By Mubukwanu Kaingu
And then there were four. Spain, France, Netherlands and England are on the final stretch on the road to Berlin.
Three former champions and a runner-up are set for a midweek special in penultimate fixtures scheduled for Bavaria and the Ruhr.
Both matches will see beauty and beast affairs thanks to some not-so-tidy appearances by France and England as they laboured to read the semifinals.
France, winners in 1984 and 2000, face a very slick Spain on Tuesday aiming for their first Euro final since 2016.
But the manner in which France have come this far has been as unpalatable as a poorly done French omelette.
“We have reached the semi-finals and that is an achievement, even if people expect us to,” said French coach Didier Deschamps.
“For me, it is pride in my players, even though not everything has been done perfectly. I would like to seize this moment and make the most of it.”
France has been blunt with a visibly exhausted, face-injury carrying Kylian Mbappe heaped with the huge burden to shepherd them to Olympiastadion Berlin on July 14.
Spain’s well-documented form at the Euro’s favours them but one must not forget that this is a Trans Pyrenees derby.
Each has won their last four meetings since drawing 1-1 on October 16, 2012, in a World Cup qualifier played in Madrid.
In Dortmund the following day, England seek an unprecedented second successive final after their Euro 2020 runner-up finish.
England too have huffed and puffed to get here but play an enthusiastic Dutch who are making their first semifinal appearance since 2004.
Furthermore, the last time the Netherlands reached the final was in 1988 when they won it.
Ronald Koeman was a player then when it was also held in Germany and now returns as coach on the cusp of lightning striking twice.
09/07/2024
21h00: Spain – France
10/07/2024
21h00: Netherlands – England
