Merino heads Spain into semis: Euro 2024 recap

La Liga Lowdown

Spain triumphed over the hosts to reach the final four of Euro 2024, where they will face France in a heavyweight semi-final.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) reflect on the dramatic 120 minutes of action in Stuttgart, before looking ahead to the French clash.

Joselu said in the build-up they wanted to retire Toni Kroos, but it was actually Pedri who was forced to leave the field early, courtesy of a bad challenge from Kroos himself. In an ill-tempered first half, Robin Le Normand saw himself suspended for the semis against the country of his birth.

Dani Olmo broke the deadlock early in the second half, thanks to yet another assist from the prodigious Lamine Yamal. Luis de la Fuente took both wingers off, a gamble that almost backfired when Florian Wirtz equalised late in the game.

Extra time ticked by and it looked like penalties awaited, but up stepped Olmo to cross for fellow sub Mikel Merino to head home, reminiscent of Carles Puyol's momentous testazo in Durban in 2010.

Despite the dramatic chaos of the moment, Merino had the presence of mind to replicate a celebration performed by his father in the same stadium 33 years ago. A precious moment for him and all Spanish fans. We include the fabulous commentary from Antonio Muelas Aberasturi from Radio Nacional de España.

In Part Two we look ahead to the semis, talking Kylian Mbappé and the other strong LaLiga links in the French team, and Didier Deschamps' blasé attitude to his critics.

We applaud the powerful political statements made by many of the French players, in contrast to Unai Simon's recent dead-batting of similar questions.

Can't wait for the semis? Check out our other content at lllonline.substack.com

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