The Euro 2024 semi-finals are upon us, and it’s fair to say we’re excited by the prospect of some of the best teams in Europe going to head-to-head.
Spain and France are set to kick things off in Munich on Tuesday evening in a game which has the potential to be an all-time classic.
Ahead of that game, we thought we’d play a bit of fantasy football and pick a combined XI of the two teams.
Here are our picks…
GK: Mike Maignan (France)
World class goalkeeper / ANP/GettyImages
Spain’s Unai Simon is quite the goalkeeper, but Mike Maignan is literally the best in the world.
The France number one has taken his wonderful club form with AC Milan into Euro 2024, and has conceded just one goal – a Robert Lewandowski spot kick – en route to the semi-finals.
RB: Jules Kounde (France)
Kounde also stars for Barcelona / Christina Pahnke – sampics/GettyImages
Dani Carvajal would’ve been in this team had he not been suspended for the semi-finals.
He is though, so club rival Jules Kounde makes the cut.
That’s not to say Kounde is a bad option either, the Barcelona full-back has been thoroughly impressive at right-back throughout the competition…even if he’d rather play as a centre half.
CB: William Saliba (France)
Leader at the back / Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/GettyImages
Looking back, it is pretty baffling that William Saliba wasn’t a guaranteed starter for France heading into the tournament.
Having been given the chance to start his nation’s opening group game against Austria, the towering centre-back hasn’t looked back. He’s perhaps the main reason why France haven’t had to rely upon their misfiring strikers to see them through to the final four.
CB: Aymeric Laporte (Spain)
Playing well so far / Soccrates Images/GettyImages
We wouldn’t be surprised if you kind of forgot that Aymeric Laporte still existed prior to Euro 2024. We’re not sure he cares though considering how much he’s getting paid to ply his trade out in the Saudi Pro League.
Despite the lack of top level club football, Laporte hasn’t looked out of place in the heart of Spain’s Euro 2024 defence, regularly looking equally comfortable on the ball as he does off it.
LB: Marc Cucurella (Spain)
Who’d have thought? / Soccrates Images/GettyImages
Yes, Marc Cucurella.
Yes, the Marc Cucurella who plays for Chelsea.
Yes, he’s made this team ahead of Theo Hernandez.
And he has because he’s been in the form of his life for Spain this summer so far, and for the first time looks like a £62m player (a fee which Chelsea rather astonishingly paid for his services).
CM: Fabian Ruiz (Spain)
Player of the tournament candidate / Richard Sellers/Allstar/GettyImages
With two goals and two assists to his name, there’s a genuine case to be made that Fabian Ruiz has been the Euro 2024 player of the tournament so far.
The 28-year-old has played like prime Luka Modric at times this summer, providing quality and class in and out of possession.
CM: N’Golo Kante (France)
Back to his best / SOPA Images/GettyImages
N’Golo Kante is back to his very, very best at Euro 2024.
Once the best midfielder in the world, Kante has looked every bit of the world class player he once was in Germany this summer, breaking up play and covering the hard yards in the way only he could.
CM: Rodri (Spain)
Top player / Masashi Hara/GettyImages
Considering the fact that Rodri is in their team, Spain’s incredible form at Euro 2024 shouldn’t really be a surprise to anyone.
The midfielder is a natural born winner, and he’s been the driving force behind his nation’s impressive run to the semi-finals.
RW: Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Young gun / Alex Livesey/GettyImages
[Insert comment about Lamine Yamal being 16 years old here]
We can joke about just how often Yamal’s age is brought up, but there’s not doubting the fact that is a bit insane that he’s this good already.
Judging by his performances at Euro 2024, the youngster is destined for all-time greatness.
ST: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Struggling / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
Look, we know he has been pretty poor so far.
In fact, we know he’s been pretty damn awful so far.
That being said, we can’t not have the greatest footballer in the world in this combined XI. Despite the disappointing performances, he’s still Kylian Mbappe, and he is still a player who can win this semi-final on his own.
LW: Nico Williams (Spain)
Wanted man / Alex Grimm/GettyImages
Considering his performances at Euro 2024, it’s no surprise that basically every big club in Europe is interested in Nico Williams during the summer transfer window.
The wide players has been brilliant thus far, providing Spain with quality, pace and trickery in the final third.
