Spain-France: 'Mediterranean' challenge elects first Euro2024 finalist

On one side of the board the 'Nordics' represented by Holland and England, on the other the 'Mediterraneans'. It may be the ugliest ever (but then, we can't say that, because we certainly didn't contribute much to its beauty...), but in the end Euro2024 gives us two semifinals that in any case photograph the hierarchies of continental football, and that also see the presence of four great historians of European football (three winners in previous editions plus England, recent finalist). The nobility therefore once again repelled the assault of the footballing bourgeoisie, this time personified by the solid and industrious Austria and Switzerland, and the futuristic Turkey.

Mediterranean finalist - Tonight the name of the 'Mediterranean' finalist will emerge from the Allianz Arena in Munich. Forty years ago, precisely in Paris, France and Spain faced each other for the title, which was won by the transalpines led by Le Roi Platini. This time the cross-over is worth just a little less, and a lot more than the other quarter-final challenges, which in 2000 again saw the success of the Bleus led by Zidane (and Deschamps...), and in 2012 of the Iberians. Ironically (bitterly), in both cases the French and Spanish went on to become champions by beating Italy in the final.

Balancing - It is no coincidence that Didier Deschamps has handed him the keys to the midfield. Because Adrien Rabiot of this France is the great balancer, and above all one of the hidden leaders. So it is no coincidence that the coach brings him to his side in the press conference on the eve of the semi-final. Because it is obvious that the main topic - even more so than the match coming up - is the transalpine elections and the political scenario that is now emerging in the country. And it cannot but be surprising that it is precisely this, the central topic, given that from Thuram to Mbappé there were so many Bleus to take the field in this electoral round. So Rabiot, more than a director, plays as a stopper on this occasion:' 'The election results and Rassemblement National's failure to win? We were back in the room from training, we didn't watch them together: we were all interested because it's important, but less so than many others because we have other things on our minds...'. In short, the Juventus player implies (also in the future? Who knows...): first football, then the rest. 'We haven't spoken between us. I know that many are relieved by the outcome of the vote,' added Rabiot, who in recent days had already joined the appeal of many comrades for the French to go to the polls but had not expressed any kind of electoral preference, in the conviction that he had to remain within the limits of sport.

Relief (of some) - The relief to which he referred is rather that of the social messages of numerous national team mates, from Thuram to Tchouaméni, via Koundé, who on the evening of the vote count expressed satisfaction at the lack of a majority for Marine Le Pen's party. It is hard to imagine, however, given the tripartite country that emerged from the polls, that reflections of these divisions are not also to be found in the national team's dressing room, which had already shown cracks in the days of Mbappé's own calls for a vote 'against extremism'. On the subject, implicitly, Rabiot sweeps controversy and afterthoughts under the carpet: 'I remain convinced,' the midfielder also said, 'that sport and politics are not necessarily a good match. I'll leave the evaluation of the vote, whether it's good or bad, to those who know more about it than me, I have other things on my mind at the moment, because we're on the eve of a European semi-final. I think about football.

Red Furies united - problems and arguments that Luis de La Fuente, coach of Spain, who has so far appeared the most convincing among the bigs, despite the predictable struggle to overcome Germany only in extra time in the quarters, does not have to think about. Historically, the Spain that wins (the one from 1960 and the one from 2008 onwards) is the one that manages to find a meeting point between the Madridist soul, the Catalan one and the Basque one, in an unnerving balancing act between centralism and centrifugal forces (also footballing). So far, this 63-year-old who grew up on bread and Athletic Bilbao (of which he was first a fan, then a player) has shown himself to be a skilful alchemist. Against Mbappé and his teammates the most important, and definitive, test.