injury from the initial match. Antoine Griezmann is also under scrutiny for France’s ineffective attack, having played in two different positions and being left out of the starting line-up in the match against Poland.
Adrien Rabiot expressed full confidence in both Mbappé and Griezmann, believing they have the ability to turn a game around at any moment. “They have the ability to change the course of the game,” Rabiot said.
France struggled in the quarter-final against Portugal, winning 5-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw, while Spain secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Germany with a goal in the final minute of extra time. Despite offensive challenges, France’s defense has been solid, conceding just one goal—a penalty retaken by Robert Lewandowski during the group stage.
Monday marked Didier Deschamps’ 12-year anniversary as France’s head coach, celebrated by guiding Les Bleus to their fourth major final in eight years. The new official match ball for the Euro 2024 semi-finals and final, named ‘FUSSBALLLIEBE FINALE,’ was also unveiled in Berlin. This ball features advanced technology designed to provide precise information to video match officials instantly.
